Winter Storm — Southwest Big Horn Basin, Wyoming

2020-02-02 to 2020-02-04 · Southwest Big Horn Basin, Wyoming

Event narrative

Heavy snow fell in Hot Springs County. Snow amounts around Thermopolis, Wyoming, ranged from 6 to 10 inches.

Wider weather episode

A strong cold front dropped slowly southward across Wyoming. The front combined with ample moisture, favorable jet dynamics and lee cyclogenesis over Colorado to bring heavy snow many areas East of the Continental Divide. The heaviest snow fell in the favored northeasterly upslope areas of Fremont and Natrona Counites. Near Lander, Wyoming, some locations reported 20 inches of snow with 10 to 16 inches around the city of Lander, Wyoming. Amounts around Riverton, Wyoming, ranged from 9 to 13 inches, with anywhere from 8 to 17 inches around Casper, Wyoming. The snow combined with winds gusting to around 50 mph at times, making travel nearly impossible for a time and bringing numerous road closures, including much of Interstates 25 and 80 for two days.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 877317. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.