Thursday, February 19, 2026 |
Photo – WYDOT road camera comparison top shows normal view and bottom shows Tuesday’s view – Courtesy WYDOT
Strong wind gusts and poor weather created hazardous conditions on Interstate 80 on Tuesday.
With winds exceeding 50 miles per hour, Interstate 80 between Laramie and Rawlins was closed to high‑profile vehicles Tuesday afternoon. Wyoming Highway Patrol Senior Public Relations Specialist Aaron Brown wrote that between 15 and 20 vehicles were involved in multiple crashes between Arlington and Cooper Cove. Brown added that injuries have been reported, but as of yesterday afternoon, there were no fatalities.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation recorded gusts over 40 miles per hour between Laramie and Walcott Junction, including a peak of 52.8 miles per hour at Wagonhound rest area. Highway cameras also showed blowing snow.
In an email to Bigfoot99, Highway Patrol Senior Public Relations Specialist Brown wrote that he did not yet know the causes of the crashes or the types of vehicles involved.
A social media post from someone claiming to have been on I80 during Tuesday’s shutdown reported that commercial truck drivers were traveling upwards of 45 miles per hour, despite the variable speed limit being set to 30.
Brown recommended checking the Wyoming Highway Patrol’s social media pages for additional information on crashes and road closures.
