Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Riverton, WY
0540 AM MST Tue Jan 22 2019
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…Preliminary Snowfall and Peak Wind Gusts from Sunday night through Monday night…
A winter storm began to impact far western Wyoming Sunday night with light to moderate snowfall. The storm began to intensify by around sunrise Monday with snow breaking out across southwest Wyoming while a strong cold front entered northern Wyoming. This strong cold front swept southward to the Continental Divide by late Monday morning, and then across south-central Wyoming by mid-afternoon. A period of heavy snow was common along the cold front, followed by a steady light to moderate snow especially in favored upslope regions. Strong northerly winds of 20 to 40 mph with gusts 40 to 60 mph were common in wake of this cold front. The strong wind caused significant blowing and drifting of snow with severely reduced visibility in rural areas. Several roads and interstates were closed across central and southern Wyoming. The winter storm gradually ended Monday night into Tuesday morning from north to south as the snow tapered off, and the winds weakened.
Below are preliminary snowfall totals, followed by peak wind gusts for this winter storm. Due to the strong wind, snow measurements were a challenge, and varied considerably over a small distance. Except for Snotel data (mountain sites), much of the snowfall data was received yesterday. Additional snowfall data will be gathered this morning, and an updated final snowfall statement will be issued this afternoon.
Note: SnoTELS (Snow Telemetry) are remote sensing sites in high mountain watersheds. Snowfall data from SNOTELS are estimated based on snow water equivalent.
Location Snowfall
Big Horn County…
Bald Mountain Snotel… 5 inches.
Bone Springs Divide Snotel… 1 inch.
Fremont County…
9.5 SW Lander… 13 inches.
Townsend Creek Snotel… 11 inches.
Deer Park Snotel… 9 inches.
Hudson… 6 inches.
South Pass Snotel… 6 inches.
St. Lawrence Alt Snotel… 6 inches.
Hobbs Park Snotel… 6 inches.
Cold Springs Snotel… 5 inches.
Lander Airport… 4.2 inches.
Little Warm Snotel… 2 inches.
Brooks Lake… 2 inches.
Riverton… 1.3 inches.
Burroughs Creek Snotel… 1 inch.
Riverton Airport… 1 inch.
Castle Creek Snotel… 1 inch.
Hot Springs County…
Owl Creek Snotel… 1 inch.
Johnson County…
Little Goose Snotel… 15 inches.
Cloud Peak Reservoir Snotel… 4 inches.
Bear Trap Meadow Snotel… 3 inches.
Hansen Sawmill Snotel… 1 inch.
Soldier Park Snotel… 1 inch.
Lincoln County…
Willow Creek Snotel… 4 inches.
Indian Creek Snotel… 3 inches.
Kelley Ranger Station Snotel… 3 inches.
Star Valley Ranch… 2.5 inches.
Hams Fork Snotel… 2 inches.
3 SE Bedford… 2 inches.
Commissary Ridge… 2 inches.
5 SSE Smoot… 2 inches.
Cottonwood Creek Snotel… 2 inches.
Spring Creek Divide Snotel… 2 inches.
Salt River Summit Snotel… 2 inches.
Blind Bull Summit Snotel… 2 inches.
Afton… 1.5 inches.
2 SE Thayne… 1.5 inches.
Blind Bull Summit… 1 inch.
Box Y Ranch… 0.1 inches.
Natrona County…
Reno Hill Snotel… 17 inches.
Casper Mountain Snotel… 14 inches.
Grave Springs Snotel… 4 inches.
Casper Airport… 1.5 inches.
Park County…
Marquette Snotel… 10 inches.
Timber Creek Snotel… 4 inches.
Kirwin Snotel… 4 inches.
Pahaska… 4 inches.
Blackwater Snotel… 3 inches.
Wolverine Snotel… 2 inches.
Beartooth Lake Snotel… 2 inches.
Evening Star Snotel… 2 inches.
Sublette County…
Larsen Creek Snotel… 4 inches.
Pocket Creek Snotel… 4 inches.
Big Sandy Opening Snotel… 4 inches.
Elkhart Park G.S. Snotel… 3 inches.
Bondurant… 3 inches.
13 NE Big Piney… 2.5 inches.
Snider Basin Snotel… 2 inches.
Gunsite Pass Snotel… 2 inches.
New Fork Lake Snotel… 2 inches.
Loomis Park Snotel… 2 inches.
Kendall Ranger Station Snotel… 2 inches.
Boulder Rearing Station… 1 inch.
East Rim Divide Snotel… 1 inch.
Triple Peak Snotel… 1 inch.
14 NW Pinedale… 0.8 inches.
Daniel Fish Hatchery… 0.5 inches.
Pinedale… 0.2 inches.
Sweetwater County…
Wamsutter… 3 inches.
Rock Springs… 2 inches.
Teton County…
Grand Targhee Snotel… 8 inches.
Jackson Hole – Rendezvous Bowl… 6 inches.
5 NW Jackson… 6 inches.
Jackson Hole – Raymer… 5.5 inches.
3 SSW Wilson… 5 inches.
Phillips Bench Snotel… 5 inches.
Granite Creek Snotel… 5 inches.
Togwotee Pass Snotel… 5 inches.
2 NE Teton Village… 4.5 inches.
Grassy Lake Snotel… 4 inches.
Snake River Stn Snotel… 4 inches.
Gros Ventre Summit Snotel… 4 inches.
Jackson Dam… 3.2 inches.
Darwin Ranch… 3 inches.
Jackson Hole – Base… 3 inches.
Grand Targhee – Chief Joseph… 3 inches.
1 NNW Alta… 3 inches.
Snow King… 2 inches.
Base Camp Snotel… 2 inches.
Togwotee Mountain Lodge… 2 inches.
12 NE Jackson… 2 inches.
Washakie County…
Middle Powder Snotel… 8 inches.
Powder River Pass Snotel… 3 inches.
Yellowstone National Park…
Thumb Divide Snotel… 10 inches.
Lewis Lake Divide Snotel… 9 inches.
Lamar Ranger Station… 5 inches.
Yellowstone East Entrance… 4 inches.
Tower Falls Ranger Station… 4 inches.
Two Ocean Plateau Snotel… 4 inches.
Sylvan Lake Snotel… 4 inches.
Canyon Snotel… 4 inches.
Sylvan Road Snotel… 3 inches.
Parker Peak Snotel… 3 inches.
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…PEAK WIND GUSTS SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING…
Below are peak wind gusts of 45 mph or greater that occurred Sunday night through Monday evening. Strong northerly wind occurred in wake of a Canadian cold front that plunged south across the area Monday. A few locations in Natrona County measured their strongest wind gusts from the southwest Sunday night ahead of the cold front.
LOCATION SPEED TIME/DATE ELEVATION (FT.)
…BIG HORN COUNTY…
GREYBULL AIRPORT 58 MPH 0156 PM 01/21 3935
30 E GREYBULL 53 MPH 0658 PM 01/21 8898
..FREMONT COUNTY…
BOYSEN RESERVOIR 52 MPH 0700 PM 01/21 4710
BEAVER RIM 48 MPH 0341 PM 01/21 6784
2 W SOUTH PASS CITY 57 MPH 0855 PM 01/21 8185
8 W SOUTH PASS CITY 47 MPH 0450 PM 01/21 8120
7 SW MUDDY GAP 46 MPH 0650 AM 01/21 7380
…HOT SPRINGS COUNTY…
BOYSEN PEAK 79 MPH 0535 PM 01/21 7300
10 S MEETEETSE 51 MPH 0342 PM 01/21 7127
KIRBY 45 MPH 0501 PM 01/21 4350
…JOHNSON COUNTY…
12 N KAYCEE 60 MPH 0521 PM 01/21 5287
BUFFALO AIRPORT 54 MPH 0508 PM 01/21 4970
18 NW BUFFALO 52 MPH 0947 PM 01/20 8604
25 ESE BUFFALO 52 MPH 0430 PM 01/21 4657
5 ESE STORY 49 MPH 0321 PM 01/21 4673
…NATRONA COUNTY…
8 S CASPER 55 MPH 0552 PM 01/21 7740
CASPER OUTER DRIVE 54 MPH 0250 AM 01/21 5463
16 S HILAND 51 MPH 0110 AM 01/21 6380
20 N CASPER 49 MPH 0536 PM 01/21 5677
CASPER AIRPORT 46 MPH 0908 PM 01/20 5320
…PARK COUNTY…
8 N MEETEETSE 56 MPH 1106 AM 01/21 5926
POWELL AIRPORT 54 MPH 0155 PM 01/21 5050
10 WNW CODY 46 MPH 1040 PM 01/20 8401
POWELL 45 MPH 0210 PM 01/21 4386
2 N FRANNIE 45 MPH 1238 PM 01/21 4275
5 WNW CLARK 45 MPH 1016 PM 01/20 4659
…SWEETWATER COUNTY…
I 80 – MILE MARKER 142 46 MPH 0605 PM 01/21 7162
…WASHAKIE COUNTY…
WORLAND AIRPORT 45 MPH 1232 PM 01/21 4245
OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYIN EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. WE THANK ALL VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.
$$
www.weather.gov/riverton
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