Wyoming, 2000

Winter Storm in Wyoming, December 15, 2000

December 15, 2000 · NWS UNR · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A strong cold front moved across the region producing strong winds from 35 to 45 mph with gusts to 60 mph. Up to three inches of snowfall was reported with ground blizzard conditions bringing visibilities to zero.

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 cold front moved across the region producing strong winds from 35 to 45 mph with gusts to 60 mph. Up to three inches of snowfall was reported with ground blizzard conditions bringing visibilities to zero. Area wide there were over 10 auto accidents reported. On one highway south of Gillette several semi-trucks were jack-knifed due to poor visibility and icy conditions. Conditions improved by late evening across the region. Wind chill temperatures dropped to 50 to 70 below zero through the night and into the next day.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Moorcroft / Crook Except E

When
December 15, 4:30 PM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where
Moorcroft / Crook Except E forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.589, -104.570 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Gillette / N Campbell

When
December 15, 4:30 PM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where
Gillette / N Campbell forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.248, -105.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, South Campbell

When
December 15, 4:30 PM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where
South Campbell forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.248, -105.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Weston / Weston Except X Ne

When
December 15, 4:30 PM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where
Weston / Weston Except X Ne forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.841, -104.568 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wyoming Black Hills / E Crook / X Ne Weston

When
December 15, 4:30 PM MST to 10:00 PM MST
Where
Wyoming Black Hills / E Crook / X Ne Weston forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wyoming in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, December 2000

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: 5177247, 5177248, 5177249, 5177250, 5177251.