Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Upper North Platte River Basin, Wyoming

2022-12-22 to 2022-12-23 · Upper North Platte River Basin, Wyoming

Event narrative

Overnight low temperatures ranged from -22 F to -33 F across the Upper North Platte River Valley from 12/21 into 12/22. Minimum observed wind chill values reached -38 F at the Saratoga Airport (KSAA) at 12:35 AM MST on 12/23.

Wider weather episode

An intense arctic cold front tracked rapidly from north to south across southeast Wyoming during the morning and afternoon hours on 12/21. Temperatures at the Cheyenne Airport (KCYS) fell from 43 to 7 degrees between 1:05 PM and 1:18 PM MST, before plummeting to a near-record -25 degrees F at 7:15 AM MST on 12/22. Numerous records were set for the most rapid and extreme temperature drops in history. Morning low temperatures fell to -20 to -40 degrees F across a large portion of southeast Wyoming on 12/22, with many sites remaining below zero through the day. Wind chills plummeted to between -45 and -65 degrees F for many. The cold frontal passage on 12/21 was also accompanied by scattered snow showers and locally intense snow squalls, resulting in a period of extremely low visibilities and dangerous travel conditions due to a flash freeze. Several inches of mountain snow were also recorded in the Snowy and Sierra Madre mountain ranges, along with reports of significant blowing and drifting snow.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1062765. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.