Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Shirley Basin, Wyoming

2022-02-23 · Shirley Basin, Wyoming

Event narrative

A UPR sensor located 2 ESE of Medicine Bow recorded a minimum wind chill of -33 degrees F at 4:16 AM MST on 2/23.

Wider weather episode

A deep upper-level trough brought widespread snow to southeast Wyoming from the morning of February 21st through the early morning hours on February 22nd. Snowfall amounts were fairly light across the majority of the region, with a localized area of significantly higher totals observed across central Carbon County where heavy banding brought a period of snowfall rates in excess of 2 inches per hour. 12 to 24 inches of snow fell in areas near the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, with 6 to 12 inches in the adjacent Valleys and Foothills including Saratoga and Elk Mountain. At the same time, an intense arctic cold front brought near-record low temperatures to the region. While wind chills eased some during the daytime hours, extreme night time wind chills as low as -35 to -45 degrees F were common for much of the period from February 21st through February 23rd.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1008294. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.