Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Wyoming, December 27 to 28, 1997

Name: Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Wyoming, December 27 to 28, 1997
Start: 1997-12-27T12:00
End: 1997-12-28T01:00
Location: Wyoming

December 27 to 28, 1997 · NWS UNR · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A strong low pressure system moved through the Northern Plains resulting in snow, very gusty winds, and below zero wind chills. The area hit hardest by the storm was extreme northeast Wyoming.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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 UNR wrote it up.

A strong low pressure system moved through the Northern Plains resulting in snow, very gusty winds, and below zero wind chills. The area hit hardest by the storm was extreme northeast Wyoming. Snow amounts in this area ranged from four to eight inches. Elsewhere snow amounts were one to two inches but combined with wind gusts over 50 mph visibilities were occasionally reduced to less than one half mile.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 winter storm, 2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Gillette

When: December 27, 12:00 PM MST to December 28, 1:00 AM MST
Where: Gillette forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.248, -105.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Moorcroft

When: December 27, 12:00 PM MST to December 28, 1:00 AM MST
Where: Moorcroft forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.589, -104.570 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, South Campbell

When: December 27, 12:00 PM MST to December 28, 1:00 AM MST
Where: South Campbell forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.248, -105.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Weston

When: December 27, 12:00 PM MST to December 28, 1:00 AM MST
Where: Weston forecast zone
Coordinates: 43.841, -104.568 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wyoming Black Hills

When: December 27, 12:00 PM MST to December 28, 1:00 AM MST
Where: Wyoming Black Hills forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.215, -104.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Wyoming in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings 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: 5624938, 5624939, 5624940, 5624941, 5624942.