An intense Pacific storm system moved across the central Rockies and produced heavy snowfall and strong northerly winds. Gusts of 40 to 50 mph created near-blizzard conditions with visibilities less than a quarter mile.
Every event with a place to put it; 44 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 Pacific storm system moved across the central Rockies and produced heavy snowfall and strong northerly winds. Gusts of 40 to 50 mph created near-blizzard conditions with visibilities less than a quarter mile. Interstates 25 and 80 were closed due to the adverse winter conditions. Snow totals ranged from six to 24 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 Mar 29, 11:21 AM MST, 3 hours 39 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...DELAYED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
1221 PM MDT TUE MAR 29 2016
.SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 350 AM MDT TUE MAR 29 2016
UPPER LOW SPINNING OVER NORTHEAST NEVADA EARLY THIS MORNING WILL
DRIFT EAST SLOWLY TODAY WHILE ELONGATING...REFORMING A NEW UPPER
LOW OVER WESTERN NEBRASKA OR NORTHEAST COLORADO LATER TONIGHT THEN
MOVING EAST ON WEDNESDAY. MEANWHILE A LEE CYCLONE WILL DEEPEN OVER
EASTERN COLORADO THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING THEN MOVE INTO WESTERN
NEBRASKA WEDS MORNING BEFORE CONTINUING EAST DURING THE DAY. AS
THESE THINGS OCCUR PRECIPITATION WILL DEVELOP AND SPREAD EAST OVER
THE CWA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS SURFACE UPSLOPE FLOW AND
MOISTURE DEEPEN UNDERNEATH DIFFLUENT UPPER FLOW. MAIN PROBLEMS
WITH THIS FORECAST WILL BE TIMING THE CHANGEOVER TO SNOW OVER THE
LOWER ELEVATIONS AS TEMPERATURES WILL BE MARGINAL THROUGH EARLY
THIS EVENING. LATEST SOUNDING PROGS DO NOT REALLY BRING SURFACE
TEMPERATURES DOWN OVER THE PLAINS UNTIL LATER THIS EVENING...
WITH TEMPERATURES OVER THE PANHANDLE STAYING ABOVE FREEZING INTO
WEDS MORNING. DECENT QPF EXPECTED ACROSS THE CWA BY LATE WEDS BUT
SNOWFALL AMOUNTS TRICKY DUE TO THE TEMPERATURES. HEAVY SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS LOOK PRETTY CERTAIN OVER THE MOUNTAINS LATER TODAY
THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND HAVE UPGRADED TO WINTER STORM WARNINGS
THERE. OVER TWO FEET EXPECTED ACROSS THE NORTHERN LARAMIE RANGE.
ELSEWHERE HAVE DELAYED THE BEGINNING OF WATCHES TO LATER TONIGHT
AS IT APPEARS SNOW WILL BE RATHER SLOW TO SPREAD EAST OVER THE
PLAINS TONIGHT. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE LATER THIS AFTERNOON
INTO THIS EVENING MAINLY OVER THE SOUTHERN PANHANDLE WHERE SOME
MODEST INSTABILITY MAY DEVELOP.
SNOW SHOULD BE OCCURRING OVER MUCH OF THE AREA WEDNESDAY THOUGH
STILL SOME QUESTION OVER THE PANHANDLE. OTHER FACTOR OF CONCERN
WILL BE STRONG WINDS WHICH WILL DEVELOP LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT AS
THE LEE CYCLONE DEEPENS WITH POTENTIAL BLIZZARD CONDITIONS OVER
PARTS OF EASTERN WYOMING. WINDS AND SNOW WILL DIMINISH WEDS
AFTERNOON AS THE AFOREMENTIONED SYSTEMS PULL FARTHER EAST AND AWAY
FROM THE AREA.
.LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH NEXT MONDAY)
ISSUED AT 339 AM MDT TUE MAR 29 2016
MEDIUM TO LONG RANGE MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT LATE THIS WEEK AND
INTO NEXT WEEKEND. THE MAJOR STORM...WHICH WILL IMPACT THE
FORECAST AREA BEGINNING TODAY AND LINGER THROUGH WEDNESDAY...WILL
MOVE EASTWARD INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION AND EVENTUALLY THE
EASTERN UNITED STATES ON THURSDAY. COOL NORTHERLY FLOW IS EXPECTED
EARLY IN THE MEDIUM RANGE BEHIND THE MAJOR STORM...WHICH TYPICALLY
RESULTS IN DRIER AIR. HOWEVER...A SECONDARY UPPER LEVEL TROUGH
WILL QUICKLY DIG SOUTHWARD ACROSS MONTANA AND WYOMING ON THURSDAY
RESULTING IN ANOTHER COLDER THAN NORMAL DAY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW.
INCREASED POP BETWEEN 30 TO 50 PERCENT ACROSS THE LOWER
ELEVATIONS...AND UP TO 80 PERCENT IN THE MOUNTAINS. LLVL
INSTABILITY WILL ENHANCE SNOW SHOWER ACTIVITY AS THE TROUGH
QUICKLY MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. WITH WINDY CONDITIONS
EXPECTED...THERE IS SOME CONCERN OF SNOW SQUALL/HEAVY SNOW SHOWER
ACTIVITY ACROSS SOUTHEAST WYOMING AND MAYBE EVEN WESTERN NEBRASKA
THROUGH THE DAY. LI/S WILL GENERALLY BE BETWEEN 0C TO -2C WITH
CAPE VALUES BETWEEN 100 TO 300 J/KG AND A MOIST FORECAST SOUNDING
UP TO 500 MB. MAY SEE A QUICK INCH OR TWO OF SNOW ACCUMULATION
WITH THESE HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS DURING THE DAY...WITH 3 TO 6 INCHES
IN THE MOUNTAINS. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL STRUGGLE TO REACH THE LOW
TO MID 30S THURSDAY AFTERNOON WITH WINDS GUSTING TO 35 TO 45 MPH
AT TIMES.
FRIDAY WILL START THE SLOW WARMING TREND INTO THIS WEEKEND AS A
HIGH AMPLITUDE RIDGE AXIS BEGINS TO DRIFT EASTWARD. HIGH
TEMPERATURES WILL NOT BE AS COLD ON FRIDAY...WITH AFTERNOON
READINGS IN THE UPPER 30S TO UPPER 40S. A DRIER AND MILDER WEATHER
PATTERN APPEARS LIKELY FOR THE WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AS
WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW DEVELOPS...BUT THE JET STREAM AND STORM
TRACK WILL BE LOCATED NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. HIGH
TEMPERATURES IN THE 50S ARE EXPECTED WEST OF I25...WITH HIGHS IN
THE UPPER 50S TO UPPER 60S EAST ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS BY SUNDAY
AND MONDAY.
&&
.AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON)
ISSUED AT 1210 PM MDT TUE MAR 29 2016
VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH MUCH OF THE AFTERNOON. LIGHT SNOW WILL
BEGIN AT RWL BY AROUND 23Z WITH IFR VIS. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
TSTMS WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND DURING THE EVENING
FOR AREAS TO THE EAST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE. LOW CLOUDS AND MORE
WIDESPREAD SNOW WILL OCCUR BY MID MORNING ON WEDNESDAY. NORTHERLY
WINDS WILL ALSO REALLY INCREASE AFTER 12Z.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
ISSUED AT 350 AM MDT TUE MAR 29 2016
CONCERNS TO REMAIN MINIMAL FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK WITH WINTER-
LIKE CONDITIONS SPREADING OVER THE AREA LATER TODAY THROUGH
WEDNESDAY. WETTING PRECIPITATION OVER MUCH OF THE AREA WITH COOL
TEMPERATURES WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. MILDER AND MAINLY DRY BY THE
WEEKEND BUT STILL NON-CRITICAL WEATHER CONDITIONS OVERALL.
&&
.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY FOR WYZ103>106-109-110-115>117.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON FOR WYZ107-108-118-119.
BLIZZARD WATCH FROM MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON FOR WYZ101-102.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM MDT WEDNESDAY FOR WYZ112-114.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY FOR WYZ111-113.
NE...WINTER STORM WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096.
&&
SHORT TERM...RE
LONG TERM...TJT
AVIATION...ZF
FIRE WEATHER...REHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 844 AM MDT TUE MAR 29 2016 WYZ101>119-301445- 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- 844 AM MDT TUE MAR 29 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL WYOMING...SOUTH CENTRAL WYOMING AND SOUTHEAST WYOMING. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A POTENT WINTER STORM IS FORECAST TO AFFECT MUCH OF THE AREA BEGINNING LATE THIS AFTERNOON WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE...AND ESPECIALLY TONIGHT. SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WIL DEVELOP AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT OVER FAR SOUTHEAST WYOMING LATER THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN SHOWERS WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE WILL CHANGE TO SNOW LATER THIS AFTERNOON...WITH SNOW BECOMING HEAVY TONIGHT. STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS WILL CREATE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL WYOMING. REFER TO THE LATEST WINTER STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR MORE INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW ALONG WITH GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS WILL MAKE TRAVEL IMPOSSIBLE FOR MANY AREAS WEDNESDAY. THE SNOW AND WINDS WILL DIMINISH WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS THE STORM SYSTEM EXITS NORTHEAST OF THE AREA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED TODAY OR TONIGHT...HOWEVER REPORTS OF HEAVY SNOW WILL BE APPRECIATED. NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-301445- DAWES-BOX BUTTE-SCOTTS BLUFF-BANNER-MORRILL-KIMBALL-CHEYENNE- NORTH SIOUX-SOUTH SIOUX- 844 AM MDT TUE MAR 29 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. A FEW STORMS MAY BE STRONG WITH GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW WEDNESDAY MORNING AND BE HEAVY AT TIMES THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS WILL CAUSE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...PRODUCING POOR VISIBILITIES AND HAZARDOUS TRAVEL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED TODAY OR TONIGHT.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
44 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The Divide Peak SNOTEL site (elevation 8880 ft) estimated 16.5 inches of snow.
The Old Battle SNOTEL site (elevation 10000 ft) estimated 15 inches of snow.
The Whiskey Park SNOTEL site (elevation 8950 ft) estimated 12 inches of snow.
The Blackhall Mountain SNOTEL site (elevation 9820 ft) estimated 12 inches of snow.
The South Brush Creek SNOTEL site (elevation 8440 ft) estimated 22.5 inches of snow.
The North French Creek SNOTEL site (elevation 10130 ft) estimated 21 inches of snow.
The Sand Lake SNOTEL site (elevation 10050 ft) estimated 19.5 inches of snow.
The Brooklyn Lake SNOTEL site (elevation 10240 ft) estimated 12 inches of snow.
The Cinnabar Park SNOTEL site (elevation 9574 ft) estimated 15 inches of snow.
The Medicine Bow SNOTEL site (elevation 10510 ft) estimated 19.5 inches of snow.
The Crow Creek SNOTEL site (elevation 8330 ft) estimated 12 inches of snow.
Fifteen inches of snow was measured 15 miles southwest of Wheatland.
The Windy Peak SNOTEL site (elevation 7900 ft) estimated 22.5 inches of snow.
The La Prele Creek SNOTEL site (elevation 8375 ft) estimated 21 inches of snow.
Two feet of snow was reported 25 miles south of Glenrock.
Six inches of snow was reported 12 miles south of Saratoga.
Seven inches of snow was reported six miles northeast of Arlington.
Eighteen inches of snow was reported at Glenrock.
Two feet of snow was reported 25 miles south of Glenrock.
Seven inches of snow was measured four miles west-southwest of Douglas.
Seven inches of snow was measured at Sinclair.
Six and a half inches of snow was measured 19 miles south of Rock River.
An observer six miles northeast of Glendo measured 7.2 inches of snow.
An observer 29 miles north of Torrington measured 8.3 inches of snow.
Seven inches of snow was measured at Shirley Basin.
Six inches of snow was reported at Seminoe Dam.
Six inches of snow was measured 12 miles northwest of Lost Springs.
Eight inches of snow was measured 10 miles south of Rock River.
Six inches of snow was measured seven miles south-southeast of Yoder.
An observer one mile north of Rawlins measured 12.1 inches of snow.
Thirteen inches of snow was reported at Wheatland.
Seven and a half inches of snow was reported at Hawk Springs.
Seven inches of snow was reported about 11 miles north of Cheyenne.
The NWS at Cheyenne measured 7.3 inches of snow.
An observer 21 miles west-southwest of Cheyenne measured nine inches of snow.
A foot of snow was reported at Saratoga.
Six inches of snow was reported at Keeline and Manville.
A foot of snow was reported 11 miles northwest of Hawk Springs.
Thirteen and a half inches of snow was reported at Chugwater.
Eleven inches of snow was measured four miles north of Wheatland.
Six inches of snow was reported at Laramie.
Nineteen inches of snow was reported 11 miles northeast of Chugwater.
Seven inches of snow was reported five miles south of Cheyenne.
Six inches of snow was reported at Burns.
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, March 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: 643491, 643492, 643493, 643495, 643499, 643501, 643502, 643503, 643504, 643505, 643510, 643514, 643518, 643519, 643520, 648376, 648377, 648378, 648379, 648380, 648381, 648394, 648395, 648396, 648397, 648398, 648399, 648401, 648402, 648403, 648405, 648406, 648407, 648408, 648410, 648411, 648412, 648413, 648414, 648415, and more.