Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Spring Snow Storm Parts of Wyoming

A colder airmass has spread across Star Valley Tuesday and will be accompanied by some light snow tonight and early Wednesday morning.  Accumulations should be negligible in the valley with possibly a couple inches in the nearby mountains. As of 6pm Tuesday afternoon snow has already affected the Tetons as can be seen on the highway cam on Teton Pass.

Teton Pass Cam 6:42 PM Tuesday
Further east more significant snow will occur and has already started as noted on the Cam in Cheyenne.

Cheyenne Cam 6:45 PM Tuesday
Both WFO's in Wyoming have issued statements regarding this storm system

Following is the link to the Cheyenne WFO Video briefing

Cheyenne WFO Video Briefing

Riverton WFO also issued a statement covering the Central and Western Portions of Wyoming.

Riverton WFO Snow Statement


Thursday, April 25, 2013

Spring Finally !

After a couple false starts, it appears that true Spring weather including sun and relatively warm days is here. Following is the weekly Video Weather Summary produced by the Riverton Forecast Office.



Video Weather Briefing through the Coming Weekend

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Record Cold Tuesday Morning











In parts of Wyoming Tuesday morning saw some of the coldest readings on record for this late in the Spring. While Star Valley was cold, only the Bedford station set a record.  The low at the Bedford climate station was 9.  Going back to 1975 there has never been a single digit reading recorded as late as the 23rd of April.

Elsewhere across Star Valley minimums Tuesday morning ranged from 15 at Thayne ES to 17 at Etna ES, Star Valley Ranch and Afton.























April 23rd Record Low Temperatures



A cold Canadian storm system brought a late season swath of new snow across western and central Wyoming. Record low temperatures were set this morning across the area, due to the fresh snow and colder air from this system. As evidenced below, temperatures from this morning are the coldest they have been this late in the season. These locations include, Casper, Rock Springs, Worland, Cody and Kemmerer.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
LocationLow Temperature °F Previous Record Temperature °F / Year Coldest Temperature °F past 4/23
Casper - Natrona County International Airport9 15 / 2011 13 - 4/28/1984
Lander - Hunt Field10 15 / 1963 6 - 4/30/1909
Riverton13 13 / 1963 12 - 4/28/1984
Rock Springs - Sweetwater County Municipal Airport11 17 / 1968 14 - 5/1/1967
Worland Municipal Airport4 21 / 1968 11 - 4/25/2008
Buffalo - Johnson County Airport8 14 / 1931 7 - 4/29/1909
Big Piney - Miley Memorial Field-2 11 / 1968 -5 - 4/30/1984
Pinedale Airport-2 9 / 1963 -2 - 5/2/1967, 5/15/1967
Jackson Hole Airport9 9 / 2011 4 - 4/26/2008
Cody - Yellowstone Regional Airport10 12 / 1918 12 - 4/23/1918
Kemmerer8 12 / 1999 12 - 4/23/1999, 4/25/2008, 4/26/2008, 5/6/2010, 5/9/2002
   

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Snowfall Summary April 21-22 2013

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
1013 AM MDT TUE APR 23 2013


A STRONG COLD FRONT MOVED SOUTH ACROSS WYOMING SUNDAY AND SUNDAY
NIGHT. THERE WAS ENOUGH MOISTURE AND COLD AIR WITH THIS SYSTEM TO
BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF MUCH NEEDED PRECIPITATION TO THE AREA. BELOW
ARE UPDATED SNOWFALL TOTALS THROUGH 1000 AM TUESDAY.

LOCATION                             SNOWFALL 
 LINCOLN COUNTY...
 SPRING CREEK DIVIDE SNOTEL...        8 INCHES.
 WILLOW CREEK SNOTEL...               6 INCHES.
 INDIAN CREEK SNOTEL...               5 INCHES.
 COTTONWOOD CREEK SNOTEL...           4 INCHES.
 3 SE BEDFORD...                      3 INCHES.
 BLIND BULL SUMMIT SNOTEL...          3 INCHES.
 5 SSE SMOOT...                       2 INCHES.
 KELLEY RANGER STATION SNOTEL...      2 INCHES.
 2 SE THAYNE...                     1.5 INCHES.
 HAMS FORK SNOTEL...                  1 INCH.
 
 BIG HORN COUNTY...
 SHELL CREEK SNOTEL...               14 INCHES.
 BONE SPRINGS DIVIDE SNOTEL...        8 INCHES.
 5 ENE HYATTVILLE...                  8 INCHES.
 26 E LOVELL...                       7 INCHES.
 BALD MOUNTAIN SNOTEL...              7 INCHES.
 BASIN...                           5.5 INCHES.
 1 SW MANDERSON...                    5 INCHES.
 3 SW SHELL...                        4 INCHES.
 1 SW SHELL...                        4 INCHES.
 1 E GREYBULL...                    3.5 INCHES.
 2 SSW LOVELL...                    1.5 INCHES.

FREMONT COUNTY...
 6 SW LANDER...                    13.5 INCHES.
 9.5 SW LANDER...                    13 INCHES.
 4 ENE SOUTH PASS CITY...             9 INCHES.
 9 SSE LANDER...                    8.5 INCHES.
 4 SSW LANDER...                    8.1 INCHES.
 RED CANYON...                        7 INCHES.
 LANDER AIRPORT...                  6.2 INCHES.
 SOUTH PASS SNOTEL...                 6 INCHES.
 6 SE LANDER...                       5 INCHES.
 DEER PARK SNOTEL...                  5 INCHES.
 HOBBS PARK SNOTEL...                 5 INCHES.
 RIVERTON AREA...                   2-4 INCHES.
 1 WSW LANDER...                    2.5 INCHES.
 BURRIS...                          2.2 INCHES.
 LITTLE WARM SNOTEL...                1 INCH.
 DUBOIS...                            1 INCH.

HOT SPRINGS COUNTY...
 15 SE MEETEETSE...                  10 INCHES.
 THERMOPOLIS...                     9.5 INCHES.
 9 NE THERMOPOLIS...                7.4 INCHES.
 8 W THERMOPOLIS...                   6 INCHES.
 1 N THERMOPOLIS...                   5 INCHES.
 2 S THERMOPOLIS...                   3 INCHES.
 OWL CREEK SNOTEL...                  1 INCH.

JOHNSON COUNTY...
 LITTLE GOOSE SNOTEL...              13 INCHES.
 17 NNW KAYCEE...                     9 INCHES.
 5 WSW BUFFALO...                     8 INCHES.
 20 S BUFFALO...                    7.1 INCHES.
 SOLDIER PARK SNOTEL...               7 INCHES.
 4 SSW BUFFALO...                     7 INCHES.
 BUFFALO...                         6-7 INCHES.
 BEAR TRAP MEADOW SNOTEL...           6 INCHES.
 HANSEN SAWMILL SNOTEL...             6 INCHES.
 CLOUD PEAK RESERVOIR SNOTEL...       6 INCHES.
 1 NW BUFFALO...                      3 INCHES.
 17 E KAYCEE...                     2.8 INCHES.


NATRONA COUNTY...
 CASPER MOUNTAIN...                  15 INCHES.
 CASPER MOUNTAIN SNOTEL...            9 INCHES.
 1 SW CASPER...                       6 INCHES.
 4 WSW CASPER...                    4.4 INCHES.
 2 S CASPER...                        4 INCHES.
 GRAVE SPRING SNOTEL...               4 INCHES.
 POWDER RIVER SCHOOL...               3 INCHES.
 11 ESE CASPER...                   2.3 INCHES.
 1 E CASPER...                        2 INCHES.
 10 WSW CASPER...                     2 INCHES.
 CASPER AIRPORT...                    2 INCHES.

PARK COUNTY...
 3 NE SUNSHINE...                  10.6 INCHES.
 MEETEETSE...                       4-6 INCHES.
 WOLVERINE SNOTEL...                  6 INCHES.
 KIRWIN SNOTEL...                     6 INCHES.
 MARQUETTE SNOTEL...                  5 INCHES.
 TIMBER CREEK SNOTEL...               5 INCHES.
 BEARTOOTH LAKE SNOTEL...             4 INCHES.
 BLACKWATER SNOTEL...                 4 INCHES.
 7 SW CODY...                       3.6 INCHES.
 CODY AREA...                       1-3 INCHES.
 PAHASKA...                           3 INCHES.
 YOUNTS PEAK SNOTEL...                3 INCHES.
 POWELL...                          1.5 INCHES.
 1 W POWELL...                        1 INCH.


SUBLETTE COUNTY...
 14 NW PINEDALE...                 10.5 INCHES.
 EAST RIM DIVIDE SNOTEL...            9 INCHES.
 SNIDER BASIN...                      6 INCHES.
 1 N PINEDALE...                    5.5 INCHES.
 TRIPLE PEAK SNOTEL...                5 INCHES.
 13 SE PINEDALE...                  3.3 INCHES.
 MARBLETON...                         3 INCHES.

TETON COUNTY...
 3 SSW WILSON...                      1 INCH.

WASHAKIE COUNTY...
 2 S BIG TRAILS...                  8.5 INCHES.
 5 NNW TEN SLEEP...                 7.2 INCHES.
 POWDER RIVER PASS SNOTEL...          7 INCHES.
 16 SSE TEN SLEEP...                  7 INCHES.
 WORLAND...                           7 INCHES.
 27 S TEN SLEEP...                  6.9 INCHES.
 3 NNE WORLAND...                     6 INCHES.
 MIDDLE POWDER SNOTEL...              4 INCHES.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK...
 OLD FAITHFUL RANGER STATION...       3 INCHES.
 LAMAR RANGER STATION...              2 INCHES.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Updated Summary of Snow and Cold April 16-18 2013 across western and central Wyoming























A winter storm moved through early this week with impacts from the storm felt from Monday through Thursday. Several feet of snow accumulated on Casper Mountain and in the Wind River Mountains with over a foot of snow again in Casper and the Lander Foothills.

The wintry storm also resulted in many locations breaking new daily record low maximum temperatures, and record low temperatures over the last few days.


Labs "snorkeling" in the snow at Sinks Canyon in the Wind River Range.

Photo by Art Meunier
Hogadon ski lift on Casper Mountain had only the very top of the chair lift sticking out of the fresh 5 feet of snow!

Photo by Eric Aune
Travel was severely impacted during the storm. Portions of I25, I80, US 287, US 220, WY 251 were shut down for several hours.

Photo by Loresa Brinkerhoff



Benefits to the Snow Pack:




Click Image to Enlarge
This storm has done wonders for our snow pack. The long range models are indicating that another storm is possible early next week.
Click Image to Enlarge
The amount of water contained in this snow is rocketing toward normal for this time of year.

So, what is going on? Casper gets several feet of snow yet the snow pack is still well below normal? Yup. Hard to believe but the amount of water contained in the snow pack is still well below normal and even below where it was last year! However, the amount of water in the lower elevations has worked to move Natrona and Fremont counties out of "Extreme" drought into "Severe" drought. Casper's climate site is reporting over an inch above normal, Lander has exceeded their normal snow amount by over a foot now so the low elevations are doing well. We just need the mountains to store up some water for the summer...

Click Image to Enlarge
The above graph shows the snow water equivalent contained within the snowpack this year (in blue) compared to last year (green), both compared to normal (purple) on Casper Mountain. So, even though nearly seven FEET of snow has fallen in the past two weeks, there is still less water in that snow than there was at this time last year, and there is much less (about 5" of water) than normal.
 Click Image to Enlarge
The map above shows that Fremont and Natrona counties have improved from "Extreme" drought to "Severe" drought due to the recent snow storms. We still have a way to go to get us out of drought completely.



Storm Total Snowfall:

Click here to see a map of the snowfall totals. To see a zoomed-in map of your county of interest, click on the name of your county in the table below (there is also a zoomed-in map for the Casper area).

Here are the latest snowfall totals across west and central Wyoming through 8 AM Thursday:

 
Storm Total Snowfall Reports
County Station Name Snowfall
Big Horn Bone Springs Divide Snotel 3
  Bald Mountain Snotel 3
  Shell Creek Snotel 2
  Shell 0.5
Fremont 3 SW Lander 26.7
  6 SW Lander 20.3
  5 WSW Lander 20.2
  9.5 SW Lander 19
  St. Lawrence Alt Snotel 18
  Townsend Creek Snotel 17
  9 SSE Lander 16
  4 SSW Lander 15
  1 W Lander 13.3
  South Pass Snotel 12
  4 WSW Lander 11.5
  Little Warm Snotel 11
  2 W Riverton 10.5
  Lander Airport 10.4
  1 WSW Lander 10.3
  2 N Lander 9
  Riverton 8.3
  Lander 8
  Hudson 8
  Hobbs Park Snotel 8
  7 SW Lander 8
  Jeffrey City 7
  6 SE Lander 6.5
  Riverton 6
  Deer Park Snotel 6
  Riverton ASOS 4.3
  Dubois 4
  Fort Washakie 4
  Brooks Lake Lodge 3
  Burris 0.6
Hot Springs Owl Creek Snotel 6
  Thermopolis 1
  1 SW Thermopolis 0.9
Johnson Cloud Peak Reservoir Snotel 8
  Soldier Park Snotel 8
  Hansen Sawmill Snotel 7
  Little Goose Snotel 6
  17 NNW Kaycee 6
  20 S Buffalo 4.8
  4 SSW Buffalo 4.5
  Buffalo 3
  Buffalo 3
  Billy Creek 2.3
  17 E Kaycee 2
Lincoln Willow Creek Snotel 12
  Commissary Ridge 12
  Indian Creek Snotel 10
  Hams Fork Snotel 10
  Blind Bull Summit 6
  2 SE Thayne 5.7
  5 NNE Thayne 5.5
  Cottonwood Creek Snotel 5
  Spring Creek Divide Snotel 5
  Box Y Ranch 5
  Kemmerer 5
  Blind Bull Summit Snotel 5
  Salt River Summit Snotel 4
  5 SSE Smoot 4
  5 NNE Thayne 4
  Kelley Ranger Station Snotel 3
  3 SE Bedford 3
  Afton 2.4
  Fossil Butte 1.5
Natrona Casper Mountain 34-56
  Reno Hill Snotel 29
  South Casper 17-24
  Casper 11-16
  Mills 12
  Bessemer Bend 10
  Powder River School 6
  Midwest 3.1
Park Meeteetse 3
  3 NE Sunshine 2.3
  Cody Area
0.5-1
Sublette East Rim Divide Snotel 9
  Snider Basin Snotel 7
  Triple Peak Snotel 7
  14 NW Pinedale 5.9
  Loomis Park Snotel 5
  Gunsite Pass Snotel 5
  Kendall Ranger Station Snotel 5
  Daniel Fish Hatchery 5
  Merna 5
  13 SE Pinedale 4.5
  Larsen Creek Snotel 4
  Elkhart Park G.S. Snotel 3
  New Fork Lake Snotel 2
  Big Sandy Opening Snotel 2
  Marbleton 2
  Pocket Creek Snotel 2
Sweetwater Green River 4
  Buckboard Marina 1
  1 W Rock Springs 0.8
Teton Snake River Stn Snotel 7
  Togwotee Pass Snotel 6
  Jackson Hole-Rendezvous Bowl 4
  Grand Targhee Snotel 4
  Grand Targhee-Chief Joseph 3
  Gros Ventre Summit Snotel 3
  Jackson Hole-Raymer 3
  3 SSW Wilson 3
  Granite Creek Snotel 3
  Phillips Bench Snotel 3
  Base Camp Snotel 3
  Snow King Ski Area 2
  Moose 1.5
  4 SSW Jackson 1.4
  5 NW Jackson 1.3
  Grassy Lake Snotel 1
  Togwotee Mountain Lodge 1
  Jackson Hole-Mid 1
  Jackson Hole-Base 1
  2 NE Teton Village 1
  Jackson 0.2
Washakie 16 SSE Ten Sleep 4
  Middle Powder Snotel 3
  5 NNW Ten Sleep 1.5
  27 S Ten Sleep 1.2
Yellowstone Two Ocean Plateau Snotel 3
  Old Faithful Ranger Station 1




  Record Cold:


Record Low Maximum Temperatures April 15-17, 2013
Location Date Record Low Maximum
Temperature °F
Previous Record °F Period of Record
Casper Airport 16 23 31 in 1940 1939-2013
  17 22* 28 in 1968  
         
Lander Airport 15 31 (tie) 31 in 1927 1891-2013
  16 27 28 in 1896  
         
Downtown Riverton 15 35 27 in 1924 1907-2013
  16 29 34 in 1920  
  17 30 31 in 1968  
         
Rock Springs Airport 15 34 35 in 1952 1948-2013
  16 27 32 in 2009, 1963  
  17 27 31 in 2009,1986  
         
Worland Airport 15 38 (tie) 38 in 1970 1960-2013
  16 33 43 in 2009  
         

 *The 22 degree reading in Casper was the coldest high temperature ever recorded for so late in the season!
 
Record Low Temperatures April 15 - 18, 2013
 Location
 Date  New Record Low
in °F
 Previous Record
in °F
 Period of Record
 Riverton Airport
16 20  22 in 1999  1995 - 2013
  17 16 19 in 1999  
  18  13  21 in 1998  
         
 Lake Yellowstone  17  -3  9 in 2008  1998 - 2013
   18  -10  5 in 2006  
         
 Rock Springs Airport  17  15  18 in 2008  1948 - 2013
   18  12 (tie)  12 in 1966  
         
 Buffalo Airport  17  16  21 in 1999  1998 - 2013
   18  10  23 in 2002  
         
 Worland Airport 18 17 22 in 1968 1947 - 2013
         
 Big Piney Airport 18 2 11 in 1983 1976 - 2013
         
 Greybull Airport 18 14 28 in 2008 1998 - 2013
         
 Casper Airport 18 4 13 in 1996 1939-2013
     

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Snow Report

Snow has ended across Star Valley this Wednesday morning.  Around 3-4 inches fell overnight from the Thayne/Star Valley Ranch southward to Smoot.  Following is the summary of snow amounts from the current storm issued  Wednesday evening with the record cold temperatures!



A winter storm that produced nearly five feet of snow on Casper Mountain is finally pushing out into the plains tonight. 
The wintry storm also resulted in many locations breaking new dailly record low maximum temperatures over the last few days.Here are the latest snowfall totals across west and central Wyoming through 9 PM Wednesday:

Snowfall Totals April 16-17, 2013  as of 9 PM Wednesday
CountyStation NameSnowfall
Big HornBone Springs Divide Snotel3
Big HornBald Mountain Snotel3
Big HornShell Creek Snotel2
Big HornShell0.5
Fremont3 SW Lander26.7
Fremont6 SW Lander20.3
Fremont5 WSW Lander20.2
Fremont9.5 SW Lander19
FremontSt. Lawrence Alt Snotel18
Fremont9 SSE Lander16
Fremont4 SSW Lander14.6
FremontTownsend Creek Snotel14
Fremont1 W Lander13.3
Fremont4 WSW Lander11.5
FremontLittle Warm Snotel11
Fremont2 W Riverton10.5
FremontLander Airport10.4
Fremont1 WSW Lander10.3
Fremont2 N Lander9
FremontRiverton8.3
FremontHobbs Park Snotel8
Fremont7 SW Lander8
FremontHudson8
FremontSouth Pass Snotel8
FremontJeffrey City7
Fremont6 SE Lander6.5
FremontDeer Park Snotel6
FremontRiverton6
FremontRiverton ASOS4.3
FremontDubois4
FremontFort Washakie4
FremontBrooks Lake Lodge3
FremontBurris0.6
Hot SpringsOwl Creek Snotel6
Hot SpringsThermopolis1
Hot Springs1 SW Thermopolis0.9
JohnsonCloud Peak Reservoir Snotel8
JohnsonHansen Sawmill Snotel7
Johnson17 NNW Kaycee6
Johnson20 S Buffalo4.8
Johnson4 SSW Buffalo4.5
JohnsonSoldier Park Snotel4
JohnsonLittle Goose Snotel4
JohnsonBuffalo3
JohnsonBilly Creek2.3
Johnson17 E Kaycee2
LincolnWillow Creek Snotel12
LincolnCommissary Ridge12
LincolnIndian Creek Snotel10
LincolnHams Fork Snotel10
LincolnBlind Bull Summit6
Lincoln2 SE Thayne5.7
Lincoln5 NNE Thayne5.5
LincolnSpring Creek Divide Snotel5
LincolnCottonwood Creek Snotel5
LincolnBlind Bull Summit Snotel5
LincolnKemmerer5
LincolnBox Y Ranch5
LincolnSalt River Summit Snotel4
Lincoln5 SSE Smoot4
Lincoln5 NNE Thayne4
Lincoln3 SE Bedford3
LincolnKelley Ranger Station Snotel3
LincolnAfton2.4
LincolnFossil Butte1.5
NatronaCasper Mountain48-58
Natrona3 SW Casper24
Natrona2 S Casper22
Natrona4 WSW Casper18.6
Natrona11 ESE Casper18
Natrona4 WSW Casper17.7
NatronaCasper10-16
NatronaMills12
Natrona4 SW Casper12
Natrona3 NNE Casper11
NatronaBessemer Bend10
NatronaPowder River School6
NatronaMidwest3.1
NatronaGrave Spring Snotel2
ParkMeeteetse3
Park3 NE Sunshine2.3
Park2 WSW Cody1
Park4 SE Cody0.7
Park5 ESE Cody0.5
Park1 WNW Cody0.5
SubletteTriple Peak Snotel7
SubletteSnider Basin Snotel7
Sublette14 NW Pinedale5.9
SubletteMerna5
SubletteKendall Ranger Station Snotel5
SubletteGunsite Pass Snotel5
SubletteEast Rim Divide Snotel5
SubletteDaniel Fish Hatchery5
SubletteLoomis Park Snotel5
SubletteLarsen Creek Snotel4
SubletteElkhart Park G.S. Snotel3
SubletteNew Fork Lake Snotel2
SubletteBig Sandy Opening Snotel2
SubletteMarbleton2
SublettePocket Creek Snotel2
SweetwaterGreen River4
SweetwaterBuckboard Marina1
Sweetwater1 W Rock Springs0.8
TetonSnake River Stn Snotel7
TetonTogwotee Pass Snotel6
TetonJackson Hole-Rendezvous Bowl4
TetonGrand Targhee Snotel4
TetonGrand Targhee-Chief Joseph3
TetonGros Ventre Summit Snotel3
TetonJackson Hole-Raymer3
Teton3 SSW Wilson3
TetonPhillips Bench Snotel3
TetonGranite Creek Snotel3
TetonBase Camp Snotel3
TetonSnow King Ski Area2
TetonMoose1.5
Teton4 SSW Jackson1.4
Teton5 NW Jackson1.3
TetonGrassy Lake Snotel1
TetonTogwotee Mountain Lodge1
TetonJackson Hole-Mid1
TetonJackson Hole-Base1
Teton2 NE Teton Village1
TetonJackson0.2
Washakie16 SSE Ten Sleep4
WashakieMiddle Powder Snotel3
Washakie5 NNW Ten Sleep1.5
Washakie27 S Ten Sleep1.2
YellowstoneTwo Ocean Plateau Snotel3
YellowstoneOld Faithful Ranger Station1


Record Low Maximum Temperatures April 15-17, 2013
LocationDateRecord Low Maximum  Temperature °FPrevious Record °FPeriod of Record
Casper Airport162331 in 19401939-2013
 1722*28 in 1968 
     
Lander Airport1531 (tie)31 in 19271891-2013
 162728 in 1896 
     
Downtown Riverton153527 in 19241907-2013
 162934 in 1920 
 173031 in 1968 
     
Rock Springs Airport153435 in 19521948-2013
 162732 in 2009, 1963 
 172731 in 2009,1986 
     
Worland Airport1538 (tie)38 in 19701960-2013
 163343 in 2009 
     
 *The 22 degree reading in Casper was the coldest high temperature ever recorded for so late in the season!