A combination of a quarter to three quarters of an inch of rain and warming temperatures brought rapid snow melt that caused flooding around portions of Lincoln County. Around Fairview, flood waters from the Crow Creek approached homes but sandbagging kept water out of homes.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 RIW wrote it up.
A combination of a quarter to three quarters of an inch of rain and warming temperatures brought rapid snow melt that caused flooding around portions of Lincoln County. Around Fairview, flood waters from the Crow Creek approached homes but sandbagging kept water out of homes. Flood water also effected areas around Cokeville and Afton, but was restricted to agricultural lands and caused no damage.
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 Riverton, WY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 22, 3:53 PM MST, 1 hour 7 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 453 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday) Issued at 227 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 A line of convection containing some CG lightning and a likelihood of small hail has formed from Eastern Idaho to Northeast Utah and is poised for Western Wyoming attm. Another cluster of thunderstorms is racing northeast over the Southern Wind River Mountains. This instability is in response to afternoon heating combined with a jet couplet ahead of the approaching Pacific trough now about to make landfall. An asct weak, but well defined mid level low will wobble across Southwest Wyoming with another somewhat less defined weak mid level low over the Wind River Basin tonight and Thursday. The combination of the jet couplet, LFQ of the southern jet, mid level circulations, and QG forcing will be enough to produce significant precipitaion across much of the CWA, except the northwest, through Thursday evening, In spite of the fact that the best energy with this splitting trough will be shunted well to the south over the Southern Rockies because of the blocking mean ridge still over the High Plains Thursday, there will be enough cool air asct with this trough and enough cooling to result in a few inches of wet snow accumulating at the lower elevations across much of the CWA later tonight through Thursday evening. The onslaught of the main area of precip arriving in the wee hours Thursday morning will be ideal for keeping the high temps cool enough for mixed precip in many areas as temps will not have a chance to recover during the day Thursday in many areas., An SPS has been sent addressing the light wet snow accumulations at the lower elevations along with sub advisory amounts in the surrounding mtns. However, a winter weather advisory has been issued for the Wind River and Big Horn Mountains as these mtn ranges will be lie along the axis of the highest QPF with the advisory valid from 6 pm this evening, through Thursday until midnight Thursday night. Once cyclogenesis takes place at all levels later on Thursday, the energy will shift to our south with the snow (most precip will turn to snow everywhere Thursday night) will be diminishing and ending. Much of the precip asct with this weather system will be of a convective nature until we get on the back side of it by Thursday evening when we transition to stratiform along with a relatively brief upslope component for favored areas east of the divide. Many areas will see from one half to as much as three quarters of an inch in some areas from this precip event through Thursday evening so some of the main stem rivers will certainly have to be watched (including the areas where a flood watch in the far west is still in effect from now through 12 noon Thursday.) Rain and snow melt will be a concern. Friday will be dry. Then the next Pacific weather system now centered out at 155W will move in from the west and spread more high elevation snow to the western mtns and rain to the western valleys on Saturday. .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday) Issued at 227 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 Another splitting trough moves across the area Saturday into Saturday night with a period of mountain snow and a period of rain or mixed rain and snow across the lower elevations. A few rain/snow showers may linger Sunday mainly in the ern zones with a few convective snow showers the high country Sunday afternoon. Models start to diverge early next week with the GEM and ECMWF having a splitting negatively tilted system swing through on Monday that the GFS doesn't show. A stronger low is still expected to dig into the Great Basin Tuesday into Wednesday. The Euro/GEM are much stronger and colder with this system as it comes in at a further north latitude (into the PacNW instead of further south into mainly CA like the GFS). Hemispheric 5-wave favors the Euro/GEM so will side with colder temps and a longer duration event Tuesday into Wednesday. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday afternoon) Issued at 227 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 WEST OF THE DIVIDE...KBPI/KJAC/KPNA/KRKS ROUTES Scattered to numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms will prevail through this evening (most numerous in the southwest including KBPI, KPNA and KRKS. Rain showers will turn to a mixture of rain and snow overnight and all snow by morning for KPNA and KBPI. KJAC will have showers in the vicinity. MVFR to IFR conds will become more prevalent for the southwest parts with VFR to MVFR from KJAC northward. Mountains will be obscured with low clouds and precipitation at times. Considerable snow or mixed rain and snow will cover much of the area on Thursday with the highest probability over the mountains and from KBPI and KPNA southeast to KRKS. Please see terminal forecasts for more detailed information. EAST OF THE DIVIDE...KCOD/KCPR/KLND/KRIW/KWRL ROUTES VFR conditions will prevail over the region through 06Z Thursday. Scattered showers and isolated storms will develop over southern and central WY this afternoon into the evening. Then showers will become more numerous over this area by 06Z Thursday. After 06Z Thursday, areas of MVFR to IFR cigs will occur as rain changes to snow or mixed rain and snow by morning and continues through the day Thursday. Please see terminal forecasts for more detailed information. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued AT 227 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 Fire danger will be low through the weekend. The exception to this rule will occur during the remainder of this afternoon which shows signs of having elevated fire danger across portions of central WY as gusty southwest winds combine with lowering relative humidities and a few chances for gusty isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening. Thursday also shows signs for embedded thunderstorms across southern Wyoming, however the day on the whole will have increasing moisture spreading across WY along with good chances for significant precipitation at most locations...both liquid and frozen. Another significant precipitation event is expected in Western wyoming Saturday. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through Thursday afternoon for WYZ013-023-025>027. Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to midnight MDT Thursday night for WYZ008-009. Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to midnight MDT Thursday night for WYZ014-015. && SHORT TERM...Lipson LONG TERM...Skrbac AVIATION...Lipson FIRE WEATHER...Skrbac
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Riverton WY 240 AM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 WYZ001>020-022>030-231100- Yellowstone National Park-Absaroka Mountains-Cody Foothills- North Big Horn Basin-Southwest Big Horn Basin- Southeast Big Horn Basin-Owl Creek and Bridger Mountains- Bighorn Mountains West-Bighorn Mountains Southeast- Northeast Johnson County-Southeast Johnson County- Teton and Gros Ventre Mountains-Jackson Hole- Wind River Mountains West-Wind River Mountains East- Upper Wind River Basin-Wind River Basin-Lander Foothills- Green Mountains and Rattlesnake Range- Natrona County Lower Elevations-Casper Mountain-Star Valley- Salt River and Wyoming Ranges-Upper Green River Basin Foothills- Upper Green River Basin-South Lincoln County- Rock Springs and Green River-Flaming Gorge-East Sweetwater County- 240 AM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN WYOMING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE WIND RIVER AND BIGHORN MOUNTAINS FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Western and Central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Minor flooding may occur along creeks, streams, and low-lying areas across western and southwest Wyoming below 7500 feet. Please see Flood Watch for details. Light to moderate snow possible for the higher elevations of the mountains today...increasing with snow levels lowering tonight. Isolated thunderstorms possible across portions of central and southern this afternoon and early evening. A few storms could be strong with small hail and gusty winds across southwestern Wyoming this afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Minor flooding continues possible due to snowmelt and additional rain and snowfall through Thursday along creeks, streams, and low-lying areas across western and southwest Wyoming below 7500 feet. Additionally...a new storm system will impact much of the area with mountain snowfall and a cold rain possibly changing to snow across parts of the lower elevations of Central Wyoming. Isolated thunderstorms may also occur. Significant mountain snowfall could occur across portions of the central and northern mountains. Saturday and Sunday...The next Pacific storm system will spread precipitation into the west on Saturday in the form of mountain snow showers and a mix of rain and snow showers in the valleys. Mountain passes will likely become slick with snowfall Saturday across the west. A cold front will plunge south across central Wyoming Saturday night with areas of light snow possible, mainly along Interstate 25 from Buffalo to Casper early Sunday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to report flooding or other significant weather. Thank you!
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Riverton WY 408 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 WYZ016>018-231000- Upper Wind River Basin-Wind River Basin-Lander Foothills- Including the cities of Dubois, Riverton, Shoshoni, and Lander 408 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 Showers will become increasingly likely tonight and there is a decent possibility that the rain will mix with or change over to snow Thursday morning and possibly continue during the day Thursday. A few embedded Thunderstorms will also be possible for the rest of this afternoon. Preliminary snowfall amounts point to 2 to 4 inches just above Lander in the Lander Foothills with a skiff to 3 inches across most of the rest of the Wind River Basin. Improving conditions expected by Thursday night. WYZ019-231000- Green Mountains and Rattlesnake Range- Including the city of Jeffrey City 408 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 Widespread rain showers will develop this evening and change to snow or rain and snow mixed by Thursday morning, especially from near Jeffrey City westward. A few embedded Thunderstorms will also be possible this afternoon. Early indications point to snowfall amounts of 1 to 5 inches east to west. WYZ020-022-231000- Natrona County Lower Elevations-Casper Mountain- Including the city of Casper 408 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 A developing storm system moving into the Great Basin today will aid in a good chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms this afternoon and evening with showers continuing Thursday. The higher parts of Casper Mountain may change to snow on Thursday. As colder air moves in Thursday evening the Casper area will likely change over to snow with from a half inch to two inches possible by Thursday night. Casper Mountain may see as much as 2 to 3 inches. WYZ010-011-231000- Northeast Johnson County-Southeast Johnson County- Including the cities of Buffalo and Kaycee 408 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 A new storm system will move into the Great Basin today and spread showers northeastward tonight. A good chance of rain will continue through Thursday with snow possible in the foothills. The lower elevations will likely change to snow for a few hours by Thursday evening with light accumulation of a skiff to an inch or less possible. WYZ002-003-007-231000- Absaroka Mountains-Cody Foothills-Owl Creek and Bridger Mountains- Including the cities of Cody and Meeteetse 408 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 An approaching storm system will bring widespread showers to the area tonight with mountain snow and the possibility of rain changing to snow across the lower elevations, especially above 5000 feet. The highest probability for the snow besides the mountainous locations will be the area from south of Cody to Grass Creek Divide. The southern part of the Absarokas may see 3 to 7 inches with local amounts to 8 inches. The Cody Foothills could see 1 to 4 inches on Thursday into Thursday evening. WYZ024>026-231000- Salt River and Wyoming Ranges-Upper Green River Basin Foothills- Upper Green River Basin- Including the cities of Pinedale, La Barge, Big Piney, and Farson 408 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 Widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms...some on the stronger side with small hail and gusty winds...will move into the area during the rest of this afternoon and evening with rain and snow showers changing to all snow overnight across the lower elevations and continuing in the southwest mountains. The snow or rain snow mixes will continue across most of the area during the day Thursday before ending by Thursday evening. Preliminary snowfall amounts point to 3 to 6 inches in the mountains with local 8 inch amounts and 1 to 4 inches across the Upper Green River Basin. The northwest part of the basin will see the higher amounts. WYZ001-012-013-023-231000- Yellowstone National Park-Teton and Gros Ventre Mountains- Jackson Hole-Star Valley- Including the cities of Lake, Mammoth, Old Faithful, Jackson, Afton, Alpine, Star Valley Ranch, and Thayne 408 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 A new storm system will bring an increasing chance of mountain snow to the area tonight into Thursday with some rain changing to snow in the lower elevations. Early indications point to 1 to 5 inches in the mountains with from less than an inch to two inches in the Star and Jackson Valleys. Additionally, isolated thunderstorms are also possible during the remainder of this afternoon and early evening. WYZ027>030-231000- South Lincoln County-Rock Springs and Green River-Flaming Gorge- East Sweetwater County- Including the cities of Kemmerer, Cokeville, Rock Springs, Green River, and Wamsutter 408 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 A new storm system will bring a variety of weather across Southern Lincoln and Sweetwater County today through Thursday. Showers and isolated afternoon thunderstorms...some on the stronger side with small hail and gusty winds...are expected during the remainder of this afternoon and continue at times through Thursday. There could be periods of rain and snow tonight and Thursday with all snow as the system exists Thursday evening. Snowfall accumulation, will range from 1 to 4 inches across southern Lincoln county to a trace to an inch across Sweetwater county...with a few of the higher hills and mountains seeing perhaps a couple inches. TEAM RIVERTON
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Riverton WY 432 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 WYZ017-018-222345- Wind River Basin-Lander Foothills- Including the cities of Riverton, Shoshoni, and Lander 432 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 A few showers and isolated thunderstorms will move northeast across central Fremont county through 530 PM. Lander, Hudson and Riverton look to be impacted by this activity. Outflow wind gusts to 40 mph will be common with this activity along with a brief rain shower. Very small hail may occur with any thunderstorm that forms. Seek safe shelter as this activity moves through your location.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Riverton WY 456 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 WYZ019-026-028>030-230030- Green Mountains and Rattlesnake Range-Upper Green River Basin- Rock Springs and Green River-Flaming Gorge-East Sweetwater County- Including the cities of Jeffrey City, La Barge, Big Piney, Farson, Rock Springs, Green River, and Wamsutter 456 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2017 Showers and isolated thunderstorms will move northeast across western Sweetwater county and into southern Fremont county through 630 PM. Outflow wind gusts to 40 mph will be common with this activity. Small hail will be possible with any thunderstorms. Seek safe shelter when this activity approaches your location.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A combination of rainfall and warm temperatures caused rapid snow melt that brought flooding to some areas around Cokeville. The flooding was restricted to low lying agricultural land and caused no damage.
Rain and warm temperatures brought rapid snow melt that brought minor flooding to some homes around Crow Creek near Fairview. Sandbagging was effective in diverting water around homes and there was no damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, March 2017
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: 682247, 682246.