Heavy snow fell across portions of Wyoming as low pressure moved across the state. This was especially the case in western Wyoming.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 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.
Heavy snow fell across portions of Wyoming as low pressure moved across the state. This was especially the case in western Wyoming. The highest amounts fell in the western mountains with up 18 inches in the Salt River and Wyoming ranges and up to 15 inches in the Tetons. Amounts in the western valleys generally ranged from 6 to 12 inches. The heaviest snow east of the Continental Divide fell in Fremont County. Six to nine inches of new snow fell around Lander, with 7 inches around Dubois. At Riverton, a narrow band of heavy snow developed and produced 6 to 9 inches around the city of Riverton. Amounts dropped sharply farther west with 5 inches at the National Weather Service office west of town and only 3 inches toward Kinnear.
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 8, 3:43 AM MST, 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 343 AM MST Tue Mar 8 2022 .SHORT TERM...Today through Thursday night So far, so good with the forecast with some snow across the western mountains and across the far north. Like yesterday, we will split the discussion between West and East of the Divide. West of the Divide...There has been some snow this evening with the warm advection ahead of the cold front that is now dropping through southern Montana as I write this. We do not have a lot of change in the reasoning of the forecast this morning. Snow should remain mainly light through the morning. The models are still indicating the heaviest and steadiest snow to occur late this afternoon into tonight as the some jet dynamics get involved with the system. Flow also goes northwest at this time and this would really favor locations like the Tetons. With dendritic growth rates expected to be maximized for a longer time, this still looks like the epicenter for the heaviest snow. The best upper level forcing will move out Wednesday but orographic snow will continue, although the core may shift to the southern mountains where flow is more westerly. As for Sweetwater County and Interstate 80, most areas should be alright through the day before the steadier snow moves in with the jet tonight and the actual front Wednesday morning. But here, it will be more of a banded snow. And as a result, harder to pinpoint. The Winter Weather Advisories look fine for now. Snow should end Wednesday night as the secondary boundary moves through and shuts off the moisture. This will also usher in the Arctic air, especially for Wednesday night when it could get quite cold given the fresh snow and clearing skies, especially further north. Another weaker system may move down later Thursday. However, the models are split on it and for now we left the forecast dry given that we have more important things to worry about. East of the Divide...The basic reasoning also looks to the same here. There is some light snow across the north right now but nothing heavy. Mainly light snow will fall during the day as the cold air sags southward. The main event with the snow will likely occur from late today and especially tonight as the jet crosses the area and provides some dynamics and upper level forcing to enhance lift. Not totally confident on amounts though. For one, since it is jet dominant, it will be a banded snow. And as I have said many times, it will be very hard to pinpoint where the bands will set up. In addition, the really cold air will move in much faster East of the Divide than west across the entire area by later tonight. As a result, the dendritic growth layer will not be optimized for an extended period of time. This should limit amounts somewhat. We agree with the warning for the Upper Wind River Basin given the favored southeasterly 700 millibar flow that will lead to some upsloping. It should not favor a place like Casper though. So, all in all, the advisories and warnings will be kept as is for now. On Wednesday the heaviest snow should be over with the jet energy exiting, stage east. With cyclonic curvature hanging around along with lingering moisture, areas of light snow will remain through the day. A second trough axis will then swing through late in the day and at night and bring an end to the snow Wednesday night. The concern then switches to how cold will it get. Temperatures will be cold tonight but cloud cover will mitigate this somewhat. The X factor for Wednesday night will be how fast will it clear. The cold air mass and fresh snow could bring some very cold temperatures if we get some clearing. We didn't change things much this morning given the uncertainty but it will be quite cold. Thursday at this point looks be a dry but very cold day with temperatures averaging 20 to 30 degrees below seasonal highs. .LONG TERM...Friday through Monday night. Friday and Friday night will be dry over most of the region. Some light snow may occur in NW WY as moisture in a NW flow aloft occurs in that area. Warmer temperatures will occur with highs in the 20s to lower 30s east of the divide, with mainly 20s in the west. Expect breezy to windy conditions in the central wind corridor and parts of the northwest Friday afternoon and night. Saturday and Saturday night look dry over the area. Some light snow may develop in NW WY late Sat night ahead of the next weather system. Breezy to windy once again in the wind corridors. Highs Saturday will be in the 30s west with mainly 40s east of the divide. Some places with deeper snow cover may stay in the upper 30s. Sunday and Sunday night will see a fast moving weather system pass through the northern Rockies. Models are somewhat in agreement with timing. Some snow is likely in the mountains Sunday, ending Sunday night. Scattered rain or snow will occur at the lower elevations. Breezy to windy Sunday into Sunday evening. Highs will be in the 40s east of the divide, with 30s in the west. Monday should be dry for the most part. NW WY mountains may see some light snow over the higher elevations. Breezy conditions in the wind corridors. Highs Monday will be in the 40s to around 50 east of the divide with mid 30s to mid 40s in the west. && .AVIATION...12Z Issuance East of the Divide...KCOD/KCPR/KLND/KRIW/KWRL Terminals The initial cold front is moving through northern Wyoming this morning and should be along the Continental Divide by around 19Z. In wake of this cold front expect lower ceilings, some snow, and breezy northerly wind. This is a complex system with low confidence on the coverage/placement of snow through 00Z. After 00Z, confidence increases for snow impacting the Wind River Basin and Natrona County, and the corresponding MVFR/IFR conditions. The snow should begin to decrease over the north between 09Z and 12Z Wednesday. Mountains will be obscured much of the time in wake of the cold front. West of the Divide...KBPI/KJAC/KPNA/KRKS Terminals Snow will occur over the northwest, then spread into southwest WY this afternoon. The heaviest snow is expected at most locations between 00Z and 06Z Wednesday. Breezy west to southwest winds will be common this afternoon, but especially over the south. A cold front will pull westward across much of Sweetwater County and the Upper Green River Basin between 03Z and 09Z Wednesday. In wake of the cold front breezy northeast to east winds will occur across Sweetwater, but southeast flow into the Upper Green River Basin. Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for the latest information on icing and turbulence forecasts. && .FIRE WEATHER... An Arctic Front will drop southwards and bring much colder temperatures and areas of snow through the day and tonight. Colder temperatures will be found in the north, while milder temperatures will persist further south before the colder air moves in tonight. A gusty wind will develop behind the front for many areas. Relative humidity will remain above critical levels. Mixing and smoke dispersal will range from poor in the basins to good across southern Wyoming. Cold and snowy weather is expected for many areas on Wednesday. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 5 PM MST Wednesday for WYZ005>007-017-019-020-022-025-027>030. Winter Storm Warning from 2 PM this afternoon to 5 PM MST Wednesday for WYZ016-018. Winter Storm Warning until 5 PM MST Wednesday for WYZ012-013-023- 024. Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM MST Wednesday for WYZ003- 008>011. Winter Weather Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 5 PM MST Wednesday for WYZ014-015. Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM MST Wednesday for WYZ001-002. && SHORT TERM...Hattings LONG TERM...AR AVIATION...Murrell FIRE WEATHER...Hattings
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Riverton WY 307 AM MST Tue Mar 8 2022 WYZ001>020-022>030-091200- 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- 307 AM MST Tue Mar 8 2022 ...Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for the region today through Wednesday... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Western and Central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Snow in the west and north today, spreading into the central and south tonight. Please see Winter Weather Products for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Wednesday and Wednesday night...Much colder. Snow likely, decreasing from north to south, Wednesday night. Bitter cold wind chill readings. Thursday...Mainly dry with cold temperatures. .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 308 AM MST Tue Mar 8 2022 WYZ004-090000- North Big Horn Basin- Including the cities of Basin, Greybull, Lovell, Powell, and Shell 308 AM MST Tue Mar 8 2022 ...Light Snow and Gusty Northwest Wind today... This is a special weather statement from the National Weather Service in Riverton. * WHAT...Light snow, mainly during the morning, along with gusty northwest wind 15 to 30 mph. * WHERE...Big Horn County and areas around Powell in Park County. * WHEN...Through today. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A cold front will move south across the region late tonight and Tuesday morning. Snow accumulations could reach an inch or two along and north of a line from Powell to Lovell. Other locations will see around an inch or less. WYZ026-090000- Upper Green River Basin- Including the cities of La Barge, Big Piney, and Farson 308 AM MST Tue Mar 8 2022 ...Light Snow Returns tonight and Wednesday Morning... This is a special weather statement from the National Weather Service in Riverton. * WHAT...Light snow. * WHERE...Upper Green River Basin. * WHEN...Mainly this evening through midday Wednesday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The chance for accumulating snow increases after sunset Tuesday. Total accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are possible by midday Wednesday. Road conditions may be hazardous at times for the Wednesday morning commute.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow fell in portions of the Tetons. The highest amount was 15 inches at the Grand Targhee SNOTEL site.
Snowfall amounts in the Jackson Valley ranged from 5 inches in the town of Jackson to 9 inches near Wilson.
Snowfall amounts around the Star Valley ranged from 6 inches in Alpine to nearly 10 inches at the Star Valley Ranch.
Heavy snow fell in the Salt River and Wyoming ranges. The highest amount recorded was 18 inches the the Spring Creek SNOTEL site.
A trained spotter measured 7 inches of snow in Dubois.
Snowfall amounts around Lander generally ranged from 5 to 9 inches, including 7 inches the at the Lander Airport.
Trained spotters measured 7 to 9 inches of new snow around the city of Riverton. Amounts dropped sharply to the west and east of town.
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, March 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: 1014861, 1014862, 1014863, 1014864, 1014866, 1014865, 1014867.