Campus Alert Archive
CC

Record-Setting April Blizzard Dumps 18-Plus Inches on Casper, Closing College for Three Consecutive Days

WYwinter stormadvisorymedium confidence

Casper College closed for multiple days beginning April 3, 2023 as a record-setting spring blizzard struck central Wyoming, with forecasts calling for 18 to 24 inches of snow in the Casper area. The CC Alert emergency notification system was activated to notify students and employees of the multi-day closure due to hazardous travel conditions. The storm was described as the third-largest snowstorm in Casper history.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Casper College
Community College · WY
~4,000 studentsCC Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction182 chars
CC Alert: Due to an incoming blizzard warning, Casper College will be closed Tuesday, April 4. All in-person classes, events, and activities are canceled. Monitor cc.edu for updates.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from K2 Radio reporting; Casper College announced Monday afternoon it would close Tuesday April 4 due to the blizzard warning
The National Weather Service Riverton office had declared Natrona County under a blizzard warning for Tuesday April 4
CC Alert is Casper College's emergency notification system used for campus emergencies, closures, and urgent situations
UPDATESMS
Approximate reconstruction200 chars
CC Alert: Casper College will remain closed Wednesday, April 5 due to continued hazardous road conditions and the ongoing blizzard. Classes and all campus activities are canceled. Updates will follow.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from K2 Radio reporting; Casper College announced it would extend its closure through Wednesday April 5 due to continuing hazardous conditions
The storm ultimately dumped over a foot of snow on lower elevations of Natrona County and up to two feet on Casper Mountain
Casper College cited 'hazardous travel conditions in and around the city' as the reason for the continued closure
ALL CLEARSMS
Approximate reconstruction160 chars
CC Alert: Casper College will reopen Thursday, April 6. Normal campus operations and classes will resume. Thank you for your patience during this weather event.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from Oil City News reporting on the reopening announcement for Thursday April 6, 2023
The three-day closure (April 3-5) represented a significant disruption to spring semester operations
Context

Background

Casper College is a community college in Casper, Wyoming, the largest city in the state, situated at 5,150 feet elevation on the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains where Great Plains weather systems collide with mountain terrain. The April 2023 blizzard struck at an unusual point in the academic calendar -- early April, well into spring semester -- demonstrating that Wyoming campuses must plan for major winter disruptions through May. The National Weather Service Riverton office issued a blizzard warning for Natrona County as the storm approached Monday afternoon, prompting Casper College to activate CC Alert and announce the Tuesday closure. The storm ultimately ranked as one of the top three largest snowstorms in Casper history, depositing more than a foot of snow in the lower elevations and up to two feet on Casper Mountain. The college extended the closure through Wednesday April 5 due to hazardous road conditions, reopening Thursday April 6. CC Alert is used only for true emergencies, closures, or urgent situations -- weather closures are a legitimate use of the system that students and staff expect in Wyoming's climate.
Analysis

Key Findings

A record-setting April blizzard forced a Wyoming community college to close for three consecutive days during the spring semester
CC Alert was activated to notify students and employees across all closure and reopening announcements
The storm ranked as one of the top three largest snowstorms in Casper history, occurring in April rather than the typical December-February peak
Wyoming community colleges must maintain robust weather closure protocols through at least May given climate variability at high elevation
Outcome
Campus closed April 3-5, 2023. No injuries reported. Campus reopened Thursday after conditions improved. The storm was among the largest spring snowstorms on record for Natrona County.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Casper College Closes Campus on Tuesday - K2 Radio
    k2radio.com
  2. News
    Record-setting blizzard: Casper-area closures/cancellations for Wednesday, April 5, 2023 - Oil City News
    oilcity.news
  3. News
    April blizzard hits Wyoming: Here's what to know - Casper Star-Tribune
    trib.com
  4. News
    A look back at the third-largest snowstorm in Casper history - Casper Star-Tribune
    trib.com
Tags
winter-stormblizzardcampus-closurewyomingcaspercommunity-collegerecord-snowfallspring-stormmulti-day
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion