Alert archive / Wyoming / Blizzard Warnings in 2015

Blizzard Warning 2, NWS Cheyenne, WY

December 17, 2015Albany County, Carbon County, Laramie County, Wyoming

NWS Cheyenne, WY issued this blizzard warning at Dec 17, 2015, 3:32 PM MST for Albany County, Carbon County, Laramie County, Wyoming. It was in force for 19 hr. 6 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Dec 17, 2015, 3:32 PM MST (22:32 UTC)
Expired
Dec 18, 2015, 11:00 AM MST
In force
19 hr
Issued by
NWS Cheyenne, WY

Counties Albany County, WY, Carbon County, WY, Laramie County, WY

The radar

The Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:34 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Dec 17, 4:50 PM MSTBLIZZARDArlington, WYWYDOT VIS SENSOR UNDER A QUARTER MILE FOR 3 HOURS. WINDS 34 TO 39 MPH SUSTAINED WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH.
Dec 17, 5:00 PM MSTBLIZZARDElk Mountain, WYVISIBILITY AT A QUARTER MILE FOR PAST HOUR.
Dec 17, 6:30 PM MSTBLIZZARD7 Ese Arlington, WYCOOPER COVE WYDOT SITE. VIS SENSOR UNDER A QUARTER MILE FOR PAST HOUR. WINDS 40 MPH SUSTAINED WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH.
Dec 18, 3:15 AM MSTBLIZZARD3 Nw Arlington, WYFOOTE CREEK WYDOT SITE. VISIBILITY UNDER A QUARTER MILE. WINDS 49 TO 51 MPH SUSTAINED WITH GUSTS TO 67 MPH.
Dec 18, 3:20 AM MSTBLIZZARD11 Se Arlington, WYSTROUSS HILL WYDOT SITE. VISIBILITY UNDER A QUARTER MILE. WINDS 37 TO 39 MPH SUSTAINED WITH GUSTS TO 65 MPH.
Dec 18, 3:25 AM MSTBLIZZARDArlington, WYARLINGTON WEST WYDOT SITE. VISIBILITY UNDER A QUARTER MILE ON SENSOR. WINDS 55 TO 57 MPH SUSTAINED GUSTING TO 65 MPH.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Riverton, WY (KRIW), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 274 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 12:00Z on 2015-12-17Temperature 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 12:00Z on 2015-12-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 57 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
1032 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
107 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
57 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
192 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.

542 
WWUS45 KCYS 172232
WSWCYS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
332 PM MST THU DEC 17 2015

...GROUND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS DUE TO VERY STRONG WINDS AND
BLOWING SNOW WILL CONTINUE FOR THE ARLINGTON AND VEDAUWOO AREAS
THROUGH FRIDAY...

WYZ110-116-181300-
/O.NEW.KCYS.BZ.W.0002.151217T2232Z-151218T2200Z/
NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS-SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ARLINGTON...ELK MOUNTAIN...VEDAUWOO...
BUFORD...PUMPKIN VINE
332 PM MST THU DEC 17 2015

...GROUND BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM MST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHEYENNE HAS ISSUED A GROUND BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM MST FRIDAY.

* TIMING...WHITE OUT CONDITIONS DUE TO VERY STRONG WINDS AND
  BLOWING SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...WEST TO SOUTHWEST 35 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS 60
  TO 70 MPH. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT BETWEEN 10
  PM AND 9 AM. 

* IMPACTS...VERY STRONG WINDS WILL PRODUCE WHITE OUT CONDITIONS
  AND SIGNIFICANT DRIFTING. TRAVEL WILL BE DANGEROUS TO IMPOSSIBLE
  TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 FROM MILE
  MARKERS 240 TO 280 AND MILE MARKERS 320 TO 350. STAY INSIDE.
  THESE GROUND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CAN BE LIFE THREATENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A GROUND BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS WHITE OUT CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. BLOWING SNOW WITH VERY STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY
POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT
WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE. FOR
SPECIFIC ROAD AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS IN WYOMING...DIAL 5 1 1. AVOID
RAILROAD CROSSINGS IF POSSIBLE...USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN
APPROACHING AND DRIVING OVER RAILROAD CROSSINGS IF NOT ABLE TO
AVOID THEM.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
010 
WWUS45 KCYS 180317
WSWCYS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
817 PM MST THU DEC 17 2015

...GROUND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW
WILL CONTINUE FOR THE ARLINGTON AND VEDAUWOO AREAS THROUGH EARLY
FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

WYZ110-116-181300-
/O.CON.KCYS.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-151218T2200Z/
NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS-SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ARLINGTON...ELK MOUNTAIN...VEDAUWOO...
BUFORD...PUMPKIN VINE
817 PM MST THU DEC 17 2015

...GROUND BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM MST FRIDAY...

* TIMING...WHITEOUT CONDITIONS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW
  WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...SUSTAINED WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 35 TO 50
  MPH WITH GUSTS OF 60 TO 70 MPH. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR
  BETWEEN 10 PM AND 9 AM.

* IMPACTS...STRONG WINDS WILL PRODUCE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND
  SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. TRAVEL WILL BE DANGEROUS
  TO IMPOSSIBLE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY EARLY AFTERNOON. THIS
  INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 FROM MILE MARKERS 240 TO 280 AND MILE
  MARKERS 320 TO 350. STAY INDOORS. GROUND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS
  CAN BE LIFE THREATENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A GROUND BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS WHITEOUT CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR
OCCURRING. BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR 
VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU.
IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE. FOR SPECIFIC ROAD
AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS IN WYOMING...DIAL 5 1 1. USE EXTREME CAUTION
WHEN APPROACHING AND DRIVING OVER RAILROAD CROSSINGS IF NOT ABLE
TO AVOID THEM.

&&

$$
086 
WWUS45 KCYS 180843
WSWCYS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
143 AM MST FRI DEC 18 2015

...GROUND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING
SNOW WILL CONTINUE FOR THE ARLINGTON AND VEDAUWOO AREAS THROUGH
LATE THIS MORNING...

WYZ110-116-181800-
/O.EXT.KCYS.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-151218T1800Z/
NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS-SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ARLINGTON...ELK MOUNTAIN...VEDAUWOO...
BUFORD...PUMPKIN VINE
143 AM MST FRI DEC 18 2015

...BLIZZARD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MST THIS MORNING...

* TIMING...THROUGH LATE THIS MORNING.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...SUSTAINED WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 35 TO 50
  MPH WITH GUSTS TO 65 MPH. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR THROUGH
  MID MORNING. VISIBILITIES WILL DROP TO AROUND ONE QUARTER MILE.

* IMPACTS...STRONG WINDS WILL PRODUCE NEAR WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND
  SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. TRAVEL WILL BE DANGEROUS
  TO IMPOSSIBLE THROUGH LATE THIS MORNING. THIS INCLUDES
  INTERSTATE 80 FROM MILE MARKERS 240 TO 280 AND MILE MARKERS 320
  TO 350. STAY INDOORS. GROUND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CAN BE LIFE
  THREATENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A GROUND BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS WHITEOUT CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR
VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL
KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE. FOR
SPECIFIC ROAD AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS IN WYOMING...DIAL 5 1 1. USE
EXTREME CAUTION WHEN APPROACHING AND DRIVING OVER RAILROAD
CROSSINGS IF NOT ABLE TO AVOID THEM.

&&

$$
423 
WWUS45 KCYS 181759
WSWCYS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
1059 AM MST FRI DEC 18 2015

WYZ110-116-181900-
/O.EXP.KCYS.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-151218T1800Z/
NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS-SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ARLINGTON...ELK MOUNTAIN...VEDAUWOO...
BUFORD...PUMPKIN VINE
1059 AM MST FRI DEC 18 2015

...GROUND BLIZZARD WARNING WILL BE REPLACED WITH A HIGH WIND
WARNING...

VISIBILITIES HAVE IMPROVED ACROSS THE AREA...WITH ONLY A FEW SPOTS
SHOWING REDUCTIONS LESS THAN A MILE. THE MAIN THREAT WILL
TRANSITION TO THE WIDESPREAD STRONG WINDS ACROSS THE AREA...SO
WILL REPLACE THE GROUND BLIZZARD WARNING WITH A HIGH WIND WARNING.
HOWEVER...SLICK ROADS AND LOCALLY REDUCED VISIBILITIES WILL
CONTINUE IN THE ARLINGTON AND VEDAUWOO-BUFORD AREAS DUE TO BLOWING
SNOW.

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Cheyenne, WY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 17, 2:22 AM MSTHigh Wind WarningCYSAlbany, Carbon, Laramie, Platte40 hr

Nearby

Blizzard Warnings in Wyoming, 2015Every blizzard warning in 2015

Sources

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