UPDATE:

I-80 has reopened, though some stretches of the interstate remain closed to light, high-profile vehicles due to high winds and extreme blow over risk. 

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A stretch of Interstate 80 in southern Wyoming, which has been closed since Wednesday afternoon, now looks to stay that way until at least Friday afternoon.

The latest update from the Wyoming Department of Transportation said that as of 6 a.m. Friday, the estimated opening time would be in 10-12 hours. That puts the estimated opening time in the neighborhood of 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

All lanes of I-80 are closed between Rawlins and Rock Springs. In addition, the eastbound lanes from Evanston to Rock Springs and the westbound lanes from Cheyenne to Rawlins are also closed. Those stretches of I-80 should reopen once the Rock Springs to Rawlins segment has been cleared.

On Thursday, WYDOT crews worked to clear snow drifts that were reported to be three to five feet deep, some of them a mile in length.

K2 Radio Meteorologist Don Day said Friday morning that the drifting snow is so severe because this latest weather system brought winds from the south, while snow fences in the area which are designed to prevent drifting on the roadway are positioned in anticipation of a west wind, which is the usual direction in that part of the state.

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