A Pacific trough and cold front moved across Wyoming and brought heavy snow to the northwestern portions of the state. The heaviest amount of snow fell in the Tetons with 26 inches at the Jackson Hole Ski Resort the heaviest amount.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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 RIW wrote it up.
A Pacific trough and cold front moved across Wyoming and brought heavy snow to the northwestern portions of the state. The heaviest amount of snow fell in the Tetons with 26 inches at the Jackson Hole Ski Resort the heaviest amount. Over a foot of snow fell in portions of Yellowstone Park, the Jackson Valley and the Absarokas. In central Wyoming, wind was the main hazard from the storm. Several wind gusts of hurricane force occurred along South Pass in the Wind River Mountains with a maximum wind gust of 86 mph. Wind gusts over 65 mph were also reported in the Lander Foothills and Natrona County. The snow and high wind disrupted travel, resulting in the closure of several roads for many hours.
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 Nov 30, 10:40 PM MST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 1040 PM MST Wed Nov 30 2022 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday) Issued at 1226 PM MST Wed Nov 30 2022 After a cold morning, brief ridging has allowed warmer 700mb temperatures to push in. Highs will peak 10 to 15 degrees warmer for locations that can mix the warmer air down, mainly from eastern Sweetwater County through Johnson County. Light to moderate snow will continue to fall across the west through tonight as the moist westerly flow persists. The gusty, mixing wind will continue through tonight as a Pacific trough approaches. This will begin to increase snowfall rates after sunrise Thursday, with moderate snowfall continuing through the day. The heaviest snowfall is expected Thursday night through early Friday morning. As for coverage, this will mainly be a mountain and western Wyoming event, though light snow will spill east of the Divide on Friday as the system pulls east. One concern with the snow forecast is the western valleys, as recent guidance seems to have trended down for places like Jackson in the Thursday night through Friday morning range. Still will keep with the WPC guidance for now. More confidence exists for the western mountains, which are likely to receive a foot or two. The other impact with this system will be wind, especially along the Wind Corridor from South Pass through Natrona County where southwest gusts over 60 mph are possible Thursday ahead of the cold front. Friday will be gusty over a more widespread area behind the front, but currently looking like gusts will stay below High Wind Criteria. Snow will decrease by early Friday afternoon, eventually tapering off by sunset. .LONG TERM...(Friday night through Wednesday) Issued at 1226 PM MST Wed Nov 30 2022 Friday night will start off cold and dry with strong southwest winds across the southern wind corridor and along the Cody Foothills and Absaroka, Bighorn and Wind River Mountains. Lows that morning will range from -10 to +15F. The southwest flow will continue as the next mid-level low and trough push onshore near CA/OR. Moisture with this system will move into southwestern WY late Saturday night and spread across the south and west through the day Sunday. The majority of the snowfall with this storm will stay west of the Divide, lasting Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon. The one good thing is the temperatures will warm slightly ahead of the system, although highs will still only climb into the upper 20s to low to mid 30s. Monday will see the low move into the Great Basin region, with a trough from Canada deepening across northern WY. This will enhance the surface gradient and see the winds again increase along the Rock Springs to Casper corridor as well as along the mountains. Monday could also see some precipitation across the northern areas of the state as the pattern evolves and the low is absorbed into the main flow. Overnight lows into Tuesday will drop again into the single digits with a chance of below zero spots. Any snowfall will be confined to the northwest and portions of the west. Tuesday will see gusty southwest winds again in the afternoon. Snow will finally taper off by Wednesday morning. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Thursday night) Issued at 1018 PM MST Wed Nov 30 2022 West of the Divide...KBPI/KJAC/KPNA/KRKS Terminals. Cigs and vis will start to decrease at KJAC overnight as the expected storm finally arrives. Snow will be increasing through the day, with a steady period of -sn from 18Z thru Fri/12Z. Cigs will remain VFR at the three remaining sites into this afternoon, with cirrus slowly lowering through the day. -SN likely not starting at KBPI/KPNA until at least 21Z and KRKS after 00Z, focusing on 06-12Z/FRI period. Wind will also jump at KRKS, with frequent wind gusts above 30kts Thursday afternoon. East of the Divide...KCOD/KCPR/KLND/KRIW/KWRL Terminals. Cigs likely remain VFR through 24 hours for most areas, with only cloud cover into KCOD around 24 hours from now (06Z/FRI). Main aviation impact Thursday will be strong southwest winds. KCPR likely reaching frequent gusts aoa 40kts thru the day. KLND will be close to the mountain wave, so have kept gusty winds there Thursday afternoon, but could easily get shadowed and have only light winds, with gusty winds just off the sfc. KRIW also could be gusty, but lower than forecast at KLND. Precip begins to move into KCOD around 00Z/FRI, and into the vicinity of remaining airports by 06Z, continuing into the morning Friday. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued AT 1226 PM MST Wed Nov 30 2022 Light snow will continue across the west through tonight. The gusty southwest wind noted across the Wind Corridor will continue as well. Snow rates will increase across the west Thursday morning as a Pacific trough approaches. Moderate to heavy snow will continue through the day Thursday, mainly across the west, with the heaviest snow falling overnight through Friday morning. Wind will increase on Thursday again across the Wind Corridor, especially from South Pass through Natrona County where southwest gusts over 60 mph are possible. Friday will also be windy across much of the area behind the cold front. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning from 6 AM Thursday to noon MST Friday for WYZ001-002-012>014-023-024. High Wind Warning from 8 AM Thursday to 6 AM MST Friday for WYZ015-019-020. && SHORT TERM...Myers LONG TERM...Swanson AVIATION...Straub FIRE WEATHER...Myers
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Riverton WY 501 PM MST Wed Nov 30 2022 WYZ001>020-022>030-011400- 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- 501 PM MST Wed Nov 30 2022 ...Winter Storm Warnings in effect for portions of western Wyoming Thursday morning through Friday morning... ...High Wind Warnings in effect for portions of Fremont and Natrona counties Thursday morning into Friday morning... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Western and Central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Light snow continues across the west. Gusty winds will persist across portions of central Wyoming. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Thursday...Moderate to heavy snowfall across western Wyoming beginning in the morning. Strong winds across portions of central Wyoming, including South Pass, Red Canyon, and Casper. Friday...Significant snow will continue across western portions in the morning, becoming light in the afternoon. West to northwest winds, with gusts of 25 to 45 mph, will occur across much of the area. Sunday through Tuesday...Light, continuous snow chances possible for western mountains. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions, according to standard operating procedures.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 high wind, 4 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
High winds occurred in portions of Natrona County. The maximum wind gust was 68 mph along Wyoming Boulevard. Other notable gusts included 64 mph at the Natrona County Airport and along Hat Six Road.
Snowfall amounts around much of Yellowstone ranged from 12 to 16 inches, including 13 inches at Old Faithful.
Heavy snow fell throughout the Tetons, including a maximum amount of 26 inches on the summit of the Jackson Hole Ski Resort.
Heavy snow fell through the Absarokas, including 13 inches at the Marquette SNOTEL site.
Snowfall amounts in the Jackson Valley ranged from 5 inches in the town of Jackson to 14 inches near Moran Junction.
There were several hours of winds sustained over 50 mph at the Red Canyon wind sensor along South Pass (This stretch of road borders 2 forecast zones). There were many gusts of hurricane force including a maximum gust of 86 mph. The combination of high wind and blowing snow closed Highway 28 for several hours.
There were several hours of winds sustained over 50 mph at the Red Canyon wind sensor along South Pass (This stretch of road borders 2 forecast zones). There were many gusts of hurricane force including a maximum gust of 86 mph. The combination of high wind and blowing snow closed Highway 28 for several hours.
The ASOS at the Lander airport reported a maximum wind gust of 66 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, December 2022
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: 1070976, 1070933, 1070935, 1070934, 1070971, 1070972, 1072843, 1070974.