Heavy Snow — Niobrara County, Wyoming

2023-12-25 to 2023-12-27 · Niobrara County, Wyoming

Event narrative

Emergency manager reported over 6 inches of snowfall with 20 to 25 mph winds causing areas of blowing and drifting snow.

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 1146220. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.