A slow moving Pacific storm produced a prolonged period of moderate to heavy snow, strong and gusty west winds, and poor visibilities in falling and blowing snow over the Snowy and Sierra Madre mountains. Snow totals were estimated between one and five feet, highest above 10000 feet.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 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 slow moving Pacific storm produced a prolonged period of moderate to heavy snow, strong and gusty west winds, and poor visibilities in falling and blowing snow over the Snowy and Sierra Madre mountains. Snow totals were estimated between one and five feet, highest above 10000 feet.
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 27, 4:54 AM MST, 6 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
454 AM MST Sun Nov 27 2016
.SHORT TERM...(Today through Monday Night)
Issued at 333 AM MST Sun Nov 27 2016
Not much change in the models with regard to the evolution of the
storm over the next 24 hrs. Models are in good agreement at
showing the shortwave trough lifting northeastward and deepening
into a closed midlvl low to the northeast of the CWA. Llvl
gradient will increase dramatically by this aftn with the 850mb CAG-
CPR gradient up to around 70 meters by 21-00Z. Went ahead and
upgraded the High Wind Watch for the Laramie Valley, Cheyenne, and
eastern Platte county zones. Both the GFS and NAM show 60-65 kts
just off the sfc from 00-03Z with decent lapse rates. The gradient
continues to remain strong through Monday aftn with the GFS
showing the CAG-CPR remaining above 60 meters. There might be a
slight decrease in winds late tonight through Monday morning.
However, with better mixing by late morning Monday through the
aftn, it will remain quite windy. Later shifts will likely need to
consider Wind Advisory for the Panhandle on Monday afternoon.
No big changes to the snowfall totals through Monday. Still
showing 12-20 inches over the orographically favored Sierra Madre
and Snowy Ranges. Not confident we will see blizzard conditions in
the Upper North Platte valley and central Carbon county, so went
with a Winter Weather Advisory. Snowfall intensity and windspeeds
so not seem to support a blizzard threat. Office blowing snow
model is showing the highest probs in the Arlington area due to
the very strong winds and higher snowfall amounts (2-4 inches).
Still thinking that the worst conditions will be this evening
through the early night in Arlington. Although snow will likely
let up by Monday morning, significantly reduced vis will continue
to be possible due to the strong winds and significant amount of
ground blowing snow (ground blizzard possible). So kept the
blizzard warning through the afternoon.
.LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Saturday)
Issued at 333 AM MST Sun Nov 27 2016
A much colder and unsettled weather pattern is expected through much
of the extended forecast period. Model guidance remains in very good
agreement with a vigorous upper-level low over the Upper Midwest and
an associated long wave trough digging into the 4 Corners on Tuesday
afternoon. Wrap-around precipitation will likely continue across the
northern Panhandle w/ little to no snow accumulation expected. There
should be enough orographics and forcing aloft for an additional 3-6
inches of snow in the mountains. Otherwise, a cold/blustery day will
be likely on Tuesday. Extensive cloud cover and low-level CAA should
limit highs to the 20s for many areas. The models show a swath of 50
knot flow between H7-H8 for much of the day, which may be brought to
the surface with good mixing and subsidence. Anticipate the need for
at least a Wind Advisory on the Nebraska side, but we could be quite
close to High Wind Warning criteria in areas generally along/east of
I25. 700 mb temperatures averaging between -10 C and -15 C will keep
overnight lows in the teens/single digits through much of the period
with highs generally in the 20s and possibly low 30s.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Monday morning)
Issued at 450 AM MST Sun Nov 27 2016
Mostly vfr conditions through the taf period. Strong west winds
will develop by this afternoon, with gusts to 30-45 kts at the
southeast WY sites and gusts to 25-35 kts over the Nebraska
Panhandle. Winds will stay elevated through the night. Snow
showers are expected to develop by this aftn around RWL. MVFR
conditions in light snow will be possible after 00Z at RWL.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 333 AM MST Sun Nov 27 2016
No fire weather concerns through the middle of next week. It will
be breezy to windy through Wednesday, however minimum afternoon
humidity values will mostly be above 30 percent with cold
temperatures in place.
&&
.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...Winter Storm Warning until 5 AM MST Tuesday for WYZ112-114.
Winter Weather Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 5 PM MST
Monday for WYZ109-111-113.
Blizzard Warning from 9 AM this morning to 5 PM MST Monday for
WYZ110.
High Wind Warning from 11 AM this morning to 11 PM MST this
evening for WYZ107-115-118.
High Wind Warning from 11 AM this morning to 2 PM MST Monday for
WYZ106-116-117.
NE...None.
&&
SHORT TERM...ZF
LONG TERM...CLH
AVIATION...ZF
FIRE WEATHER...ZFThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
14 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The Old Battle SNOTEL site (elevation 10000 ft) estimated 38 inches of snow.
The Little Snake River SNOTEL site (elevation 8915 ft) estimated 27 inches of snow.
The Blackhall Mountain SNOTEL site (elevation 9820 ft) estimated 44 inches of snow.
The Medicine Bow SNOTEL site (elevation 10500 ft) estimated 62 inches of snow.
The Divide Peak SNOTEL site (elevation 8880 ft) estimated 22.5 inches of snow.
The Battle Mountain SNOTEL site (elevation 7440 ft) estimated 18 inches of snow.
The Sandstone Ranger Station SNOTEL site (elevation 8150 ft) estimated 19.5 inches of snow.
The Whiskey Park SNOTEL site (elevation 8950 ft) estimated 22.5 inches of snow.
The Webber Springs SNOTEL site (elevation 9250 ft) estimated 32 inches of snow.
The Sage Creek Basin SNOTEL site (elevation 7850 ft) estimated 13 inches of snow.
The South Brush Creek SNOTEL site (elevation 8440 ft) estimated 12 inches of snow.
The North French Creek SNOTEL site (elevation 10130 ft) estimated 30 inches of snow.
The Sand Lake SNOTEL site (elevation 10050 ft) estimated 38 inches of snow.
The Brooklyn Lake SNOTEL site (elevation 10240 ft) estimated 38 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, November 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: 666908, 666909, 666910, 666911, 666913, 666914, 666915, 666916, 666917, 666918, 666919, 666920, 666921, 666922.