Blizzard — East Laramie County, Wyoming

2023-12-25 to 2023-12-26 · East Laramie County, Wyoming

Event narrative

AWOS station Alpha (Burns) - K1AW reported one-quarter mile visibility in falling and blowing snow 9 miles south-southeast of Gun Barrel with wind gusts 50 to 55 mph. WYDOT station Gun Barrel (KGUN) along US Highway 85 also reported one-quarter mile visibility 7 miles south-southwest of Meriden with wind gusts 45 to 55 mph.

Wider weather episode

A strong cutoff upper level low across the central US began retrograding westward with wrap around moisture and strong winds leading to heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions, especially along the Pine and Cheyenne Ridges in eastern Wyoming. Snowfall totals along the western extent of the Pine Ridge reached 6 inches near Lusk with near-blizzard conditions. Further south in eastern Laramie County, strong winds gusting 50 to 60 mph led to low visibility and blizzard conditions with the heavy snowfall. Cheyenne observed a brief period of blizzard conditions early morning on the 26th while the Interstate 80 Summit between Cheyenne and Laramie observed blizzard conditions for an extend period of time.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1145872. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.