Blizzard — East Sweetwater County, Wyoming

2023-04-03 to 2023-04-04 · East Sweetwater County, Wyoming

Event narrative

Heavy snowfall amounts up to 20 inches combined with winds gusts up to 60 mph to bring an extended period of blizzard conditions. Interstate 80 was shut down for several days with many people having to be rescued from stranded vehicles. Travel was nearly impossible through the period.

Wider weather episode

A potent area of low pressure passed to the south of Wyoming and brought very heavy snow to portions of Wyoming. The heaviest snow fell in a band through Lincoln, Sweetwater, Fremont and Natrona Counties. The most notable snow was in Casper in Natrona County. Two snowfall records were broken. A storm total snowfall of 37.4 inches over 3 calendar days, April 3rd through April 5th, fell at the Casper airport. In addition, an all-time 1-calendar-day snowfall record was set on April 3rd with a 26.7 inches of snow. Both these numbers broke the old records which occurred during the December 23-24, 1982 snowstorm. Other notable snowfall amounts included 20 inches at Afton in Lincoln County, 60 inches of new snow on Casper Mountain and 19 inches in Green River in Sweetwater County. In Fremont County, 48 inches of new snow fell at Atlantic City in the Wind River Mountains. In the lower elevations, 7 to 11 inches of new snow fell around Riverton with up to 18 inches near Lander. The snow was accompanied by gusty wind in the favored locations which brought blizzard conditions at times. As a result of the heavy snow, most major roads in the central and southern portions of the state, including Interstates 25 and 80, where closed for multiple days during the storm. Many schools were closed or went to virtual learning during the height of the storm.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1096763. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.