Wyoming, 1998

Winter Storm in Wyoming, March 17 to 18, 1998

March 17 to 18, 1998 · NWS RIW · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

Heavy snow, considerable blowing and drifting across parts of southwest and central Wyoming. Schools, businesses, roads closed in Fremont, Hot Springs and Sweetwater Counties.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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

Open the live radar over this ground

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 RIW wrote it up.

Heavy snow, considerable blowing and drifting across parts of southwest and central Wyoming. Schools, businesses, roads closed in Fremont, Hot Springs and Sweetwater Counties. First time some schools had been closed for many years in Fremont County. Power outages in sections of Fremont County. Five to six foot drifts reported in parts of Sweetwater County, with I-80 closed until the morning of the 19th.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Green Mountains / S Fremont

When
March 17, 4:00 PM MST to March 18, 3:00 PM MST
Where
Green Mountains / S Fremont forecast zone
Coordinates
42.904, -109.273 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lander Foothills / C Fremont

When
March 17, 4:00 PM MST to March 18, 3:00 PM MST
Where
Lander Foothills / C Fremont forecast zone
Coordinates
43.002, -109.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Owl Creek Mountains / S Hot Springs

When
March 17, 4:00 PM MST to March 18, 3:00 PM MST
Where
Owl Creek Mountains / S Hot Springs forecast zone
Coordinates
43.695, -107.538 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Red Desert / Ne Sweetwater

When
March 17, 4:00 PM MST to March 18, 3:00 PM MST
Where
Red Desert / Ne Sweetwater forecast zone
Coordinates
42.264, -110.656 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Rock Springs/Green River / Sw Sweetwater

When
March 17, 4:00 PM MST to March 18, 3:00 PM MST
Where
Rock Springs/Green River / Sw Sweetwater forecast zone
Coordinates
42.962, -106.798 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, South Big Horn Basin / N Hot Springs / W Washakie

When
March 17, 4:00 PM MST to March 18, 3:00 PM MST
Where
South Big Horn Basin / N Hot Springs / W Washakie forecast zone
Coordinates
43.635, -107.022 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wind River Basin / Nc and E Fremont

When
March 17, 4:00 PM MST to March 18, 3:00 PM MST
Where
Wind River Basin / Nc and E Fremont forecast zone
Coordinates
43.100, -110.623 (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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wyoming in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, March 1998

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: 5632769, 5632770, 5632771, 5632772, 5632773, 5632774, 5632775.