Departing Storm with a Quiet Weather Week Ahead

The cold winter storm that engulfed Star Valley and the surrounding region Friday will be heading on to the east Sunday.  While snow flurries will be possible again Sunday, the substantial snow from this storm will be essentially over.  Here is a list of snow reports in Lincoln County from the storm through Saturday afternoon.

LINCOLN COUNTY...
 3 SE BEDFORD...                     14 INCHES.
 WILLOW CREEK SNOTEL...              12 INCHES.
 5 NNE THAYNE(STAR VALLEY RANCH)...  10.5 INCHES.
 AFTON...                           8.5 INCHES.
 1 W SMOOT...                         8 INCHES.
 2 SE THAYNE...                       7 INCHES.
 FAIRVIEW...                          7 INCHES.
 COTTONWOOD CREEK SNOTEL...           6 INCHES.
 AFTON...                             6 INCHES.
 5 SSE SMOOT...                       6 INCHES.
 SALT RIVER SUMMIT SNOTEL...          6 INCHES.
 BLIND BULL SUMMIT...                 5 INCHES.
 BLIND BULL SUMMIT SNOTEL...          4 INCHES.
 INDIAN CREEK SNOTEL...               4 INCHES.
 KELLEY RANGER STATION SNOTEL...      4 INCHES.
 ALPINE...                            3 INCHES.
 HAMS FORK SNOTEL...                  3 INCHES.
 BOX Y RANCH...                       2 INCHES.
 KEMMERER...                          1 INCH.
 SPRING CREEK DIVIDE SNOTEL...        1 INCH. 

Wintry Sunset at Star Valley Ranch Saturday 11/10/12

The heaviest snow occurred along the east side of the valley from

Etna to Afton, with Bedford/Turnerville measuring over a foot. 

Riverton WFO has provided a comprehensive summary of the Storm across Western Wyoming

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=riw&storyid=89230&source=0

The 500mb analysis with satellite imagery for Saturday evening shows the coldest portion of the system is moving across Star Valley.

Saturday Evening 500mb analysis

While the snow is over, except for lingering flurries, the cold air will be the weather story through Monday.  Temperatures which remained below freezing Saturday afternoon, will fall to the coldest levels since early last March on Sunday and Monday mornings.  There is the potential of the first subzero readings in the coldest valley locations.  Only if the clouds linger will temperatures not drop to, or below zero.

Beginning Monday afternoon, the weather pattern will transition into one that has been common much of the Fall.  A westerly flow along with mild temperatures will return.

By mid week much of the U.S. will be under a westerly flow with little significant storm activity.

Wednesday evening 500mb forecast 11/14/12

While still almost two weeks away, the Climate Prediction Center indicates both a mild and dry weather regime over much of the U.S. through the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Temperature forecast Nov 18-24 2012

Precipitation forecast Nov 18-24 2012