An intense low pressure system moved quickly east across the central Rockies and plains. Heavy snow developed over the mountains and high valleys of southeast Wyoming, with lesser amounts across the plains.
Every event with a place to put it; 16 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.
An intense low pressure system moved quickly east across the central Rockies and plains. Heavy snow developed over the mountains and high valleys of southeast Wyoming, with lesser amounts across the plains. Strong and gusty north to northwest winds produced considerable blowing and drifting snow, which severely impacted travel along Interstates 25 and 80 throughout southeast Wyoming. WYDOT closed Interstate 80 from west of Rawlins to Cheyenne for an extended period of time due to near-zero visibility in the Arlington area and several surrounding towns at capacity. Interstate 25 from Chugwater to Wheatland and US Highway 287 from Laramie to the Colorado border were closed due to winter weather conditions.
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 Nov 10, 3:37 PM MST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
337 PM MST TUE NOV 10 2015
.SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY)
ISSUED AT 330 PM MST TUE NOV 10 2015
AFTERNOON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWED THE VIGOROUS UPPER LOW MOVING
SOUTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHERN NV. A PIECE OF ENERGY SPLIT OFF FROM
THIS SYSTEM WAS LIFTING NORTHEAST INTO CENTRAL MT. A LARGE SWATCH
OF SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE WAS SPREADING NORTHEAST ACROSS UT INTO
WESTERN WY. SOME LIGHT RAIN OR SPRINKLES WERE DEVELOPING ALONG AND
WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE IN THE VICINITY OF THE MID LEVEL
FRONTOGENETICAL BAND. THE LEADING EDGE OF A COLDER AIR MASS EXTENDED
FROM EASTERN ND ACROSS NORTHWEST SD INTO NORTH CENTRAL WY WITH
STRATUS AND TEMPERATURES... GUSTY NORTH-NORTHWEST WINDS AND TEMPS
FALLING INTO THE 30S. TEMPS WARMED INTO THE 50S-MID 60S ACROSS
MUCH OF THE CWA THIS AFTERNOON.
12Z/18Z MODEL GUIDANCE IS IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE POSITION AND
TRACK OF THE UPPER LOW ACROSS THE FOUR CORNERS THIS EVENING AND
CENTRAL ROCKIES TONIGHT. RAPID CYCLOGENESIS AND INTENSIFICATION
OCCURS OVER THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY
WITH THE INTERACTION OF A 150-KT 250MB JET STREAK. LOW OCCLUDES
OVER THE CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY. LIGHT RAIN
AND SNOW DEVELOPING TO THE WEST WILL CHANGE TO SNOW EARLY THIS
EVENING WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE COLDER AIR MASS AND OVERSPREAD MUCH
OF SOUTHEAST WY LATER THIS EVENING. STRONG NORTHERLY UPSLOPE WINDS
AND DYNAMIC Q-G LIFT IN LEFT EXIT REGION OF UPPER JET WILL INTENSIFY
THE SNOWFALL OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS WITH 1-2" PER HOUR POSSIBLE
LATER TONIGHT. THE HIGHER VALLEYS OUT WEST CAN ALSO EXPECT PERIODS
OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW. OVER THE SOUTHEAST WY PLAINS AND SOUTHERN
NE PANHANDLE...THE RAIN TO SNOW CHANGEOVER WILL OCCUR LATER THIS
EVENING WITH PERIODS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW. GUSTY NORTH TO
NORTHWEST SURFACE WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WILL DEVELOP ON THE BACK
SIDE OF THE INTENSIFYING LOW OVER NORTHEAST CO LATE TONIGHT AND
EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. SNOW WILL GRADUALLY TAPER OFF WEDNESDAY
MORNING...BUT THE GUSTY WINDS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON
WITH AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW ALONG THE I-80 CORRIDOR. CONSENSUS
MODEL QPF ARRIVED AT 8-13 INCHES FOR THE SNOWY/SIERRA MADRES...4-8
INCHES SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE/FOOTHILLS...LARAMIE VALLEY...AND NORTH
SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS... 2-4 INCHES SOUTHEAST WY PLAINS...AND 1-2
INCHES WESTERN NE PANHANDLE. WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN ISSUED.
AFTER THIS SYSTEM QUICKLY EXITS TO THE EAST OF THE REGION...A FAST
MOVING CLIPPER TROUGH WILL TRACK EAST-SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE NORTHERN
GREAT PLAINS THURSDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL INCREASE THE CRAIG-CASPER
850-700MB GRADIENTS WITH 750MB WINDS APPROACHING 60KT ALONG THE
LARAMIE RANGE WEDNESDAY EVENING AND NIGHT. WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER
HIGH WIND HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WIND PRONE AREAS INCLUDING ARLINGTON...
BORDEAUX AND VEDAUWOO. WINDS SHOULD DIMINISH THURSDAY MORNING. HIGH
TEMPERATURES WILL AVERAGE 5-10 DEGREES BELOW SEASONAL NORMALS WITH
LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE TEENS AND 20S.
.LONG TERM...(THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY)
ISSUED AT 230 PM MST TUE NOV 10 2015
THURSDAY NIGHT/FRIDAY...NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT BEGINS TO WEAKEN AS THE
AIR MASS MODERATES WITH SURFACE LEE TROUGHING SETTING UP TO THE LEE
OF THE ROCKIES. DRY WITH LIMITED LOW AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE.
SATURDAY/SUNDAY...NICE WARMING TREND WITH ZONAL FLOW ALOFT AND SURFACE
LEE TROUGHING HELPING TO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL DOWNSLOPE WARMING.
MONDAY...FLOW ALOFT BACKS QUICKLY TO SOUTH-SOUTHWEST IN ADVANCE OF
THE NEXT AMPLIFIED SHORTWAVE TROUGH ALOFT APPROACHING FROM UTAH. WILL
SEE A COLD FRONT PASSAGE EARLY IN THE DAY IF TIMING IS ON TRACK...
PRODUCING A COOLER DAY. PRECIPITATION SHIELD MOVES INTO OUR WESTERN
COUNTIES IN THE AFTERNOON.
TUESDAY...UPPER TROUGH PROGGED TO TRACK ACROSS NORTHERN NEW MEXICO
WITH PRIMARY PRECIPITATION FALLING OVER COLORADO...HOWEVER...ENOUGH
MOISTURE AND DYNAMICS FOR OUR SOUTHERN COUNTIES TO BE IN THE FRINGE
OF THE PRECIPITATION...AND THUS WILL KEEP IN LOW POPS FOR THIS UNTIL
THE MODELS GET A BETTER HANDLE ON THE SCENARIO.
&&
.AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY AFTERNOON)
ISSUED AT 1029 AM MST TUE NOV 10 2015
WYOMING TAFS...BECOMING IFR THIS EVENING IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.
CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES IMPROVING SLOWLY AFTER DAYBREAK WEDNESDAY.
MOUNTAINS OBSCURED. WINDY ON WEDNESDAY WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 KNOTS.
NEBRASKA TAFS...CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES LOWERING TO IFR OVERNIGHT
IN SNOW AND FOG AND BLOWING SNOW. CONDITIONS SLOWLY IMPROVING
WEDNESDAY MORNING. QUITE WINDY ON WEDNESDAY WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 40
KNOTS.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
ISSUED AT 232 PM MST TUE NOV 10 2015
A VIGOROUS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE QUICKLY NORTHEAST ACROSS THE
CENTRAL ROCKIES AND GREAT PLAINS DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. LIGHT RAIN
AND SNOW OVER CARBON COUNTY WILL SPREAD EAST AND CHANGE TO SNOW THIS
EVENING. THE SNOW WILL INTENSIFY...WITH PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY
SNOW FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND HIGH VALLEYS OF SOUTHEAST WYOMING TONIGHT
AND EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. ACROSS THE PLAINS...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS
WILL BE LIGHTER. STRONG AND GUSTY NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS BEHIND
A COLD FRONT AND ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE INTENSE SURFACE LOW TO
THE SOUTHEAST WILL CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW...ESPECIALLY ALONG
THE INTERSTATE 80 CORRIDOR FROM ARLINGTON TO CHEYENNE TO SIDNEY.
ANOTHER PERIOD OF STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS WILL OCCUR WEDNESDAY NIGHT
AND THURSDAY MORNING FOR THE WIND PRONE AREAS OF SOUTHEAST WYOMING.
DRIER...BREEZY AND WARMER WEATHER IS EXPECTED FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
&&
.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM MST
WEDNESDAY FOR WYZ103>106-109-111-113.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON MST
WEDNESDAY FOR WYZ118-119.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON MST
WEDNESDAY FOR WYZ110-112-114>117.
NE...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON MST
WEDNESDAY FOR NEZ054-055.
&&
SHORT TERM...MAJ
LONG TERM...RUBIN
AVIATION...RUBIN
FIRE WEATHER...MAJHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 216 PM MST TUE NOV 10 2015 NEZ054-055-WYZ103>106-109>119-112130- KIMBALL-CHEYENNE-NORTH LARAMIE RANGE- FERRIS/SEMINOE/SHIRLEY MOUNTAINS-SHIRLEY BASIN- CENTRAL LARAMIE RANGE AND SOUTHWEST PLATTE 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- 216 PM MST TUE NOV 10 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEBRASKA...EAST CENTRAL WYOMING...SOUTH CENTRAL WYOMING AND SOUTHEAST WYOMING. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT LIGHT RAIN AND SNOW DEVELOPING OVER CARBON COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON WILL SPREAD EAST ACROSS SOUTHEAST WYOMING AND CHANGE TO SNOW THIS EVENING. THE SNOW WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY TONIGHT...WITH HEAVY SNOW AT TIMES OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND HIGH VALLEYS. LIGHT RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT ACROSS THE SOUTHERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE. NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH LATE TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A VIGOROUS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS WILL QUICKLY MOVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS WEDNESDAY. THE SNOW WILL TAPER OFF MOST AREAS BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. A PERIOD OF STRONG AND GUSTY WEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING FOR WIND PRONE AREAS INCLUDING ARLINGTON...BORDEAUX AND VEDAUWOO. GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NEZ002-003-019>021-095-096-WYZ101-102-107-108-112130- DAWES-BOX BUTTE-SCOTTS BLUFF-BANNER-MORRILL-NORTH SIOUX- SOUTH SIOUX-CONVERSE COUNTY LOWER ELEVATIONS-NIOBRARA COUNTY- EAST PLATTE COUNTY-GOSHEN COUNTY- 216 PM MST TUE NOV 10 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEBRASKA AND EAST CENTRAL WYOMING. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT LIGHT RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW TONIGHT. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF A FEW INCHES ARE EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY GUSTY NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WEDNESDAY WILL CREATE SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW RESULTING IN SLICK ROADWAYS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. MAJ
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
16 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The Divide Peak SNOTEL site (elevation 8880 ft) estimated 19.5 inches of snow.
The Old Battle SNOTEL site (elevation 10000 ft) estimated 12 inches of snow.
The Webber Springs SNOTEL site (elevation 9250 ft) estimated 18 inches of snow.
The Blackhall Mountain SNOTEL site (elevation 9820 ft) estimated 16.5 inches of snow.
The Cinnabar Park SNOTEL site (elevation 9574 ft) estimated 12 inches of snow.
An observer four miles southeast of Buford measured 7.5 inches of snow.
Ten inches of snow was measured near Elk Mountain.
A foot of snow was measured two miles south of Elk Mountain.
Four to six inches of snow was reported along Interstate 80 from west of Arlington to Wagonhound. Strong northwest winds with gusts to 60 mph produced near-zero visibility in blowing and drifting snow. Interstate 80 was closed.
Seven inches of snow was measured 20 miles west-southwest of FE Warren Air Force Base.
Seven inches of snow was measured one mile north-northeast of Centennial.
Nine inches of snow was measured 18 miles south of Rock River.
Four to seven inches of snow was reported from east of the Interstate 80 summit to mile marker 353. Strong northwest winds of 40 to 60 mph produced near-zero visibility in blowing and drifting snow. Interstate 80 was closed.
Three to six inches of snow was reported. Strong northwest winds of 30 to 50 mph produced visibility as low as one quarter mile in blowing and drifting snow. Interstate 80 was closed from Cheyenne westward.
Three to six inches of snow was reported. Strong northwest winds of 30 to 50 mph produced visibility as low as one quarter mile in blowing and drifting snow.
Eight inches of snow was measured 20 miles southwest of Wheatland.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, November 2015
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: 607172, 607173, 607174, 607175, 607176, 607177, 607186, 607187, 607189, 607196, 607197, 607198, 607199, 607201, 607202, 607200.