Alert archive / Wyoming / Blizzard Warnings in 2015

Blizzard Warning 3, NWS Cheyenne, WY

December 23, 2015Albany County, Carbon County, Wyoming

NWS Cheyenne, WY issued this blizzard warning at Dec 23, 2015, 7:55 PM MST for Albany County, Carbon County, Wyoming. It was in force for 8 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
Dec 23, 2015, 7:55 PM MST (02:55 UTC)
Expired
Dec 24, 2015, 4:01 AM MST
In force
8 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 02:54 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, 2.9 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 2015-12-24Temperature 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 2015-12-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 37 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1030 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
37 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
66 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.

708 
WWUS45 KCYS 240255
WSWCYS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
755 PM MST WED DEC 23 2015

...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS BEING OBSERVED ALONG INTERSTATE 80 AT
ARLINGTON WYOMING...

.STRONG WINDS FROM 40 TO 60 MPH ARE PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT BLOWING
SNOW AND REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO NEAR ZERO IN SECTIONS OF
INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN LARAMIE AND RAWLINS...MORE SPECIFICALLY
AROUND THE ARLINGTON AND WAGONHOUND EXITS ALONG INTERSTATE 80.
THESE CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL MORE HOURS TONIGHT
UNTIL THE WINDS BEGIN TO SUBSIDE TOWARDS DAYBREAK. ANY TRAVEL IN
THESE AREAS IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED.

WYZ110-241100-
/O.UPG.KCYS.WW.Y.0028.000000T0000Z-151224T0700Z/
/O.NEW.KCYS.BZ.W.0003.151224T0255Z-151224T1200Z/
NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ARLINGTON...ELK MOUNTAIN
755 PM MST WED DEC 23 2015

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MST THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHEYENNE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MST THURSDAY. THE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* TIMING...THROUGH MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...LITTLE OR NO ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL 
  ACCUMULATION. 

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...WEST WINDS 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 65
  MPH. WINDS PRODUCING BLOWING SNOW AND NEAR WHITEOUT CONDITIONS
  WITH ZERO VISIBILITIES AT TIMES.

* IMPACTS...MAINLY TO TRAVEL AND RECREATION. ROADS WILL REMAIN ICY
  AND SNOW PACKED AND WILL LIKELY BE IMPASSABLE IN SOME LOCATIONS.
  VERY LOW VISIBILITIES AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL BE
  DANGEROUS TO ANYONE CAUGHT OUTDOORS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING 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.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
824 
WWUS45 KCYS 240536
WSWCYS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
1036 PM MST WED DEC 23 2015

...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS BEING OBSERVED ALONG INTERSTATE 80 AT
ARLINGTON WYOMING...

.STRONG WINDS FROM 40 TO 60 MPH ARE PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT BLOWING
SNOW AND REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO NEAR ZERO IN SECTIONS OF
INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN LARAMIE AND RAWLINS...MORE SPECIFICALLY
AROUND THE ARLINGTON AND WAGONHOUND EXITS ALONG INTERSTATE 80.
THESE CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL MORE HOURS TONIGHT
UNTIL THE WINDS BEGIN TO SUBSIDE TOWARDS DAYBREAK. ANY TRAVEL IN
THESE AREAS IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED.

WYZ110-241200-
/O.CON.KCYS.BZ.W.0003.000000T0000Z-151224T1200Z/
NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ARLINGTON...ELK MOUNTAIN
1036 PM MST WED DEC 23 2015

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MST THURSDAY...

* TIMING...THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...LITTLE OR NO ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL 
  ACCUMULATION. 

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...WEST WINDS 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 
  MPH. WINDS PRODUCING BLOWING SNOW AND NEAR WHITEOUT CONDITIONS 
  WITH ZERO VISIBILITIES AT TIMES. 

* IMPACTS...MAINLY TO TRAVEL AND RECREATION. ROADS WILL REMAIN 
  ICY AND SNOW PACKED AND WILL LIKELY BE IMPASSABLE IN SOME 
  LOCATIONS. VERY LOW VISIBILITIES AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES 
  WILL BE DANGEROUS TO ANYONE CAUGHT OUTDOORS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING 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.

&&

$$
809 
WWUS45 KCYS 241101
WSWCYS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
401 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015

WYZ110-241215-
/O.CAN.KCYS.BZ.W.0003.000000T0000Z-151224T1200Z/
NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ARLINGTON...ELK MOUNTAIN
401 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHEYENNE HAS CANCELLED THE
BLIZZARD WARNING. 

WINDS HAVE STEADILY DIMINISHED OVERNIGHT WITH VISIBILITIES
IMPROVED SUBSTANTIALLY FROM EARLIER. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
FURTHER EASE THROUGH THE MORNING...ALTHOUGH A FEW SPOTS NEAR
ARLINGTON MAY STILL EXPERIENCE BLOWING SNOW CONDITIONS WITH
VISIBILITIES DOWN TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES. WIDESPREAD WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS ARE NOT ANTICIPATED THOUGH...SO WILL CANCEL THE
BLIZZARD WARNING.

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 24, 1:17 PM MSTWinter Weather AdvisoryCYSAlbany, Carbon, Converse, Goshen, Laramie, Niobrara and 1 more43 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.