Alert archive / Wyoming / Winter Storm Warnings in 2012

Winter Storm Warning 1, NWS Cheyenne, WY

January 18, 2012Albany County, Carbon County, Wyoming

NWS Cheyenne, WY issued this winter storm warning at Jan 18, 2012, 2:33 AM MST for Albany County, Carbon County, Wyoming. It took effect at Jan 18, 2012, 6:00 PM MST. It was in force for 18 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jan 18, 2012, 2:33 AM MST (09:33 UTC)
In effect from
Jan 18, 2012, 6:00 PM MST
Expired
Jan 19, 2012, 11:46 AM MST
In force
18 hr
Issued by
NWS Cheyenne, WY

Counties Albany County, WY, Carbon County, WY

The radar

The Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 140 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:32 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Riverton, WY (KRIW), launched 00:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 230 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Riverton, WY at 00:00Z on 2012-01-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Riverton, WY at 00:00Z on 2012-01-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 103 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2505 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
85 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
103 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
136 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

391 
WWUS45 KCYS 180933
WSWCYS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
233 AM MST WED JAN 18 2012

...HEAVY SNOW IN THE SNOWY AND SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS THIS EVENING
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

.MOIST WESTERLY PACIFIC FLOW IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A PROLONGED
PERIOD OF SNOW ACROSS THE SNOWY AND SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS
TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 12 TO 18
INCHES ARE POSSIBLE...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ON THE WEST-
FACING SLOPES. IN ADDITION...GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE
BLOWING SNOW...SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING VISIBILITIES.

WYZ112-114-182245-
/O.UPG.KCYS.WS.A.0001.120119T0100Z-120121T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KCYS.WS.W.0001.120119T0100Z-120121T0100Z/
SIERRA MADRE RANGE-SNOWY RANGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CENTENNIAL...ALBANY...WOODS LANDING
233 AM MST WED JAN 18 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM
MST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHEYENNE HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM MST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH
IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* TIMING...THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...12 TO 18 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER
  AMOUNTS ON THE WEST-FACING SLOPES.

* WINDS/VISIBILITIES...WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH
  HIGHER GUSTS TO 50 MPH. GUSTY WINDS WILL PRODUCE BLOWING AND
  DRIFTING SNOW IN OPEN AREAS. BLOWING SNOW MAY REDUCE
  VISIBILITIES TO ONE HALF MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BECOME DANGEROUS IN THE MOUNTAINS DUE TO
  THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOWFALL AND LOWERED VISIBILITIES FROM
  BLOWING SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA
FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

FINCH
4 follow-up statements
858 
WWUS45 KCYS 182212
WSWCYS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
312 PM MST WED JAN 18 2012

...HEAVY SNOW IN THE SNOWY AND SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT 
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

.MOIST WESTERLY PACIFIC FLOW WILL PRODUCE A PROLONGED PERIOD OF
SNOW ACROSS THE SNOWY AND SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY AFTERNOON. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 15 TO 20 INCHES ARE
EXPECTED...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ON THE WEST-FACING SLOPES.
IN ADDITION...GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE BLOWING SNOW...
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING VISIBILITIES.

WYZ112-114-191200-
/O.CON.KCYS.WS.W.0001.120119T0100Z-120121T0100Z/
SIERRA MADRE RANGE-SNOWY RANGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CENTENNIAL...ALBANY...WOODS LANDING
312 PM MST WED JAN 18 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING
TO 6 PM MST FRIDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING
TO 6 PM MST FRIDAY. 

* TIMING...THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...12 TO 18 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER 
  AMOUNTS ON THE WEST-FACING SLOPES. 

* WINDS/VISIBILITIES...WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH 
  HIGHER GUSTS TO 50 MPH. GUSTY WINDS WILL PRODUCE BLOWING AND 
  DRIFTING SNOW IN OPEN AREAS. BLOWING SNOW MAY REDUCE 
  VISIBILITIES TO ONE HALF MILE OR LESS AT TIMES. 

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE DANGEROUS IN
  THE MOUNTAINS DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOWFALL AND
  LOWERED VISIBILITIES FROM BLOWING SNOW. IN 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...
AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

LIEBL
096 
WWUS45 KCYS 190402
WSWCYS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
902 PM MST WED JAN 18 2012

...HEAVY SNOW IN THE SNOWY AND SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY EVENING...

.MOIST WESTERLY WIND FLOW WILL OVER THE CENTRAL ROCKIES WILL
PRODUCE A PROLONGED PERIOD OF SNOW ACROSS THE SNOWY AND SIERRA
MADRE RANGES THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY EVENING. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 15
TO 20 INCHES ARE EXPECTED...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ON THE
WEST FACING SLOPES. IN ADDITION...STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
PRODUCE BLOWING SNOW IN OPEN AREAS...SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING
VISIBILITIES.

WYZ112-114-191300-
/O.CON.KCYS.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120121T0100Z/
SIERRA MADRE RANGE-SNOWY RANGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CENTENNIAL...ALBANY...WOODS LANDING
902 PM MST WED JAN 18 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MST FRIDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MST FRIDAY. 

* TIMING...THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...12 TO 20 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER
  AMOUNTS ON THE WEST FACING SLOPES.

* WINDS/VISIBILITIES...WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH
  GUSTS TO 60 MPH. THE WINDS WILL PRODUCE BLOWING AND DRIFTING
  SNOW IN OPEN AREAS. BLOWING SNOW WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES
  FREQUENTLY TO ONE HALF MILE OR LESS. 

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE DANGEROUS IN THE
  MOUNTAINS DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOWFALL AND LOWERED
  VISIBILITIES FROM BLOWING SNOW.  

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...
AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

WEILAND
951 
WWUS45 KCYS 190943
WSWCYS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
243 AM MST THU JAN 19 2012

...HEAVY SNOW IN THE SNOWY AND SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY EVENING...

.MOIST WESTERLY WIND FLOW OVER SOUTHEAST WYOMING WILL PRODUCE A
PROLONGED PERIOD OF SNOW ACROSS THE SNOWY AND SIERRA MADRE RANGES
THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY EVENING. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 15 TO 20 INCHES
ARE EXPECTED...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ON THE WEST FACING
SLOPES. IN ADDITION...STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE BLOWING
SNOW IN OPEN AREAS...SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING VISIBILITIES.

WYZ112-114-192330-
/O.CON.KCYS.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120121T0100Z/
SIERRA MADRE RANGE-SNOWY RANGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CENTENNIAL...ALBANY...WOODS LANDING
243 AM MST THU JAN 19 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MST FRIDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MST FRIDAY. 

* TIMING...THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...12 TO 20 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER 
  AMOUNTS ON THE WEST FACING SLOPES. 

* WINDS/VISIBILITIES...WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH 
  GUSTS TO 60 MPH. THE WINDS WILL PRODUCE BLOWING AND DRIFTING 
  SNOW IN OPEN AREAS. BLOWING SNOW WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES 
  FREQUENTLY TO ONE HALF MILE OR LESS. 

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE DANGEROUS IN 
  THE MOUNTAINS DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOWFALL AND 
  LOWERED VISIBILITIES FROM BLOWING SNOW. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...
AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

FINCH
548 
WWUS45 KCYS 191846
WSWCYS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
1146 AM MST THU JAN 19 2012

WYZ112-114-192000-
/O.CAN.KCYS.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120121T0100Z/
SIERRA MADRE RANGE-SNOWY RANGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CENTENNIAL...ALBANY...WOODS LANDING
1146 AM MST THU JAN 19 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHEYENNE HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
STORM WARNING. 

SNOWFALL HAS BEEN LIGHT AND INTERMITTENT ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS THIS
MORNING WITH OBSERVATIONS ONLY SHOWING AN INCH OR TWO OF SNOW
ACCUMULATION SINCE LAST NIGHT. THEREFORE...HAVE CANCELLED THE
WINTER STORM WARNING SINCE HEAVY SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE NOT
EXPECTED. HOWEVER...SNOW WILL REDEVELOP TONIGHT AS AN UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCE MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. MODERATE SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS
ARE POSSIBLE INTO FRIDAY MORNING ACROSS THE SIERRA MADRE AND SNOWY
RANGES.

$$

TT

Nearby

Winter Storm Warnings in Wyoming, 2012Every winter storm warning in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.