A fast-moving trough moved across Wyoming and brought high wind to portions of central Wyoming. In the Cody Foothills, wind gusted to 61 mph at Wapiti and the west side of Cody.
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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 fast-moving trough moved across Wyoming and brought high wind to portions of central Wyoming. In the Cody Foothills, wind gusted to 61 mph at Wapiti and the west side of Cody. At the Dubois airport, wind were sustained at over 40 mph for an hour.
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 19, 2:54 PM MST, 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 254 PM MST Sun Feb 19 2023 .DISCUSSION... Issued at 254 PM MST Sun Feb 19 2023 There is much to talk about this afternoon. In a nutshell, shortwave energy in northwest flow aloft impacts the west and just clips northcentral Wyoming overnight and Monday. Attention then shifts to the west Monday and Tuesday, and eventually to areas east of the Continental Divide Tuesday night and Wednesday as a strong winter storm impacts the region. Following the storm, unseasonably cold temperatures settle in Wednesday night through at least Thursday night. A busy week ahead! Slightly cyclonic northwest flow aloft allows for shortwave energy to produce accumulating snow across the northwest and far west tonight and Monday. The jet position and stronger mid-level winds initially favor gusty downsloping wind along the foothills of the Absaroka Range and around Dubois. Speeds look borderline for this event, but with the northwest jet it is difficult to rule out areas around Clark from seeing 60 mph gusts. Eastern portions of the Bighorn Basin and far northern Johnson County may see light snow late tonight in this flow. A better chance arrives around midday Monday as a weak boundary sags south into these areas. Temperatures moderate a bit more Monday, even in the heavily snow- covered basins. The upper-flow backs to the west Monday night and Tuesday leading to a prolonged period of heavy snow in the west. Impressive QPF, favorable orographics, and very good isentropic lift generate widespread storm total mountain snowfall of one to three feet, with local totals nearing 50 inches in the Tetons by the end of the storm Wednesday morning. Valley snowfall of 8 to 14 inches will be common before the storm slows. However, it could be gusty wind in exposed areas of Jackson Hole that create the greatest hazard when combined with the heavy snow. As such, winter storm warnings continue through 5AM Wednesday. EFI Shift of Tails snowfall pinpointing this region for Monday night and Tuesday, which further increases confidence. East of the Continental Divide, westerly wind steadily increases Monday night and Tuesday. Mid-level wind of 40-55kts will favor high wind across central Wyoming, where confidence is highest at this time. High wind watch has been hoisted for zones 19 and 20, including Casper for this period. Confidence was not as high across Sweetwater County, where the pressure gradient is not as favorable. Snow does begin to spread into southern Lincoln County and Sublette County Tuesday morning, but accumulations hold off to the south until at least mid-afternoon Tuesday. As the upper- level flow continues to back to the southwest in response to a digging trough in the Intermountain West, a surface cold front begins a southward march into the Bighorn Basin and Johnson County Tuesday afternoon. An abrupt shift to a north wind and falling temperatures accompany frontal passage. Snow will break-out across the north by mid-afternoon Tuesday. Winter storm watches have been issued accordingly to match these expectations. By Tuesday early evening, the front pushes to the Continental Divide. By this time, all signs point to widespread snowfall across all of the forecast area, although the snow will begin to decrease in coverage and intensity across the far west. EFI Shift of Tails pointing to enhanced snowfall across central and especially southwest Wyoming Tuesday night and Wednesday. A mid-level circulation forms over northeast Utah and travels east during this time frame. Strong northeast wind really begins to erupt by sunrise Wednesday across southwest Wyoming. This could certainly lead to near-blizzard conditions along the I-80 corridor, with central Wyoming also seeing plenty of gusty northeast wind. Q-vector forcing plus wrap-around moisture associated with the 700mb low to our south should allow for the snow machine to shift into high gear. While temperatures will be cold enough to not favor dendritic growth, the overrunning moisture from the southwest should provide the impetus to create widespread 6 to 12 inch snowfall totals. The probability for the lowest snowfall totals of 3 to 6 inches would be in Big Horn County, while snow totals in central and southwest Wyoming could reach 15 inches in a worst case scenario. Winter storm watches, generally running until 5 PM or 11 PM Wednesday have tried to address as best as possible the full potential of this storm. The storm begins to exit to the east Wednesday evening, leaving behind a deep layer of fresh snow. Cloud cover may hinder the radiational cooling, but temperatures will nonetheless be well below normal. Widespread temperatures below zero in store for Wednesday night, and daytime highs may struggle to zero, but certainly only the single digits, east of the Continental Divide. The coldest air will be unable to push into the far west valleys, but temperatures will still be below normal. The general pattern to end the period trends toward light snow in the western mountains, dry elsewhere, with slowly moderating temperatures across the entire forecast area. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday afternoon) Issued at 1026 AM MST Sun Feb 19 2023 Wind and snow will be the primary facets of the forecast through the next several days. Gusty west winds will increase at KCOD, KCPR, and KRKS this afternoon and remain very gusty through the TAF period. KCOD will see significant downsloping winds off the Absaroka Mountains, which could result in gusts of 50kts or higher late this evening. The strongest winds at KCOD will occur between 00Z and 06Z. At KCPR and KRKS, gusts of 30 to 40kts will be common throughout the TAF period. The other location that will see notable gusty winds is KJAC, which will see a consistent southwest wind with gusts 20 to 30kts through the TAF period. VFR conditions will prevail through the TAF period for all terminals with the exception of KJAC. A lull in snow will continue at KJAC this afternoon, with snow showers occurring over the mountains off and on through today. Snow at the terminal and associated MVFR/IFR conditions will become more likely after 00Z with MVFR/IFR conditions and snow showers expected to prevail at KJAC after 09Z tonight. With gusty winds, blowing snow is also possible with the falling snow, further reducing vsby. For this TAF issuance, KJAC looks to be the only terminal with snow chances, though a few show showers cannot be ruled out for KCOD and KPNA overnight. 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 254 PM MST Sun Feb 19 2023 Snow returns to the western mountains and valleys Sunday night through midday Monday, before more widespread snow and wind arrive Monday night and Tuesday. Winter storm warnings have been posted for the Yellowstone and Teton dispatch areas. The storm responsible for the snow and wind shifts eastward Tuesday night and Wednesday with conditions slowly improving to end the week. East of the Continental Divide, gusty west to southwest wind increases tonight in the foothills of the Absaroka and Wind River Range. The wind continues a steady climb Monday and Tuesday with the potential for strong wind across Sweetwater, Natrona, and southeast Fremont counties Tuesday. The wind and warmer air aloft will allow for warmer temperatures ahead of an incoming winter storm. This combination provides the best smoke dispersal Tuesday afternoon across central and southwest Wyoming. A strong cold front then quickly switches the wind to the north Tuesday evening and ushers in widespread snow and colder temperatures through Wednesday. The snow could be heavy at times in central and southwest Wyoming. When combined with a gusty north to northeast wind, these areas could see substantial blowing snow through sunset Wednesday. The snow decreases by sunrise Thursday, but temperatures will be very much below normal. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until 5 AM MST Wednesday for WYZ001-012-013- 023-024. Winter Storm Watch from late Monday night through Wednesday afternoon for WYZ002-014-025>027. High Wind Warning until 8 AM MST Monday for WYZ003-016. Winter Storm Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon for WYZ003>006. Winter Storm Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening for WYZ007-015>020-022. Winter Storm Watch from Tuesday morning through Wednesday evening for WYZ008>011. High Wind Watch from Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon for WYZ019-020. Winter Storm Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening for WYZ028>030. && SYNOPSIS...CNJ AVIATION...Hensley FIRE WEATHER...CNJ
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Riverton WY 159 PM MST Sun Feb 19 2023 WYZ001>020-022>030-201400- 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- 159 PM MST Sun Feb 19 2023 ...An Impactful Winter Storm to Arrive Monday and Continue through Wednesday... ...Various High Wind and Winter Weather Highlights are in Effect through Wednesday... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Western and Central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Snow begins across northwest Wyoming late Sunday afternoon and continues overnight. Wind increases Sunday evening and becomes strong in the Upper Wind River Basin and Cody Foothills, with gusts as high as 65 mph tonight. Localized blowing and drifting snow is likely. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Monday through Wednesday...Several rounds of snow occur over western portions of the state and produce significant snow amounts in the western mountains and valleys. Snow and wind increases east of the Continental Divide late Tuesday, with the greatest impacts Tuesday night into Wednesday. Potential accumulations of 6 to 14 inches. Strong west wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph are likely across central Wyoming Monday night and Tuesday, before a north wind of 25 to 40 mph arrives behind a strong cold front for Tuesday night and Wednesday. Wednesday Night through Thursday Night...Very cold temperatures likely, with overnight low temperatures 10 below to as much as 25 below zero. Thursday high temperatures may struggle to get out of the single digits east of the Continental Divide. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Wind was sustained over 40 mph for an hour at the Dubois airport.
Wind gusts to 61 mph were reported in Wapiti and in the west side of Cody.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, February 2023
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: 1082939, 1083003.