Wyoming, 2023Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Wyoming, January 1 to 2, 2023
January 1 to 2, 2023 · NWS RIW · 20 events in 19 counties and zones
A potent winter storm rang in the New Year across Wyoming and brought heavy snow across much of the area, leading to numerous road closures, including Interstates 25 and 80, and severely hampering holiday travel. The heaviest snow fell East of the Divide.
Every event with a place to put it; 20 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 20
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.
A potent winter storm rang in the New Year across Wyoming and brought heavy snow across much of the area, leading to numerous road closures, including Interstates 25 and 80, and severely hampering holiday travel. The heaviest snow fell East of the Divide. In the Wind River Mountains, as much as 27 inches of new snow fell. The Lander area saw the highest snowfall totals in the populated areas, with anywhere from 15 to 22 inches around town. Over a foot of snow also fell in the lower elevations of Lincoln, Natrona, Sublette and Sweetwater Counties. The snow was also accompanied by wind gusts close to 50 mph in the favored locations, bring near zero visibility with blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Storm, Teton & Gros Ventre Mountains
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM MST to 3:00 AM MST
- Where
- Teton & Gros Ventre Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
- Coordinates
- 43.002, -109.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Up to 14 inches of new snow fell at the Jackson Hole Ski Resort.
Winter Storm, Jackson Hole
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM MST to 6:00 AM MST
- Where
- Jackson Hole forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.100, -110.623 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall amounts ranged from 4 to 8 inches around the Jackson Valley.
Winter Storm, Yellowstone National Park
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM MST to 4:00 AM MST
- Where
- Yellowstone National Park forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 44.228, -110.089 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A SNOTEL site reported 13 inches of new near the South Entrance to Yellowstone Park.
Winter Storm, Salt River & Wyoming Ranges
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 2, 2:00 PM MST
- Where
- Salt River & Wyoming Ranges forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 42.516, -110.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Most locations reported over a foot of new snow, with a high of 22 inches of new snow at Commissary Ridge.
Winter Storm, Wind River Mountains West
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 2, 3:00 PM MST
- Where
- Wind River Mountains West forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 42.904, -109.273 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A combination of strong wind and snowfall brought near zero visibility across South Pass that resulted in the closure of Highway 28 for many hours.
Winter Storm, Wind River Mountains East
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 2, 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Wind River Mountains East forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 42.904, -109.273 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Very heavy snow fell in the east slopes of the Wind River Range. Many areas had over 15 inches of new snow with a maximum of 27 inches at the Townsend Creek SNOTEL site.
Winter Storm, Star Valley
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 2, 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Star Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 42.264, -110.656 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall amounts in the Star Valley ranged from 6 to 14 inches, including 11.5 inches at Afton.
Winter Weather, Jackson Hole
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM MST to 6:00 AM MST
- Where
- Jackson Hole forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.100, -110.623 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall amounts between from 4 to 5 inches around the city of Jackson.
Winter Storm, South Lincoln County
- When
- January 1, 1:00 AM MST to January 2, 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- South Lincoln County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 42.264, -110.656 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A combination of heavy snow and wind gusting as high as 50 mph lead to the closure of many roads around southern Lincoln County.
Winter Storm, Wind River Basin
- When
- January 1, 4:00 AM MST to January 2, 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Wind River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.041, -108.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy snow fell through much of the Wind River Basin. Snowfall amounts ranged from 7.9 inches at Shoshoni to 14.5 inches to the west of Riverton.
Winter Storm, Upper Wind River Basin
- When
- January 1, 4:00 AM MST to January 2, 10:00 AM MST
- Where
- Upper Wind River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.041, -108.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Around 6 inches of snow was reported around Dubois.
Winter Storm, Green Mountains & Rattlesnake Range
- When
- January 1, 5:00 AM MST to January 2, 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Green Mountains & Rattlesnake Range forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 42.554, -108.102 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy snow and gusty wind brought the closure of many roads, including US 287.
Winter Storm, Natrona County Lower Elevations
- When
- January 1, 5:00 AM MST to January 2, 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Natrona County Lower Elevations forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 42.962, -106.798 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy snow fell around the city of Casper with a maximum of 15.9 inches 1 mile East of downtown Casper. Around 8 inches fell at Powder River and 5 inches at Midwest. The heavy snow brought the closure of Interstate 25 and US 20 26 for many hours.
Winter Storm, Casper Mountain
- When
- January 1, 5:00 AM MST to January 2, 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Casper Mountain forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 42.962, -106.798 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Casper Mountain SNOTEL site received 13 inches of new snow.
Winter Storm, Lander Foothills
- When
- January 1, 5:00 AM MST to January 2, 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Lander Foothills forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.041, -108.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall amounts around Lander ranged from around 15 inches in town to 25.8 inches closer to the Wind River Mountains.
Winter Storm, East Sweetwater County
- When
- January 1, 8:00 AM MST to January 2, 4:00 PM MST
- Where
- East Sweetwater County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 41.660, -108.879 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy snow fell in portions of Eastern Sweetwater County, with a maximum snowfall of 16 inches at Wamsutter. The snow fell with wind gusting close to 50 mph, bringing blowing and drifting snow and resulting in a long closure of Interstate 80.
Winter Storm, Upper Green River Basin Foothills
- When
- January 1, 12:00 PM MST to January 2, 12:00 PM MST
- Where
- Upper Green River Basin Foothills forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 42.767, -109.915 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall amounts ranged from around 6 inches near Pinedale to almost 10 inches near Bondurant.
Winter Storm, Upper Green River Basin
- When
- January 1, 3:00 PM MST to January 2, 3:00 PM MST
- Where
- Upper Green River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 42.433, -109.520 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A trained spotter reported 9 inches of snow near Farson.
Winter Storm, Southeast Johnson County
- When
- January 1, 6:00 PM MST to January 2, 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Southeast Johnson County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 44.039, -106.585 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Periods of snow resulted in the closure of Interstate 25 for several hours.
Winter Storm, Northeast Johnson County
- When
- January 1, 6:00 PM MST to January 2, 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Northeast Johnson County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 44.039, -106.585 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A trained spotter measured 6,5 inches of snow to the southeast of Buffalo. The snow and gusty wind led to the closure of Interstates 25 and 90 for a time.
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
- Winter Weather
- Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Snow in California, January 1, 20233 deaths · $134 million · 5 events
- Flooding in California, January 1 to 17, 2023$272 million · 6 events
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Snow in Utah, January 1 to 3, 2023$60,000 · 19 events
- Drought in Oklahoma, January 1 to 31, 202346 events
- Flash Flood and Flood in Arizona, January 1 to 2, 2023$40,000 · 2 events
- Drought in Nebraska, January 1 to 31, 202326 events
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in California, January 1, 2023$2,000 · 62 kt wind · 26 events
- Drought in Kansas, January 1 to 31, 202323 events
- Drought in Nebraska, January 1 to 31, 202321 events
- Drought in Oklahoma, January 1 to 31, 202318 events
- Drought in South Dakota, January 1 to 31, 202317 events
- Drought in Texas, January 1 to 31, 202317 events
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1074181, 1074182, 1074184, 1074186, 1074188, 1074190, 1074203, 1078764, 1074202, 1074195, 1074196, 1074191, 1074192, 1074193, 1074197, 1074194, 1074200, 1074201, 1074198, 1074199.