Low pressure tracked across Wyoming and brought heavy snow to much of the state. Since much of the storm continued into January, please see January Storm Data for a description.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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.
Low pressure tracked across Wyoming and brought heavy snow to much of the state. Since much of the storm continued into January, please see January Storm Data for a description.
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 Dec 30, 5:04 AM MST, 2 hours 56 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 504 AM MST Fri Dec 30 2022 .SHORT TERM...Today through Saturday Issued at 115 AM MST Fri Dec 30 2022 Light snow showers will remain possible over the far western mountains through the rest of the night. A moist, mainly zonal, flow will reach western portions later this morning. Snowfall chances will increase after sunrise as a result, with snow quickly becoming likely over far western portions after 15Z. Upslope flow, aided by the left exit region of the jet, in addition to the abundant Pacific moisture, will lead to this increase in snowfall. Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect for the western zones through midday Saturday. This activity will be relatively persistent through the day today and tonight and into Saturday, before the flow aloft begins to turn more southwesterly. There will be a chance for snow across southern portions late this morning and through the afternoon, as the lead shortwave moves over the area. Southwest winds, with gusts of 35 to 45 mph, will continue over the Wind Corridor, from the Continental Divide to Natrona County, today into the evening. Slightly higher winds will occur on the leeside of the Absaroka and Wind River Mountains, as well. Otherwise, conditions will be somewhat similar to Thursday. Winds will increase over southern portions late tonight, as another shortwave brings the next wave of precipitation. West to southwest winds, with gusts of 40 to 50 mph, will occur over Sweetwater County and southern portions of Lincoln and Sublette counties, as a result. This will also result in blowing snow impacting these areas, with the heaviest snow occurring in southern Lincoln County. These winds will decrease to gusts of 30 to 35 mph by late Saturday morning, with snow showers continuing and becoming more likely through the afternoon. Snow will continue over western portions through the day Saturday. The current advisories will likely be extended, as snow looks to continue into early next week (additional details to follow in the Long Term section). Temperatures will remain near normal across the area Saturday, with mainly light winds east of the Divide. .LONG TERM...Saturday night through Thursday Issued at 115 AM MST Fri Dec 30 2022 Saturday night into Sunday will see southwest flow aloft as a trough moves eastward across the region. This will continue the west and south getting significant snowfall totals with this storm system through Monday. For the remainder of the forecast area, the newest model run is still undecided on if/when an upper low will form over Utah and move into Colorado. This feature will be key to the snowfall chances across central and eastern portions of Wyoming. There is the potential for 3 to 9 inches for central basins if the low tracks far enough north to feed moisture into the area. We will continue to monitor the development and movement of this feature. Monday night will see this system exit the region for mainly dry conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday. The temperatures will be colder behind the trough with clearer skies and more snowpack. A new system will approach later in the day Wednesday for a new round of snow showers for the west and southwest, however it is weaker than the previous system. && .AVIATION...For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Saturday Issued at 944 PM MST Thu Dec 29 2022 West of the Divide...KBPI/KJAC/KPNA/KRKS Terminals. A multi-day winter weather system is beginning to move into western Wyoming. KJAC is the first to see impacts, with KBPI and KPNA impacts starting about 15Z. MVFR, with occasional IFR, conditions expected as snow begins. This heavier snow continues through about 21Z. Then, snowfall rates decrease through the evening, but increase once again in the evening Friday. TAFs generally follow this flow, with lower visibilities and ceilings as snow starts, slightly improving conditions mid-afternoon through the evening, then decreasing conditions returning around 02Z and continuing into the night. KRKS may see on and off light snow beginning around 20Z, so have left that the prevailing group for now. East of the Divide...KCOD/KCPR/KLND/KRIW/KWRL Terminals. Light snow west of the Divide may make it to KCOD Friday morning, so have included VCSH there starting 17Z. Gusty winds around 25kts continue at KCOD through the TAF period. KCPR also sees gusty winds, with gusts around 40kts possible beginning around 16Z. Occasional higher gusts at KCPR also possible. Elsewhere, winds remain relatively light. Isolated snow showers will be possible after 06Z Saturday but not enough confidence to include in the forecast yet. Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for the latest information on icing and turbulence forecasts. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued AT 115 AM MST Fri Dec 30 2022 Light to moderate snow will return to western portions of the forecast area this morning. Snow is expected to continue over this area for the next several days. Periods of heavy snow will occur during this time. West to southwest winds, with gusts of 35 to 45 mph, will occur over zones 280/289 today before decreasing this evening. Similar winds will impact zones 286/288 as well. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph will develop over portions of zones 277/278/279/289 tonight into Saturday morning, decreasing to gusts of 30 to 35 mph by the afternoon. Light snow will coincide with this wind, leading to blowing snow. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 5 AM Friday to 11 AM MST Saturday for WYZ001-012-013-023-024. Winter Weather Advisory from 11 AM Friday to 11 AM MST Saturday for WYZ002-014-015-025-027. && SHORT TERM...LaVoie LONG TERM...Swanson AVIATION...Wittmann / Hattings FIRE WEATHER...LaVoie
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Riverton WY 123 AM MST Fri Dec 30 2022 WYZ001>020-022>030-310830- 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- 123 AM MST Fri Dec 30 2022 ...Winter Storm Warnings are posted for the Tetons, Gros Ventres and Salt/Wyoming Ranges for Today through Saturday Morning... ...Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for western Wyoming Today through Saturday Morning... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Western and Central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. A prolonged snow event will begin for western Wyoming. See winter weather statements for the latest information. Southwest winds, with gusts up to 45 mph, will continue over Natrona County and extend toward South Pass. Additional winds will develop over southern portions late tonight. Blowing snow will be possible at times over Interstate 80 and Highway 28. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Saturday...A prolonged snow event will continue for western Wyoming. See winter weather statements for the latest information. Saturday Night through Monday...Snow will continue over western Wyoming, spreading into central Wyoming. This will cause widespread winter travel conditions and snowfall- related impacts. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions, according to standard operating procedures. TEAM RIVERTON
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Please see January Storm Data for details.
Please see January Storm Data for a description.
Please see January Storm Data for a description.
Please see January Storm Data for a description.
Please see January Storm Data for a description.
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: 1072438, 1072472, 1072473, 1072471, 1072475.