A upper level disturbance produced moderate snowfall and gusty west to northwest winds over the Snowy and Sierra Madre mountains. Snow totals were estimated between 6 and 12 inches.
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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 upper level disturbance produced moderate snowfall and gusty west to northwest winds over the Snowy and Sierra Madre mountains. Snow totals were estimated between 6 and 12 inches.
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 Dec 27, 5:32 PM MST, 2 hours 28 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
532 PM MST Tue Dec 27 2016
.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday Night)
Issued at 330 PM MST Tue Dec 27 2016
We are beginning to see winds pick up in areas along the Laramie
Range as better pressure falls occur over Niobrara county and
southwest South Dakota in advance of the shortwave trough. The
Coleman WYDOT ob has consistently gusted to 45-55 mph over the past
few hours. The CAG-CPR gradient remains 60-70 meters through the
early night before decreasing. Still expecting high winds to occur
overnight with the highest gusts in the wind prone areas. Windy
conditions are expected to spread eastward across the plains by
Wednesday morning as subsidence combines with good llvl mixing to
bring down strong winds aloft.
Went ahead and upgraded the High Wind Warning over central Laramie
county with the office high wind model giving some pretty high
probabilities. Currently thinking is that the model guidance is too
low on winds for areas to the east of the Laramie Range on
Wednesday. Models appear to have a very shallow, artificial stable
layer near the sfc that is preventing the mixing of the stronger
winds aloft. Lapse rates are quite good (around 9C/km) all the way
up to 650 mb on model soundings however, so feel that winds will be
mixed down when combined with the excellent QG subsidence. Also
issued a Wind Advisory for the southern Panhandle with 40-50 kts at
the top of the mixed layer at SNY. The winds will begin to taper
off by the late evening and early night.
The other issue with this system will be the orographic snow
beginning this evening and continuing into the Wed aftn over the
Sierra Madre and Snowy Ranges. Currently have 4-6 inches of fcsted
snowfall, however felt that blowing snow could be significant concern
with the strong winds. Went ahead and issued a Winter Weather
Advisory with the blowing snow component. Believe that snow will
be confined mostly to the mtns, however will have to watch any
accumulations in the Arlington area.
.LONG TERM...(Thursday through next Tuesday)
Issued at 330 PM MST Tue Dec 27 2016
Models are in reasonable agreement into next week and early next
week...showing another arctic cold front moving across the area by
Tuesday of next week. There will also be an increasing chance for
snow as we head into the weekend as well.
Models show the low to midlevel pressure gradient weakening by
late this week across most of the forecast area. However...wind
prone areas will still have periods of strong winds at
times...particularly each morning until Sunday. Winds look
particularly gusty late Thursday night and early Friday...so may
need High Wind headlines for the wind prone locations.
Otherwise...a shortwave ridge will weaken as it moves overhead on
Friday with zonal flow aloft strengthening over time. High
temperatures will rebound into the 40's to low 50's due to warm
downslope winds Friday afternoon as 700mb temperatures increase
above zero across the eastern plains.
Models then show a series of cold fronts pushing across southeast
Wyoming and western Nebraska this weekend and early next
week...with the first frontal passage on Saturday. High
temperatures will lower to near or slightly below normal for the
weekend. The second cold front which will push eastward out of the
north central Pacific Ocean will move towards the area on Sunday
with widespread accumulating snow possible. Models have just
started trending more aggressive with this system...but with
decent agreement between the 12z models and ensemble
runs...increased POP for a chance of snow. There are some minor
timing differences which are to be expected this far out in the
forecast period.
Next week looks interesting as the next arctic push is expected by
Monday. Expect much colder temperatures Monday and Tuesday with
lows potentially below zero across the whole area. Will have to
monitor snow potential as the upper level jet is perpendicular to
the stalled arctic front near the mountains. This may result in a
prolonged off and on light snowfall into the middle of next
week....especially if the 12z ECMWF solution verifies. Either
way...looks like much colder than normal temperatures for next
week as the arctic front will move very little and a long wave
upper level trough will establish itself over most of the United
States.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Wednesday evening)
Issued at 532 PM MST Tue Dec 27 2016
VFR category expected across southeastern Wyoming into the
western Nebraska Panhandle through tomorrow. Main concern will be
winds along and west of the I-25 corridor as trough moves off the
south Laramie Range tightening the pressure gradient and winds for
Cheyenne, Laramie and Rawlins later tonight through Wednesday
where gusts around 40 kts will be possible at times. Also
increased the winds a bit more across the western Nebraska
Panhandle...particulary for the normally windier Sidney where
gusts to 35 kts possible late tomorrow morning into the afternoon
hours.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 330 PM MST Tue Dec 27 2016
Strong winds to continue across much of southeast Wyoming today
through Wednesday as a low pressure system track across Montana
and northern Wyoming. Do have a snow pack in place that should
mitigate these strong winds and do not see any fire weather
concerns through the next few days.
&&
.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...High Wind Warning until 5 AM MST Wednesday for WYZ101-103>105-
107.
High Wind Warning until 8 PM MST Wednesday for WYZ106-110-
115>118.
Winter Weather Advisory until 8 PM MST Wednesday for WYZ112-114.
NE...Wind Advisory from 5 AM to 8 PM MST Wednesday for NEZ019>021-054-
055.
&&
SHORT TERM...ZF
LONG TERM...TJT
AVIATION...JG
FIRE WEATHER...ZF/GCCHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 205 PM MST TUE DEC 27 2016 WYZ101>119-282115- 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- 205 PM MST TUE DEC 27 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST WYOMING. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT STRONG WINDS WILL BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD ACROSS SOUTHEAST WYOMING TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. HIGH WIND WARNINGS HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO INCLUDING ALL OF THE INTERSTATE 25 CORRIDOR FROM CHEYENNE TO DOUGLAS. A PERIOD OF SNOW WILL OCCUR OVER MAINLY THE SIERRA MADRE AND SNOWY RANGES LATE TONIGHT. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW IS IN EFFECT FOR THESE MOUNTAIN RANGES, AS STRONG WINDS OVER 50 MPH WILL RESULT IN AREAS OF BLOWING AND CREATE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE ON WEDNESDAY. WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH IN INTENSITY OVER THE EASTERN PLAINS AND HIGH VALLEYS BY THE END OF THE WEEK AND INTO NEXT WEEKEND. HOWEVER...THE WIND PRONE AREAS ALONG INTERSTATE 25 AND INTERSTATE 80 WILL OCCASIONALLY EXPERIENCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS OVER 55 MPH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE REQUIRED. NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-282115- DAWES-BOX BUTTE-SCOTTS BLUFF-BANNER-MORRILL-KIMBALL-CHEYENNE- NORTH SIOUX-SOUTH SIOUX- 205 PM MST TUE DEC 27 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEBRASKA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY WINDY CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP ON WEDNESDAY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE INTERSTATE 80 CORRIDOR. WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 40 TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE...WHICH MAY RESULT IN HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRAILERS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE REQUIRED.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
348 PM MST TUE DEC 27 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0252 PM NON-TSTM WND GST ESTERBROOK 42.41N 105.36W
12/27/2016 M66 MPH CONVERSE WY MESONET
39 MPH SUSTAINED.
&&
BCHAPMANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
525 PM MST TUE DEC 27 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0506 PM NON-TSTM WND GST ARLINGTON 41.59N 106.21W
12/27/2016 M58 MPH CARBON WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
37 MPG SUSTAINED
0505 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 ESE ARLINGTON 41.55N 106.08W
12/27/2016 M56 MPH CARBON WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
42 MPH SUSTAINED
0452 PM NON-TSTM WND GST ESTERBROOK 42.41N 105.36W
12/27/2016 M56 MPH CONVERSE WY MESONET
31 MPH SUSTAINED
0506 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 15 NNE CENTENNIAL 41.50N 106.00W
12/27/2016 M59 MPH ALBANY WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
41 MPH SUSTAINED
&&
BCHAPMANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
559 PM MST TUE DEC 27 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0535 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 14 NE CENTENNIAL 41.44N 105.92W
12/27/2016 M58 MPH ALBANY WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
41 MPH SUSTAINED
&&
BCHAPMANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
613 PM MST TUE DEC 27 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0544 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 11 SSE GARRETT 41.96N 105.52W
12/27/2016 M56 MPH ALBANY WY MESONET
37 MPH SUSTAINED
0551 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSE GLENROCK 42.83N 105.84W
12/27/2016 M58 MPH CONVERSE WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
41 MPH SUSTAINED
0601 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ESE BUFORD 41.10N 105.28W
12/27/2016 M51 MPH ALBANY WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
41 MPH SUSTAINED
0600 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 14 NE CENTENNIAL 41.44N 105.92W
12/27/2016 M60 MPH ALBANY WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
43 MPH SUSTAINED
&&
BCHAPMANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
705 PM MST TUE DEC 27 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0636 PM NON-TSTM WND GST BUFORD 41.11N 105.30W
12/27/2016 M51 MPH ALBANY WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
SUSTAINED AT 41 MPH.
0644 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 11 SSE GARRETT 41.96N 105.52W
12/27/2016 M63 MPH ALBANY WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
29 MPH SUSTAINED
0645 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 14 NE CENTENNIAL 41.44N 105.92W
12/27/2016 M57 MPH ALBANY WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
42 MPH SUSTAINED
&&
BCHAPMANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
744 PM MST TUE DEC 27 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0725 PM NON-TSTM WND GST BORDEAUX 41.95N 104.95W
12/27/2016 M52 MPH PLATTE WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
43 MPH SUSTAINED
0725 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 14 NE CENTENNIAL 41.44N 105.92W
12/27/2016 M52 MPH ALBANY WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
41 MPH SUSTAINED
0725 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSE GLENROCK 42.83N 105.84W
12/27/2016 M57 MPH CONVERSE WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
43 MPH SUSTAINED
&&
BCHAPMANThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
The Old Battle SNOTEL site (elevation 10000 ft) estimated seven inches of snow.
The Blackhall Mountain SNOTEL site (elevation 9820 ft) estimated 12 inches of snow.
The North French Creek SNOTEL site (elevation 10130 ft) estimated 10 inches of snow.
The Sand Lake SNOTEL site (elevation 10050 ft) estimated seven inches of snow.
The Brooklyn Lake SNOTEL site (elevation 10240 ft) estimated 12 inches of snow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, December 2016
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: 666924, 666925, 666926, 666927, 666928.