Strong mid level winds mixed to the surface ahead of an advancing cold front and brought high winds to portions of Natrona and Fremont Counties. Wind gusts over 58 mph were recorded in the Green Mountains and south of Casper.
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The episode as NWS RIW wrote it up.
Strong mid level winds mixed to the surface ahead of an advancing cold front and brought high winds to portions of Natrona and Fremont Counties. Wind gusts over 58 mph were recorded in the Green Mountains and south of Casper.
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 2, 2:01 AM MST, 34 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 201 AM MST Fri Mar 2 2018 .SHORT TERM...Friday through Sunday night Looks like we have another active period coming up. And with the differences in the weather at times, we will split the discussion into West and East of the Divide. West of the Divide...Things are mainly quiet out there right now. However, this will change as a cold front and associated upper level disturbance cross the area today and bring some snow. At this point, the heaviest snow looks to be this afternoon when the area gets into some left front jet quadrant dynamics. However, the system is a fairly quick hitter. So at this point, the winter weather advisories look good and we will leave them as is. There should then be a break as the area will be in between systems from late tonight through most of Saturday. There will still be some light snow from time to time but nothing to write home about. Temperatures will cool a bit, but with the Pacific origin of the air, nothing unusual for the first part of March. The next shot of snow looks to move in for Saturday night and into Sunday morning. There is a but more uncertainty with this system though. The snow looks a bit more convective and banded. And as a result, this is very difficult to nail down exactly where the heaviest snow to fall, especially this far out. So as a result, we made few changes to QPF or snowfall amounts until things become a little clearer. The snow here should end by late Monday night as the system moves away to the east and high pressure builds into the area. East of the Divide...For today, the concern switches to wind. With the models showing 55 to 60 knots of southwest flow at 700 millibars across the southwestern Wind Corridor, we upgraded the high wind watch to a warning for today. Many areas will have breezy conditions as well. With the increased mixing, temperatures should warm in many areas today, with 40s looking likely in many locations. As for precipitation, with the strong downsloping flow, it looks rather unlikely. Mainly dry weather looks to hold through Saturday morning. The next wave will begin to move into the north Saturday afternoon. The models are trending a bit slower though, so it would not surprise me if most areas were dry through the day Saturday. Snow then spreads across the area Saturday night into Sunday. As was previously stated, the models continue to come in slower so we lowered POPS at night as many areas in the east could remain dry through that period. Most areas will see some on Sunday. And like out west, the problem is that it looks convective and banded. And like out west, the models have poor agreement in where they will set up and when. So for now, we continued the broad brush of the amounts until more details can be included. At this time, it looks like advisory level amounts with locally higher amounts where that elusive banding decides to get up. .LONG TERM...Monday through Friday A relatively quiet long term is expected in wake of the winter storm impacting the area in the short term. A trailing shortwave on Monday, and perhaps some lingering wrap-around moisture from the departing storm could give the northwest and northern mountains and perhaps adjacent foothills some additional light snow. A weak shortwave in the northwest flow is expected to push southeast across the area Tuesday, but will have little available moisture to work with. Thus will keep the ongoing dry forecast as is. Some ridging is then expected Wednesday with continued dry conditions. Models show the ridge flattening out Wednesday night/Thursday with the potential for a moist westerly flow developing Thursday followed by shortwave trough in the flow pulling across the northern Rockies Friday. For now will only go slight chance PoPs across the west Thursday/Friday with a slight emphasis on Friday. Temperatures are expected to be below average Monday and Tuesday with seasonal temperatures by Wednesday or Thursday. && .AVIATION...00Z Issuance West of the Continental Divide...KJAC, KBPI, KPNA, and KRKS A break between systems will continue through around 14z-15z Friday with snow showers mainly confined over the mountains, with mountains occasionally obscured. The next Pacific system will spread increasing coverage of snow showers across the western mountains and far west valleys after 14z Friday, with the main impacts, most widespread IFR conditions, expected Friday afternoon into early Friday evening vicinity and north of a KAFO-KDUB line. Further south, mountains will be mainly obscured in snow 18z Friday-03z Saturday with surrounding valleys (vicinity KPNA-KBPI) possibly experiencing brief MVFR conditions in snow showers. Conditions will improve south to north 03z-06z Saturday, but areas of MVFR ceilings and mountain obscurations will linger vicinity KAFO-KJAC along with frequent mountain obscurations through 12z Saturday. East of the Continental Divide...KCPR, KCOD, KRIW, KLND, and KWRL VFR conditions will prevail through the period. The main aviation hazard will be areas of LLWS developing along the lee slopes of the Divide, vicinity KLND-KDUB, through the period; and also SW surface winds increasing 25-35 knots with gusts 40-50 knots vicinity 50sm NE KRKS-KCPR on Friday. The surface winds will diminish Friday evening, but ridge top winds will remain strong with LLWS along the lee slopes of the Divide through 12z Saturday. && .FIRE WEATHER... Periods of snow will spread back into the west today as an upper level disturbance and front approach the area. Meanwhile, expect dry weather East of the Divide with warmer temperatures for most areas. Expect breezy conditions for many areas with strong to high winds from the Red Desert through Natrona County. The next chance of snow East of the Divide should hold off until Saturday night. Mixing and smoke dispersal will range from poor in the deeper valleys to good to very good in the windier locations. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 11 PM MST this evening for WYZ001-012>015-023-024. High Wind Warning from 8 AM this morning to 5 PM MST this afternoon for WYZ019-020. && SHORT TERM...Hattings LONG TERM...Murrell AVIATION...Meunier FIRE WEATHER...Hattings
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Riverton WY 202 AM MST Fri Mar 2 2018 WYZ001>020-022>030-031200- 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- 202 AM MST Fri Mar 2 2018 ...Winter Weather Advisory in effect for western Wyoming today into this evening... ...High Wind Warning today for portions of Fremont and Natrona Counties... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Western and Central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Periods of snow in the west. Please see Winter Weather products for details. High winds are likely today from the Red Desert through Natrona County. Please see High Wind Warning for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Saturday into Sunday...Periods of snow in the west, spreading East of the Divide Saturday night and especially into Sunday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report snowfall amounts and wind gusts past 50 mph. Thank you. TEAM RIVERTON
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Riverton WY 211 AM MST Fri Mar 2 2018 WYZ010-011-019-020-022-022200- Northeast Johnson County-Southeast Johnson County- Green Mountains and Rattlesnake Range- Natrona County Lower Elevations-Casper Mountain- Including the cities of Buffalo, Kaycee, Jeffrey City, and Casper 211 AM MST Fri Mar 2 2018 ...Snow and wind Saturday night and Sunday... A strong Pacific low pressure storm will bring snow with strong north winds to the area later Saturday night through Sunday. At this time snowfall of 2 to 4 inches is expected with locally heavier amounts near the mountains. Travel may become difficult with icy snow packed roads and poor visibility. WYZ028>030-022200- Rock Springs and Green River-Flaming Gorge-East Sweetwater County- Including the cities of Rock Springs, Green River, and Wamsutter 211 AM MST Fri Mar 2 2018 ...Snow and wind Saturday night and Sunday... A strong Pacific low pressure storm will bring snow with strong west winds shifting to the north later Saturday night through Sunday. At this time snowfall of 1 to 4 inches is expected with locally heavier amounts near the mountains. Travel may become difficult with icy snow packed roads and poor visibility. WYZ025>027-022200- Upper Green River Basin Foothills-Upper Green River Basin- South Lincoln County- Including the cities of Pinedale, La Barge, Big Piney, Farson, Kemmerer, and Cokeville 211 AM MST Fri Mar 2 2018 ...Snow and wind Saturday night and Sunday... A strong Pacific low pressure storm will bring snow with strong west winds shifting to the north Saturday evening through Sunday. At this time snowfall of 2 to 4 inches is expected with locally heavier amounts near the mountains. Travel may become difficult with icy snow packed roads and poor visibility. WYZ002-022200- Absaroka Mountains- 211 AM MST Fri Mar 2 2018 ...Periods of snow through tonight... A strong Pacific low pressure storm will bring snow with strong southwest winds to the area through tonight. At this time snowfall of 3 to 6 inches is expected above 8500 feet with 1 to 3 inches in the valleys. Travel may become difficult with icy snow packed roads and poor visibility. WYZ003>006-022200- Cody Foothills-North Big Horn Basin-Southwest Big Horn Basin- Southeast Big Horn Basin- Including the cities of Cody, Meeteetse, Thermopolis, and Worland 211 AM MST Fri Mar 2 2018 ...Snow and wind Saturday night and Sunday... A strong Pacific low pressure storm will bring snow with strong north winds Saturday evening through Sunday. At this time snowfall of 2 to 4 inches is expected with locally heavier amounts near the mountains. Travel may become difficult with icy snow packed roads and poor visibility. WYZ016>018-022200- Upper Wind River Basin-Wind River Basin-Lander Foothills- Including the cities of Dubois, Riverton, Shoshoni, and Lander 211 AM MST Fri Mar 2 2018 ...Snow and wind Saturday night and Sunday... A strong Pacific low pressure storm will bring snow with strong north winds later Saturday night through Sunday. At this time snowfall of 2 to 4 inches is expected with locally heavier amounts near the mountains. Travel may become difficult with icy snow packed roads and poor visibility. WYZ007>009-022200- Owl Creek and Bridger Mountains-Bighorn Mountains West- Bighorn Mountains Southeast- 211 AM MST Fri Mar 2 2018 ...Snow and wind Saturday night and Sunday... A strong Pacific low pressure storm will bring snow with strong west winds shifting to the north Saturday evening through Sunday. At this time snowfall of 3 to 6 inches is expected with locally heavier amounts over Powder river pass. Travel may become difficult with icy snow packed roads and poor visibility.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Along Wyoming Boulevard, several wind gusts over 58 mph were reported. The maximum wind gust recorded was 66 mph.
There were several wind gusts at the Fales Rock RAWS site over 58 mph, including a maximum wind gust of 63 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, March 2018
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: 739835, 739834.