Wyoming, 1998

Blizzard in Wyoming, October 4 to 5, 1998

October 4 to 5, 1998 · NWS CYS · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

8 to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow fell across eastern Converse County and Niobrara County. The heavy snow downed trees and power lines.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
$225,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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.

8 to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow fell across eastern Converse County and Niobrara County. The heavy snow downed trees and power lines. Ice build up was up to 6 inches around many power lines. The build up of ice around the power lines along with 40 mph winds, caused 200 power poles to snap. 4000 people were without power for up to 5 days in the Lusk, Manville, Van Tassle, and Lance Creek areas.. Interstate 80 between Cheyenne and Laramie was closed due to near zero visibilities.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Converse

When
October 4, 7:00 PM MST to October 5, 10:30 AM MST
Where
Converse forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
43.841, -104.568 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Niobrara

When
October 4, 7:00 PM MST to October 5, 10:30 AM MST
Where
Niobrara forecast zone
Property damage
$200,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
44.589, -104.570 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Laramie Range

When
October 4, 7:00 PM MST to October 5, 10:30 AM MST
Where
Laramie Range forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT

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.

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, October 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5672871, 5672872, 5672873.