Cold/Wind Chill — Southwest Big Horn Basin, Wyoming

2014-12-31 · Southwest Big Horn Basin, Wyoming

Event narrative

The cooperative observer near Lucerne recorded an overnight low of -38F on Wednesday morning, December 31. The same location had 20 inches of snow on the ground.

Wider weather episode

Northerly flow following the passage of an Arctic cold front brought brutally cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills to much of western and central Wyoming. The Daniel cooperative observer recorded a low temperature of -48F on the morning of Wednesday, December 31. In addition, many locations across Fremont, Hot Springs, Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Washakie counties saw temperatures of -30F to -35F. Wind chill temperatures of -30F were common, as well, especially in a swath from southern Lincoln County, east through Sweetwater County, and on into Natrona County.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 549658. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.