The combination of a fresh snowpack, a Canadian airmass, and light wind led to temperatures dropping to less than 20 below zero across many of the lower elevations of central Wyoming. Some of the coldest temperatures included 29 below zero near Ten Sleep in Washakie County, 26 below zero west of Cody, and 23 below zero at Powder River in Natrona County.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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.
The combination of a fresh snowpack, a Canadian airmass, and light wind led to temperatures dropping to less than 20 below zero across many of the lower elevations of central Wyoming. Some of the coldest temperatures included 29 below zero near Ten Sleep in Washakie County, 26 below zero west of Cody, and 23 below zero at Powder River in Natrona County.
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 22, 3:41 PM MST, 5 hours 19 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 341 PM MST Tue Feb 22 2022 .SHORT TERM...This evening through Wednesday night Issued at 247 PM MST Tue Feb 22 2022 Snow has ended across the region for the most part, with the exception of a few flurries here and there. Scattered to broken low- to mid-level cloudiness will continue through the afternoon for many areas. Model guidance has continued with a more northward trend on the low passage to our south tomorrow. This will keep those low clouds across the region tonight, which should help temps a bit, but will also bring snow chances increasing from south to north beginning early tomorrow morning. The counter clockwise rotation around the low will also lead to gusty east to northeast winds across southern areas through tomorrow afternoon. This will likely result in patchy areas of blowing snow, mainly across Sweetwater County, through the day tomorrow. Gusts up to 30 to 35 mph are possible, generally from Rock Springs to Casper tomorrow afternoon. Could see the need for some Wind Chill highlights in those areas, due to the wind and continuing Arctic temps. The snow associated with this low passage will be banded, so take the following with a grain of salt as we all know the nature of banded snow, and it is very difficult to pin down exact amounts/locations. In general, will see greater amounts the further south you go. 1 to 3 inches along and south of a Kemmerer to Casper line and up to an inch across the western valleys, Green River Basin and Wind River Basin. Locally up to 1 to 3 inches are possible in the mountains, such as the Salt/Wyoming Ranges and along South Pass. Not looking at any snow north of the regions mentioned, so the Bighorn Basin, Johnson County, NW mountains, Yellowstone, should be snow free through Wednesday. Not looking at too many impacts with this since amounts will be mostly around an inch, but do expect to see some travel impacts along I-80 tomorrow as well as along South Pass and up into the Casper area. As the low rotates south of us and the trough axis slides eastward, snow chances will decrease from west to east Wednesday evening and Wednesday night with clearing behind it. As I mentioned earlier, the clouds associated with the low will help to moderate temps a bit tonight, particularly east of the Divide and across the south, but we will still see temps plummet into the double digits below zero for many areas. Did bump temps up a little from the previous forecast, but not getting too optimistic due to the depth of the cold air and based on last night's temps. Clearing Wednesday night will likely make Thursday morning the colder of the two days as the cold Arctic air continues to stick around through the near- term forecast. .LONG TERM...Thursday through Tuesday Issued at 247 PM MST Tue Feb 22 2022 The current upper low/longwave trough will continue to weaken and fill, as it treks eastward over the Central Rockies/Central Plains Thursday. At the same time, another trough will drop southward from western Canada Thursday, bringing chances for snow over western portions Thursday night into Friday morning. Snowfall amounts are light, at this time. Temperatures will moderate a bit Thursday, rising into the teens and 20s across the forecast area. Cyclonic flow will continue over the Cowboy State Friday, as the trough fills and weakens. Northwest flow will gradually return through the weekend, as a ridge rebuilds over northern portions of the Great Basin and PACNW. Near normal temperatures will not return until Sunday. It is not likely that the arctic air will remain trapped in the central basins through the weekend, due to it being the last full week in February. This would be a different story if it was January. The ridge will break down Sunday afternoon, as a Pacific trough moves over the region Sunday night. This trough will bring another round of light snow to far western portions Monday. && .AVIATION...For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday East of the Divide...KCOD/KCPR/KLND/KRIW/KWRL Terminals VFR conditions expected through the first 12 hours of the TAF period. Light snow, with MVFR conditions will return to KLND/KRIW/KCPR between 12Z and 14Z from the south. These conditions will continue at KCPR through the rest of the period, while VCSH and VFR conditions are expected at KLND/KRIW by 18Z. Mountain obscurations will occur through the period as well. West of the Divide...KBPI/KJAC/KPNA/KRKS Terminals Marginal MVFR ceilings will remain in place at KBPI/KPNA. VCSH will develop at KRKS by 06Z, with light snow expected by 09Z. MVFR conditions will occur with the snow, moving northward to KBPI/KPNA between 13Z and 16Z. These conditions will continue through much of the day for KRKS and KPNA. Mountain obscurations will occur until 18Z. 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 247 PM MST Tue Feb 22 2022 Few fire weather concerns over the next several days as the bitterly cold Arctic air and snow chances will continue through Thursday night. Though most areas are dry and clearing somewhat this afternoon, snow chances increase again tomorrow morning from south to north into the region. Locally 1 to 3 inches are possible across the southern/central areas through tomorrow evening. Another round of snow will move into the region Thursday night from the northwest. Snow amounts with this will also be light. Bitter cold continues through the day Thursday, improving into the weekend. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...Hensley LONG TERM...LaVoie AVIATION...LaVoie FIRE WEATHER...Hensley
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Riverton WY 137 PM MST Tue Feb 22 2022 WYZ001>020-022>030-232045- 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- 137 PM MST Tue Feb 22 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Western and Central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...The Rest of Today and Tonight. Bitter cold temperatures and wind chills expected through tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Wednesday through Thursday...Very cold temperatures will continue. Light snow possible Wednesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to standard operating procedures.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Riverton WY 715 PM MST Tue Feb 22 2022 WYZ019-028>030-231200- Green Mountains and Rattlesnake Range- Rock Springs and Green River-Flaming Gorge-East Sweetwater County- Including the cities of Jeffrey City, Rock Springs, Green River, and Wamsutter 715 PM MST Tue Feb 22 2022 ...Very Cold Wind Chill Readings Tonight... * WHAT...Very cold wind chills values between 20 and 30 degrees below zero. * WHEN...Tonight. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. Be sure not to expose certain pets to the extreme cold as well. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. WYZ020-231200- Natrona County Lower Elevations- Including the city of Casper 715 PM MST Tue Feb 22 2022 ...Very Cold Wind Chill Readings Tonight... * WHAT...Very cold wind chills values between 20 and 30 degrees below zero in some locations. * WHEN...Tonight. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. Be sure not to expose certain pets to the extreme cold as well. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
Some notable temperatures less than 20 below zero in western Natrona County included 23 below zero at Powder River and 22 below zero at Natrona.
The weather station near the Johnson / Sheridan County border recorded a low temperature of 20 below zero.
Some of the notable temperatures in Washakie County included 29 below zero near Big Trails south of Ten Sleep, and 21 below zero at Worland Municipal Airport.
Some of the more notable low temperatures included 26 below zero near Buffalo Bill Reservoir and 24 below zero at Wapiti.
A cooperative weather observer northeast of Thermopolis reported a low temperature of 20 below zero.
Typically known as the Valley of the Warm Winds, the area around Dubois was anything but that. The low temperature bottomed out at 22 below zero at Dubois and 20 below zero at Crowheart, while the nearby mountain locale of Union Pass dropped to 28 below zero.
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: 1006659, 1006660, 1006661, 1006662, 1006663, 1006664.