Wyoming, 1997

Blizzard and High Wind in Wyoming, December 27 to 28, 1997

December 27 to 28, 1997 · NWS CYS · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

Ground blizzard conditions were created by strong winds blowing over freshly fallen snow. Near zero visibility was reported at Horse Creek at 1150 and on Wyoming highway 20 between Keeline and Lusk at 1815.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS CYS wrote it up.

Ground blizzard conditions were created by strong winds blowing over freshly fallen snow. Near zero visibility was reported at Horse Creek at 1150 and on Wyoming highway 20 between Keeline and Lusk at 1815. Vehicles were stranded around Lusk, and hotels and churches in Lusk were filling up with stranded travelers. Between 2130 and 2215, area roads were closed by officials in Cheyenne, Laramie, Wheatland and Torrington due to blowing and drifting snow coupled with poor visibilities. Sustained winds of 45 MPH were recorded 32 NE Cheyenne between 2000 and midnight, and Cheyenne recorded a wind gust of 67 MPH at 1056.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 blizzard, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Laramie Range

When
December 27, 11:00 AM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Laramie Range forecast zone

Blizzard, Niobrara

When
December 27, 11:00 AM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Niobrara forecast zone
Coordinates
44.589, -104.570 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Goshen

When
December 27, 11:00 AM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Goshen forecast zone

Blizzard, Laramie Valley

When
December 27, 11:00 AM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Laramie Valley forecast zone

Blizzard, Platte

When
December 27, 11:00 AM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Platte forecast zone

High Wind, Pine Bluffs

When
December 27, 11:00 AM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Pine Bluffs forecast zone
Measured
39 kt (45 mph)

High Wind, Cheyenne Foothills

When
December 27, 11:00 AM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Cheyenne Foothills forecast zone
Measured
58 kt (67 mph)

What these are

Blizzard
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wyoming in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, December 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5626411, 5626412, 5626413, 5626414, 5626415, 5626416, 5626417.