Heavy Snow — Southwest Carbon County, Wyoming

2019-11-24 to 2019-11-26 · Southwest Carbon County, Wyoming

Event narrative

A gentleman traveling through the area crashed his vehicle on the afternoon of the 25th during heavy snowfall in the area along state highway 70 near Dixon. The vehicle as a result of the crash caught on fire with the driver becoming lost after walking away. Crews were unable to locate the driver due to the inclement weather resulting in his body being found in a ravine a mile and a half from the crash the next morning. Coroner reports death was due to exposure from the elements with snowfall and temperatures in the 20s. Snowfall amounts on the eastern side of the forecast zone near the Sierra Madre Range were estimated in the 6 to 8 inch range with likely deep drifts.

Wider weather episode

A strong, low pressure system moved across the region in the days prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday producing widespread heavy snow and blowing snow conditions that shuttered down overall transportation for travelers and commerce along the interstates. Heaviest snowfall totals of over two feet measured at SNOTEL sites in the southern mountain ranges. The city of Cheyenne measured over a foot of snow causing enough disruption for the city and state offices there to close on Tuesday due to the poor travel conditions. A traveler in southwest Carbon County upon crashing his vehicle that subsequently burst into flames wandered off the main road was found a day later in a ravine succumbed to exposure.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 859870. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.