Winter Storm in Laramie Valley, Wyoming

A strong winter storm brought light snow and strong winds to the region. Many areas saw reduced visibilities and near blizzard conditions. At 1008 MST, a trained spotter located at 7S Laramie reported an estimated 2.5 inches of snow with strong winds. Visibility was poor through much of the morning and was beginning to improve at this time.

An upper level disturbance on the west coast moved southward over the southern Rockies and then out onto the southern plains from approximately December 21st through the 26th. This system affected the Cheyenne CWA in two waves. The first occurred December 22 and 23rd and brought light snow with strong winds that created drifting snow and hazardous driving conditions. As the storm system moved eastward, it intensified and brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions to the central Plains over the Holiday weekend. A second wave of significant winter weather occurred over southeast Wyoming and the western Nebraska panhandle in wraparound energy from late on the 24th through the 26th. Heavy snow and very strong winds produced blizzard conditions in the northeast portions of the CWA with near blizzard conditions elsewhere. Many roads were closed, including interstates 80 and 25 on Christmas day. Two deaths were indirectly attributed to to the second wave of winter weather, one near Laramie, WY and the other near Guernsey, WY.