A potent spring storm moved across the Central Rockies and produced heavy snowfall over much of south central and southeast Wyoming. 5 feet over the mountains.
Every event with a place to put it; 50 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS CYS wrote it up.
A potent spring storm moved across the Central Rockies and produced heavy snowfall over much of south central and southeast Wyoming. Snow totals ranged from 6 to 20 inches lower elevations to 2 to 3.5 feet over the mountains. The heavy snow created poor visibilities and snow packed roadway. Portions of Interstates 25 and 80 were closed for several hours.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Cheyenne, WY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 10, 2:41 PM MST, 6 hours 19 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
341 PM MDT SAT MAY 10 2014
.SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 330 PM MDT SAT MAY 10 2014
LATEST WATER VAPOR LOOP WAS SHOWING THE UPPER LEVEL TROF REALLY
DIGGING ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. AIRCRAFT DATA WAS EVEN
SHOWING A 130KT JET DIVING SOUTH ON THE BACK SIDE OF THIS TROF
WITH SOME GOOD JET ENERGY MOVING THROUGH THE BASE OF THE TROF.
THIS IS HELPING SETUP A BAROCLINIC LEAF ACROSS NORTHERN COLORADO
WHERE SOME SHOWERS WERE DEVELOPING. MEANWHILE...THE JET ENERGY IN
THE NORTHERN PLAINS APPEARS TO HAVE WEAKENED SOMEWHAT WHICH IS
WHERE WE WERE ANTICIPATING THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF THE UPPER
LEVEL JET TO INCREASE LIFT TONIGHT. THEREFORE...NOT REAL
CONFIDENT IN THE JETS COUPLING FOR VERY LONG TONIGHT WHICH IS WHAT
THE NAM WAS SUGGESTING ON THE 12Z RUN. THIS PORTION OF THE JET
APPEARS TO BE MORE IN LINE WITH THE GFS SOLUTION. HOWEVER...BOTH
THE NAM/GFS WERE SHOWING THE JET ENERGY ACROSS THE NORTHERN
ROCKIES LIFTING MUCH QUICKER TO THE NORTHEAST TONIGHT WHICH MAY
HELP ENHANCE THE BAROCLINIC ZONE CURRENTLY SHIFTING SOUTHEAST
THROUGH NORTHERN WYOMING. AT THIS POINT...IT APPEARS LIKE THE
BEST LIFT WILL TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE LEFT EXIT REGION OF THE JET
LATE TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW MORNING IN SOUTHEAST WY AND THE
NORTHERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE. THIS WILL INCREASE THE THREAT FOR
SNOWFALL MAINLY SOUTHEAST OF A LINE FROM WHEATLAND TO CHADRON.
WE DID BACK OFF A BIT ON SNOW AMOUNTS A BIT SINCE IT APPEARS LIKE
THIS BAND OF FRONTOGENISIS MAY BE SHORTLIVED ESPECIALLY BETWEEN
CHEYENNE AND CHADRON. IN FACT...THIS BAND MAY CONTINUE TO SHIFT
SOUTHEAST TOMORROW MORNING AND IMPACT AREAS IN THE NEBRASKA
PANHANDLE. THIS AREA MAY NEED TO BE WATCHED...BUT SINCE THIS
BAROCLINIC BAND APPEARS TO SHIFTING SOUTHEAST FAIRLY QUICKLY WITH
COLD AIR...IT MAY NOT IMPACT THE AREA FOR LONG. IN FACT...LOWER
ELEVATIONS BELOW 4500FT MAY ONLY SEE RAIN. AFTER THIS BAND OF
PRECIPITATION MOVES THROUGH...THE BULK OF THE SYNOPTIC SCALE
FORCING IS PROGGED TO REMAIN IN COLORADO THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY
WHICH WILL LIMIT SNOWFALL RATES. THE MODELS ARE TRYING TO BRING IN
COLDER AIR THAN PREVIOUS RUNS...BUT WITH THE WARM GROUND AND
TEMPERATURES HANGING AROUND FREEZING WE WOULD NOT EXPECT THE BIG
ACCUMULATIONS EXCEPT IN THE MOUNTAINS.
ANOTHER FACTOR THAT WILL COME IN TO PLAY IS THE GUSTY NORTHEAST
WINDS ESPECIALLY TOWARDS RAWLINS SUNDAY. MODELS ARE ADVERTISING MOMENTUM
TRANSFER VALUES AROUND 30 TO 40 KTS WHICH MAY CAUSE QUITE A BIT OF
BLOWING A DRIFTING.
THE SYSTEM DOES BEGIN TO FILL IN SUNDAY NIGHT AND SHIFT NORTHEAST
WHICH SHOULD ALLOW FOR OUR SNOWFALL TO TAPER OFF TO FLURRIES.
.LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY)
ISSUED AT 330 PM MDT SAT MAY 10 2014
LINGERING RAIN/SNOW SHOULD END ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA EARLY MONDAY
AS THE UPPER TROF AXIS PASSES TO THE EAST OF THE AREA. A FEW SNOW
SHOWER SHOULD STILL OCCUR OVER THE HIGHER MTNS AS A WEAK SECONDARY
IMPULSE RIDES SOUTH ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT. STILL QUITE COOL
MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT UNDER NORTHERLY UPPER FLOW WITH A SFC HIGH
SETTLING OVER WY. EXPECTED PATTERN FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK
FEATURES A NW FLOW OVER THE REGION ALLOWING FOR REINFORCING PUSHES
OF COOLER AIR TO DROP OUT OF CANADA INTO THE PLAINS. AFTER MAINLY
DRY WEATHER TUESDAY UPSLOPE FLOW ON BACKSIDE OF THESE SURGES WILL
BRING CHANCES FOR PCPN OVER MAINLY EASTERN PARTS OF THE CWA WEDS
THROUGH FRIDAY. DRIER AND MILDER WEATHER FOR SATURDAY AS UPSLOPE
FLOW ENDS.
&&
.AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY EVENING)
ISSUED AT 330 PM MDT SAT MAY 10 2014
DETERIORATING CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR THIS EVENING AS SFC UPSLOPE
FLOW INCREASES AND AN APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE AREA COMBINE TO
PRODUCE WIDESPREAD PCPN WITH IFR/LIFR CIGS AND VSBYS ESPECIALLY
OVER WY TERMINALS WITH MTNS OBSCURED. POOR CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY SUNDAY.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
ISSUED AT 330 PM MDT SAT MAY 10 2014
NO REAL BIG CONCERNS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS SINCE WE ARE IN
GREENUP AND GROUND CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN MOIST.
&&
.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 3 AM SUNDAY TO 6 AM MDT MONDAY FOR
WYZ106-115-117>119.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 3 AM SUNDAY TO 6 AM MDT MONDAY FOR
WYZ116.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM MDT
MONDAY FOR WYZ109>111-113.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM MDT MONDAY
FOR WYZ112-114.
NE...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 3 AM SUNDAY TO 6 AM MDT MONDAY FOR
NEZ002-003-095-096.
&&
SHORT TERM...REC
LONG TERM...RE
AVIATION...RE
FIRE WEATHER...RECHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 1215 PM MDT SAT MAY 10 2014 WYZ101>119-111145- CONVERSE COUNTY LOWER ELEVATIONS-NIOBRARA COUNTY- NORTH LARAMIE RANGE-FERRIS/SEMINOE/SHIRLEY MOUNTAINS- SHIRLEY BASIN-CENTRAL LARAMIE RANGE AND SOUTHWEST PLATTE COUNTY- EAST PLATTE COUNTY-GOSHEN COUNTY-CENTRAL CARBON COUNTY- NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS-SOUTHWEST CARBON COUNTY- SIERRA MADRE RANGE-UPPER NORTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN-SNOWY RANGE- LARAMIE VALLEY-SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE-SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE FOOTHILLS- CENTRAL LARAMIE COUNTY-EAST LARAMIE COUNTY- 1215 PM MDT SAT MAY 10 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL WYOMING... SOUTH CENTRAL WYOMING AND SOUTHEAST WYOMING. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP OVER SOUTHEAST WYOMING THIS AFTERNOON WITH SNOW SHOWERS INTO THE SNOWY AND SIERRA MADRE RANGES. A FEW WEAK THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD OVER SOUTHEAST WYOMING THIS EVENING...WITH RAIN CHANGING TO SNOW LATE THIS EVENING AS SNOW LEVELS DROP TO 5000 FEET...OR LOWER BY LATE TONIGHT. SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED OVER THE MOUNTAINS WITH ONLY A FEW INCHES OVER THE HIGH PLAINS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO FALL OVER MOST OF SOUTHEAST WYOMING ON MOTHERS DAY AS A STRONG SPRING STORM SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE CENTRAL ROCKIES. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OVER THE MOUNTAINS WITH FAIR AMOUNTS OF SNOW POSSIBLE FOR AREAS JUST EAST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE...INCLUDING CHEYENNE. MAINLY LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED ELSEWHERE. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF LATE SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT. && THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGIC...AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT... HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHEYENNE NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-111145- DAWES-BOX BUTTE-SCOTTS BLUFF-BANNER-MORRILL-KIMBALL-CHEYENNE- NORTH SIOUX-SOUTH SIOUX- 1215 PM MDT SAT MAY 10 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A STRONG SPRING STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION TONIGHT ALONG WITH A STRONG COLD FRONT. WIDESPREAD RAIN WILL DEVELOP OVER MOST OF THE PANHANDLE THIS EVENING. RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW LATE TONIGHT OVER HIGHER TERRAIN SUCH AS THE PINE RIDGE. SOME LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN IN THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...BUT MOST AREAS WILL SEE RAIN OR A MIXTURE OF RAIN AND SNOW WITH NO SNOW ACCUMULATION EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT. && THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGIC...AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT... HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHEYENNE
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
50 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
The Webber Springs SNOTEL site estimated 39 inches of snow.
The Divide Peak SNOTEL site estimated 43 inches of snow.
The Sage Creek Basin SNOTEL site estimated 34 inches of snow.
The Blackhall Mountain SNOTEL site estimated 38 inches of snow.
The Old Battle SNOTEL site estimated 34 inches of snow.
The Cinnabar Park SNOTEL site estimated 39 inches of snow.
The Brooklyn Lake SNOTEL site estimated 36 inches of snow.
The Sand Lake SNOTEL site estimated 35 inches of snow.
The North French Creek SNOTEL site estimated 25 inches of snow.
Two feet of snow was reported 15 miles east of Riverside.
Eight inches of snow was reported 12 miles west of Albany.
Eighteen to twenty-four inches of snow was reported four miles south of Centennial.
Thirty inches of snow was reported 35 miles west of Laramie.
The Laprele Creek SNOTEL site estimated 13 inches of snow.
The Windy Peak SNOTEL site estimated 20 inches of snow.
The Crow Creek SNOTEL site estimated 16 inches of snow.
Six inches of snow was reported in Saratoga.
Twenty-two inches of snow was measured in Arlington.
Two feet of snow was reported 10 miles east of Encampment.
Fourteen inches of snow was reported in Encampment.
Eight inches of snow was measured three miles northeast of Cheyenne.
Seven inches of snow was reported two miles northeast of Cheyenne.
Sixteen inches of snow was measured 10 miles west-southwest of Tie Siding.
Twelve to fourteen inches of snow was reported eight miles southwest of Wheatland.
Eighteen inches of snow was reported 22 miles west of Cheyenne.
Six to eight inches of snow was reported in Rawlins.
Seven inches of snow was reported in Laramie.
Sixteen to eighteen inches of snow was reported in Riverside.
Twenty-one inches of snow was reported 21 miles northwest of Laramie.
Eight inches of snow was reported three miles east of Douglas.
Sixteen inches of snow was reported 14 miles southeast of Saratoga.
Eight inches of snow was measured four miles southeast of Laramie.
Eight inches of snow was reported in Glendo.
Nine inches of snow was reported in Wheatland.
Six inches of snow was measured four miles north of Wheatland.
Fourteen inches of snow was measured four miles southeast of Buford.
Six to eight inches of snow was reported in Dixon.
Six to eight inches of snow was reported in Muddy Gap.
Seven inches of snow was reported 13 miles north-northwest of Rock River.
Ten inches of snow was reported seven miles east of Garrett.
Eight inches of snow was reported 10 miles east of Cheyenne.
Ten inches of snow was reported 18 miles west of Cheyenne.
Seven inches of snow was reported six miles northeast of Cheyenne.
Six to eight inches of snow was reported eight miles southwest of Torrington.
Six to eight inches of snow was reported one mile east of Federal.
Six inches of snow was reported in La Grange.
A foot of snow was reported 10 miles northeast of Cheyenne.
A foot of snow was reported in Cheyenne.
Six to eight inches of snow was reported five miles west of Lyman.
Seven inches of snow was reported in Burns.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, May 2014
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: 514747, 514749, 514750, 514779, 514781, 514752, 514753, 514754, 514776, 514804, 514812, 514854, 514926, 514785, 514786, 514789, 514807, 514809, 514818, 514819, 514821, 514822, 514823, 514825, 514835, 514836, 514840, 514842, 514845, 514849, 514852, 514860, 514863, 514865, 514866, 514868, 514870, 514892, 514894, 514896, and more.