A Pacific trough moved across central Wyoming and brought locally heavy snow. Around Lander, where upslope flow favored heavier snowfall, anywhere from 6 to 11 inches was reported with the highest amounts falling closer to the Wind River Mountains.
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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 moved across central Wyoming and brought locally heavy snow. Around Lander, where upslope flow favored heavier snowfall, anywhere from 6 to 11 inches was reported with the highest amounts falling closer to the Wind River Mountains. In eastern Washakie County, 7 to 13 inches of snow fell around Ten Sleep. Amounts dropped sharply farther west with only around an inch in Worland.
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 Feb 15, 3:49 PM MST, 4 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 349 PM MST Tue Feb 15 2022 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday night) Issued at 345 PM MST Tue Feb 15 2022 Accumulating snow will be the main weather story over the next 36 hours. Snow showers that moved into western and northern Wyoming this morning will continue their southward march this afternoon and evening, eventually bringing snow to the Wind River Basin, Natrona County, and Sweetwater County this evening into the overnight hours. Snow will be fairly persistent overnight, before becoming more intermittent after sunrise Wednesday. Brief periods of lower visibility are possible as snow showers pass as a subtle shortwave provides some additional large-scale ascent. Snow chances remain until after sunset Wednesday, with most activity decreasing after midnight early Thursday morning. Total accumulations will vary depending on location, so check our local snowfall forecast maps for details in your area. Generally, the Wind River Basin and Natrona County look to receive the higher totals, with anywhere from 2 to 6 inches. Lander and Casper are two locations that are likely to be on the higher end of this range, as they could see local upslope enhancement due to the north and northeasterly low level winds. The Shoshoni area and Sweetwater county will both see lower totals, given the higher terrain to the north that will block much of the incoming moisture. Western Wyoming may see additional snow showers throughout the day Wednesday, but the dynamic support for snow is best east of the Divide. Breezy north winds are also worth mentioning for those south of the Owl Creek and Bridger Mountains, as well as in the Bighorn and Powder River Basins. The northerly pressure gradient will bring 25 to 35 mph wind gusts for the lower elevations of northern Wyoming, while the southern slopes of the Owl Creeks and Bridgers will see downslope enhancement causing gusts of 40 to 50 mph both tonight and Wednesday night. Expect cooler temperatures Wednesday in the wake of the Canadian cold front, followed by a warming trend Thursday into the weekend. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday) Issued at 345 PM MST Tue Feb 15 2022 A departing system gives way to northwest flow over Wyoming Thursday morning. Snow chances increase in northwest Wyoming and the Bighorns Thursday night with a weak clipper system. Moisture values are low, but high enough for minor accumulations in the northern mountains of Wyoming. Some snow showers are possible in Natrona County as they develop on the Bridger Mountains and move southeast. Friday through Saturday temps will be rebounding under a ridge and clear skies. During this time expect highs well above average east of The Divide. Things could change Saturday night with an approaching Pacific wave and weak cut-off low combination in the region. Current model guidance has come into better agreement with the pattern Saturday night onward as a potent weather system dives down through the Pacific Northwest into the Great Basin. This system likely impacts the CWA through Tuesday with moderate snowfall, plummeting temps, and strong winds. Sunday precipitation could start as a rain/snow mix, especially for eastern portions of the area as strong warm air advection brings in warm 700mb temps. It would changeover quickly Sunday evening as temps plummet behind an Arctic front. Monday into Tuesday Arctic air is pulled down from Canada with 700mb temps as cold as -30 C. Recent snowfall and an extremely cold air mass could setup conditions for the coldest temps of the winter season so far. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Wednesday evening) Issued at 345 PM MST Tue Feb 15 2022 Snow will move into central Wyoming basins this evening, bringing reduced visibility, lowered ceilings, and breezy north and northeast winds. Expect accumulating snow for most locations by midnight, with south central Wyoming being the last location to begin snowing late this evening. Western valleys may stay mostly dry throughout the next 36 hours, but mountain obscurations continue, and snow showers will likely drift off of the terrain at times. Snow intensity is generally expected to decrease from north to south Wednesday morning into the afternoon, but scattered showers remain possible as a secondary push of moisture moves in from the northwest. KLND and KCPR have the best chances for nearly continuous snow in this northerly to northwesterly flow pattern, so expect periods of less favorable IFR conditions to linger there longest, perhaps even into Wednesday night. Most snow showers end after midnight early Thursday morning. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued AT 345 PM MST Tue Feb 15 2022 Snow showers end this evening across western zones and begin again Wednesday morning. For northern zones, any additional snow will be light and not amount to much at lower elevations. Snow moves in this evening in central zones and reaches southern zones by tonight. Central zones should see consistent falling snow from this evening through Wednesday afternoon with little to no break in snowfall. Snow coverage and intensity decreases Wednesday afternoon with snow ending across the area Wednesday evening. For basins east of The Divide northerly winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph develop behind a cold front this evening. Central zones should see winds shift northerly and increase late this afternoon. Winds generally decrease tonight with gusts decreasing, but the southern slopes of the Owl Creek and Bridger Mountains could see increasing gusts 40 to 50 mph due to downsloping tonight (and again Wednesday night). Wednesday afternoon winds increase for basins with gusts 25 to 35 mph possible. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM MST Wednesday for WYZ016>020- 022. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM MST Wednesday for WYZ007>009- 015. && SHORT TERM...VandenBoogart LONG TERM...Rowe AVIATION...VandenBoogart FIRE WEATHER...Rowe
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Riverton WY 311 AM MST Tue Feb 15 2022 WYZ001>020-022>030-161200- 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- 311 AM MST Tue Feb 15 2022 ...Winter Weather Advisories for parts of central Wyoming Tonight through early Wednesday Evening... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Western and Central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Snow likely in the western mountains today and tonight. A chance of snow in far west valleys today. A chance of snow in the north this afternoon. Snow likely in the central tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Wednesday...A chance of snow or snow showers most areas. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to standard operating procedures. Team Riverton
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Riverton WY 443 PM MST Tue Feb 15 2022 WYZ003-005-006-161300- Cody Foothills-Southwest Big Horn Basin-Southeast Big Horn Basin- Including the cities of Clark, Cody, Meeteetse, Thermopolis, Ten Sleep, and Worland 443 PM MST Tue Feb 15 2022 ...Snow Tonight into Wednesday... This is a special weather statement from the National Weather Service Office in Riverton. * WHAT...Periods of snow. Snowfall of 1 to 3 inches. * WHERE...The Cody Foothills and the Southern Bighorn Basin. This includes Cody, Meeteetse, Thermopolis, Worland, and Ten Sleep. * WHEN...Late this afternoon through tonight and Wednesday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Motorists are urged to watch for snow covered and slick roads as well as rapid changes in visibility if traveling today and tonight. The evening commute will be impacted by the snow. WYZ002-161300- Absaroka Mountains- 443 PM MST Tue Feb 15 2022 ...Snow continuing Tonight... This is a special weather statement from the National Weather Service Office in Riverton. * WHAT...Periods of Snow. Snowfall of 2 to 4 inches. * WHERE...Absaroka Mountains. * WHEN...Now through Tonight. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Motorists are urged to watch for snow covered and slick roads, as well as rapid changes in visibility. Chief Joseph Highway will be impacted by the snow. WYZ010-011-161300- Northeast Johnson County-Southeast Johnson County- Including the cities of Buffalo and Kaycee 443 PM MST Tue Feb 15 2022 ...Snow continuing Tonight into Wednesday... This is a special weather statement from the National Weather Service Office in Riverton. * WHAT...Periods of Snow. Snowfall of 1 to 2 inches is forecast with up to 3 inches in parts of southern Johnson county. * WHERE...Johnson County. * WHEN...Now through Tonight and Wednesday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Motorists are urged to watch for snow covered and slick roads, as well as rapid changes in visibility.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Trained spotters measured anywhere from 6 to 11 inches of snow around the Lander Foothills. At the Lander airport, Hunt Field, 5 inches of snow was measured.
Cooperative weather observers measured anywhere 8 to 10 inches of snow from around Ten Sleep south toward Big Trails. Additional reports indicated most areas in eastern Washakie County received 7 to 13 inches of snow. Amounts dropped sharply farther west with only an inch of new snow around Worland.
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, February 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: 1006459, 1006458.