Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Wild Weather Affects Much of United States and England

U.S. Reeling From Violent Tornadoes, Epic Flooding, Winter Weather, and Weird Heat

By: Bob Henson and Jeff Masters , 10:54 PM GMT on December 28, 2015
     
38
+
Wild weather continued to plaster the nation’s midsection on Monday as a multi-barreled storm system shifted eastward. Thankfully, the severe weather threat has ramped down somewhat, with the highest risks now shifting to river and flash floods--from eastern Oklahoma to the Appalachians--and snow and ice, from Nebraska to New England. More than 40 weather-related deaths have been reported since Wednesday. The storminess is related to a gradual realignment of the large-scale pattern over North America, as described in detail by wunderblogger Steve Gregory in his Monday afternoon post. A stunningly warm, moist air mass across the eastern and southern U.S.--by some measures the most tropical on record for early winter--is in the process of being displaced by a strong upper-level storm moving into the central states, bringing much more seasonable cold. 


Figure 1. Damage from the tornado that struck Rowlett, Texas, on Saturday evening, December 26, 2015. The tornado was rated at least EF3. Image credit: AP Photo/David Warren.

North Texas cleans up from Saturday’s deadly tornadoes
Ahead of a strong cold front in west Texas, supercell thunderstorms that ripped across the sprawling eastern part of the Dallas area spawned several tornadoes that killed at least 11 people. One violent tornado that killed eight people in Garland was rated EF4, while “at least EF3” damage was found in Rowlett, just east of Garland, due to the same tornado or one that closely followed. Two people died in Copeland, about 15 miles to the northeast, where EF2 damage was documented. Several other weaker tornadoes struck North Texas. According to the Dallas Morning News, as many as 1000 structures were damaged across north Texas, many of them severely. The storms were fed by a very strong upper-level jet as well as unusually high instability for December (around 3000 joules per kilogram, which would be concerning in springtime, much less wintertime).Temperatures reached 80°F in Dallas just hours before the tornadic supercell arrived, with a summerlike dew point of 67°F. 

The widespread persistence of warm, humid conditions over the last few days has led to an unusual U.S. stretch of severe weather for December, including tornadoes from Mississippi to Michigan on Wednesday. The EF1 tornado that touched down in Canton, Michigan on December 23 was Michigan's first December tornado on record. If tornadoes are confirmed on Monday, it will be the sixth calendar day in a row with at least one U.S. tornado reported, tying a monthly record set on December 22-27, 1982, during the “super El Niño” of 1982-83. (The streak would be even longer if we counted early-morning tornadoes on December 23 as part of the December 22 “tornado day”, per NOAA recordkeeping.) Another tragic milestone: 2015 is the first year in records going back to 1875 that has seen more confirmed tornado-related deaths in December than in the rest of the year combined. The only other year with December having more deaths than any other single month was 1931, according to statistics analyzed by Harold Brooks (NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory).


Figure 2. A 10” snowfall in Clovis, NM, resulted in drifts reaching 9 feet over the weekend, thanks to sustained winds that reached 45 mph with gusts reported to 82 mph at the Clovis airport. Fierce winds and blowing snow continued on Sunday, December 27, 2015. Image credit: wunderphotographer mneff267.

Winter weather shifting from High Plains to Midwest, Northeast
While severe weather rumbled across east Texas on Sunday, the western part of the state was dealing with a crippling blizzard that extended into eastern New Mexico, while freezing rain knocked out power to tens of thousands of western Oklahomans. Exceptionally strong winds--gusting above 70 mph in some areas--have led to near-zero visibilities and drifts of 6 feet or more, paralyzing travel across the region. Roswell, NM, had racked up 12.3” for the day by 8 pm CST Sunday, topping its one-day record of 11.5”; the two-day total of 15.5" was approaching Roswell's two-day record of 16.9”. Lubbock, TX, picked up 2.7” between 6 and 7 pm CST Sunday, pushing its storm total to 9.2”. The city’s heaviest-on-record storm total of 16.9” was picked up on January 20-21 during (you guessed it) the super El Niño of 1982-83. 

As the upper-level storm and associated low head northeastward on Monday, more snow and ice is plastering a swath extending from Kansas and Nebraska to Wisconsin and Michigan. A mix of sleet, snow, and freezing rain is bedeviling parts of the Great Lakes, including the Chicago and Detroit areas. A band of heavier snow (6” to 12” in spots), coupled with freezing rain in some areas, is expected from northern Wisconsin into much of Maine.

Massive flooding hits Missouri and Illinois, killing 13
The weekend storm brought incredibly heavy rains to eastern Oklahoma, northwest Arkansas, and Southwest Missouri, with 10.0" falling in a 30-hour period ending Sunday evening on the south side of Springfield, Missouri. The heavy rains drove rivers in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas above major flood stage, with the Illinois River reaching its highest crest on record at two locations. On Sunday, Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency in Missouri due to heavy flooding all across the state, and urged Missourians in flood-affected areas to not drive into flooded roadways and avoid travel if possible. Eight people died Saturday night in Missouri in floods; six of the deaths occurred in two separate incidents where cars drove into flooded roadways in Pulaski County and were swept away by water. In southern Illinois, three adults and two children drowned Saturday evening when their car was swept away and sank in a rain-swollen creek. Mercifully, the rains have ended in Missouri and dry weather is expected the rest of the week.


Figure 3. Observed precipitation amounts for the 3-day period ending on Monday, December 28, 2015, at 4 pm EST. Rainfall amounts of 6"+ were widespread across eastern Oklahoma, northwest Arkansas, southwest Missouri and central Illinois, with some areas seeing 10"+. Image credit: NOAA/NWS.

A historic flood is building on the Mississippi River
The updated flood forecasts for the Mississippi River issued Monday afternoon by NWS River Forecast Center are about two feet higher than the forecasts issued on Sunday. Nearly all of the Lower Mississippi is expected to enter major flood stage over the next few weeks, as are the lower portions of two main tributaries, the Ohio and Arkansas Rivers. The Mississippi River near St. Louis was already near flood stage late last week due to excessive rains of 2 - 4" (400 - 600% of average) that fell during the past two weeks farther upstream in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. A massive pulse of flood waters from the epic December 26 - 28 rains will pile into the Mississippi River over the next few days, bringing the river to flood levels that will be the highest on record outside of the usual spring to early summer flood season. The Mississippi River at St. Louis was at moderate flood stage on Monday afternoon, and is forecast to crest on Wednesday at the second highest level ever observed, just five feet below the all-time record set during the disastrous flood of 1993. Flood records at this location extend back to 1785. Downstream from St. Louis, the Mississippi River is forecast to crest late this week in ChesterCape Girardeau, and Thebes at the highest levels ever recorded. NOAA warns that at the flood levels expected, the Degognia, Fountain Bluff, Stringtown, and Prairie DuRocher levees will be overtopped near Chester. NOAAprojects that the massive flood crest will propagate downstream to the Gulf of Mexico during the first three weeks of January, bringing flood heights that are expected to be between the 2nd highest and 4th highest on record all the way to Louisiana.


Figure 4. The Mississippi River just downstream of St. Louis at Chester was at moderate flood stage on Monday afternoon, and is forecast to crest on Thursday at the highest level ever observed--exceeding the disastrous flood of 1993. Flood records at this location extend back to 1844. Image credit: NOAA/AHPS.

On January 20, the flood crest is expected to arrive in New Orleans, bringing the Mississippi River to its 17-foot flood stage in the city, just 3 feet below the tops of the levees. In past years, though, when the river has been forecast to rise to 17 feet in the city, the Army Corps of Engineers has opened up the Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish, which diverts water into Lake Pontchartrain and keeps the river from reaching flood stage in New Orleans. The Corps may also be forced to open the Morganza Floodway in Pointe Coupee Parish, which would divert water down the Atchafalaya River. Opening this spillway has a considerably higher cost than opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway, due to the large amount of agricultural lands that would be flooded below the Morganza Floodway. The Corps also has the option of increasing the flow of Mississippi River water into the Atchafalaya at the Old River Control Structure in Concordia Parish. Operating the Old River Control Structure in this way always makes me nervous, as I explained in my 2011 blog post, America's Achilles' heel: the Mississippi River's Old River Control Structure. The Monday afternoon forecast from the NWS River Forecast Center predicted that the Mississippi River would crest at Red River Landing, where the Old River Control Structure is located, on January 19. The predicted crest of 62.5' is just 0.9' below the all-time record crest of 63.39' set on May 18, 2011. A water level this high has a good chance of forcing the Army Corps to open the Morganza Floodway in order to relieve pressure on the Old River Control Structure. Both the Bonnet Carre Spillway and Morganza Floodway were opened in May 2011, when the highest flood crests ever observed on the Lower Mississippi arrived. This flood cost over $2 billion; I expect the damage from the December 2015 - January 2016 Mississippi River flood will run into the hundreds of millions. 


Figure 5. Existing flood stage on December 28, 2015 (inner colored square) and predicted maximum flood stage (outer colored square region around the inner colored square) for the Lower Mississippi River and two tributaries (the Arkansas and Ohio Rivers) near where they join the Mississippi. I've added a numerical ranking on the right side of the squares to indicate where a top-ten flood crest in recorded history is expected. Two gauges are expecting their highest floods on record (Cape Girardeau and Thebes), and most of the Lower Mississippi is expecting a top-five highest flood crest on record. Where the Ohio River joins the Mississippi at Cairo, Illinois, the Ohio River is forecast to crest on January 5 at the third highest level on record; downstream from Little Rock, Arkansas, the Arkansas River is predicted to crest on Friday at the third highest level on record near its confluence with the Mississippi. Image credit: NWS River Forecast Center.

Recapping the Big Christmas Warm
Hundreds of records were buried by sunshine, warmth, and humidity instead of white-Christmas snowfall all across the eastern U.S. during the holidays, especially on Thursday and Friday. Christmas Day was the apex for the north-south breadth of warmth, with record highs set from Florida (82°F in Jacksonville) to Maine (62°F in Portland). Many records on Thursday and Friday were smashed by margins of 10°F or more. The Christmas Eve readings of 72°F at Albany, NY, and 68°F at Burlington, VT, both set all-time records for December. As noted by WU weather historian Chris Burt, these are truly impressive records given the late date in a month that gets progressively colder, not to mention the long periods of record at both sites (since 1883 in Burlington and 1874 in Albany). Chris adds that Philadelphia has seen eight days this month through Sunday with record daily highs: “Not since records began in Philadelphia back in 1874 has any other month of any single year experienced as many daily record highs as this December!” The capital of Christmas commerce, New York City, basked in record warmth of 72°F on Thursday and 66°F on Friday. As of Sunday, Central Park had yet to get below 32°F this fall or winter; its monthly average (12/1 – 12/26) of 52.0°F was running at an astonishing 13.8°F above normal and 7.9°F above the previous December record, going back to 1871. A cooldown this week will reduce that value, but a warmest-on-record December is all but certain for much of the eastern U.S. It’s no wonder that flowers and shrubs are blossoming from Washington to New York.

For the period 12/1/ through 12/26, NOAA’s U.S. Records site shows a phenomenal 3879 daily record highs and 5301 record warm lows, compared to 166 record cold highs and 159 record lows. Despite the intense cold in the eastern U.S. early in 2015, this year will end up with more than two and a half times as many U.S. daily record highs as lows, just one more statistic for a year that is wrapping up in remarkable fashion.


Figure 6. Rescue teams wade through flood waters that have inundated homes in the Huntington Road area of York after the River Foss burst its banks, on Monday, December 28, 2015 in York, United Kingdom. Severe flooding has affected large parts of northern England, with homes and businesses in Yorkshire and Lancashire evacuated as rivers burst their banks. More heavy rain is forecast as dozens of severe flood warnings remain in place. Image credit: Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images.

Floods, holiday warmth extend to Britain and beyond
Northern England continues to deal with relentless bursts of rain and resulting floods. The accounting firm KPMGestimates the cost of the disruption to Britain’s economy at up to 5.8 billion pounds (roughly $8.6 billion US). More heavy rain is expected on Wednesday. The venerable Central England Temperature index--the world’s oldest continuous instrumented record of temperature--remains on track to set its warmest December reading in more than 350 years. The estimated average from 12/1 to 12/27 is at 9.8°C (49.6°F), which is 5.0°C (9.0°C) above the norm. Other European nations are also likely to set records for December warmth, including the Netherlands.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

...BITTERLY COLD LOW TEMPERATURES SUNDAY MORNING...

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
528 AM MST SUN DEC 27 2015


...BITTERLY COLD LOW TEMPERATURES SUNDAY MORNING...

BITTER COLD TEMPERATURES OCCURRED ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL
WYOMING. AS OF 5 AM...LOW TEMPERATURES SUNDAY MORNING ACROSS THE
WESTERN LOWER ELEVATIONS...INCLUDING SWEETWATER COUNTY GENERALLY
RANGED BETWEEN 15 BELOW AND 25 BELOW ZERO...WITH ISOLATED LOCATIONS
AROUND 30 BELOW ZERO. WARMER TEMPERATURES OCCURRED EAST OF THE
DIVIDE...BUT ISOLATED LOCATIONS DIPPED DOWN TO 15 BELOW TO 20 BELOW
ZERO. LOW TEMPERATURES THAT WERE BELOW ZERO ARE LISTED BY COUNTY
BELOW.


LOCATION                     TEMP       ELEVATION
...LINCOLN COUNTY...
13 W KEMMERER                -31 F      6718 FT
4 S COKEVILLE                -29 F      6185 FT
AFTON AIRPORT                -26 F      6220 FT
3 NW ETNA                    -26 F      5692 FT
COKEVILLE                    -24 F      6191 FT
3 NW ETNA                    -23 F      5676 FT
THAYNE                       -21 F      5928 FT
KEMMERER                     -20 F      6980 FT
5 SSE LA BARGE               -20 F      6530 FT
4 E SAGE JUNCTION            -19 F      6387 FT
1 NW AFTON                   -18 F      6211 FT
BOX Y RANCH                  -18 F      6650 FT
ETNA                         -17 F      5823 FT
3 NNE ETNA                   -17 F      5997 FT
BLIND BULL SUMMIT            -10 F      9000 FT
15 NE COKEVILLE              -10 F      8180 FT
KEMMERER AIRPORT              -8 F      7285 FT
4 NE THAYNE                   -7 F      6217 FT
1 S BEDFORD                   -6 F      6279 FT
6 ENE SMOOT                   -5 F      7600 FT
15 E COKEVILLE                -3 F      7840 FT
MT COFFIN                     -2 F     10870 FT
...BIG HORN COUNTY... 13 NE TEN SLEEP -13 F 8038 FT 3 W MANDERSON -4 F 4073 FT BASIN -3 F 3884 FT 30 E GREYBULL -3 F 8898 FT 17 E SHELL -2 F 9580 FT ...FREMONT COUNTY... JEFFREY CITY -22 F 6374 FT 2 S RIVERTON -16 F 4901 FT 19 WSW DUBOIS -13 F 8833 FT 17 NE DUBOIS -12 F 8400 FT BEAVER RIM -10 F 6784 FT 11 N DUBOIS -8 F 8750 FT 18 W LANDER -8 F 10100 FT RIVERTON - CWC -8 F 5372 FT DUBOIS -7 F 6980 FT 10 NW SOUTH PASS CITY -7 F 9700 FT BROOKS LAKE LODGE -5 F 9340 FT CROWHEART -5 F 6099 FT 10 N DUBOIS -4 F 8085 FT 2 W SOUTH PASS CITY -4 F 8185 FT 5 WSW DUBOIS -4 F 9370 FT RIVERTON AIRPORT -4 F 5525 FT 13 W FORT WASHAKIE -4 F 8620 FT SOUTH PASS -4 F 9040 FT 10 W DUBOIS -3 F 8432 FT 13 W CROWHEART -2 F 9630 FT DUBOIS AIRPORT -2 F 7297 FT 3 S TOGWOTEE PASS -2 F 10430 FT 8 W SOUTH PASS CITY -1 F 8120 FT 11 W CROWHEART -1 F 6520 FT ...HOT SPRINGS COUNTY... KIRBY -4 F 4350 FT THERMOPOLIS -2 F 4426 FT ...JOHNSON COUNTY... CLOUD PEAK -14 F 9860 FT 20 SW ECHETA -5 F 4068 FT 10 SW KAYCEE -4 F 4900 FT 15 W BUFFALO -4 F 8720 FT 1 E BUFFALO -3 F 4727 FT 5 ESE STORY -3 F 4673 FT POWDER RIVER PASS -3 F 9480 FT 7 NE BUFFALO -2 F 4370 FT 12 N KAYCEE -2 F 5287 FT 2 NW MAYOWORTH -1 F 5404 FT 15 WSW BUFFALO -1 F 8360 FT ...NATRONA COUNTY... INDEPENDENCE ROCK -23 F 5920 FT 7 W ALCOVA -12 F 6342 FT MILLS -7 F 5150 FT CASPER -6 F 5334 FT 2 SE HILAND -5 F 6134 FT PATHFINDER RESERVOIR -5 F 5858 FT 1 SW CASPER -4 F 5222 FT 8 S CASPER -3 F 7740 FT CASPER AIRPORT -1 F 5320 FT ...PARK COUNTY... 1 SW CANYON -19 F 7900 FT CRANDALL -5 F 6640 FT 17 NE TOGWOTEE PASS -5 F 8350 FT BEARTOOTH LAKE -2 F 9275 FT KIRWIN SNOTEL -2 F 9550 FT PAHASKA -2 F 6800 FT 17 SW MEETEETSE -1 F 7950 FT ...SUBLETTE COUNTY... BONDURANT -31 F 6650 FT 2 NW BONDURANT -27 F 6726 FT 21 W BIG PINEY -26 F 8200 FT BIG PINEY AIRPORT -22 F 6974 FT 9 E BIG PINEY -22 F 6803 FT 7 NE PINEDALE -22 F 8530 FT 8 SE BONDURANT -20 F 7797 FT PINEDALE -19 F 7195 FT MARBLETON -19 F 6896 FT PINEDALE AIRPORT -18 F 7085 FT 4 S BIG PINEY -17 F 6854 FT 20 E BONDURANT -17 F 7740 FT 5 S DANIEL -14 F 7133 FT 28 WNW BIG PINEY -14 F 8500 FT NEW FORK LAKE -12 F 8340 FT 3 SW BOULDER -11 F 7113 FT 16 E BOULDER -5 F 9360 FT BOULDER LAKE -4 F 7350 FT 19 NNW FARSON -3 F 6614 FT ...SWEETWATER COUNTY... 4 NE BITTER CREEK -26 F 6720 FT I 80 - MILE MARKER 131 -24 F 6636 FT 12 W GREEN RIVER -23 F 6130 FT I 80 - MILE MARKER 124 -23 F 6475 FT 5 E ROCK SPRINGS -22 F 6369 FT FARSON -22 F 6594 FT 2 W WAMSUTTER -19 F 6729 FT 22 NNE GRANGER -19 F 6322 FT 7 WNW GREEN RIVER -19 F 6387 FT 7 WSW ROCK SPRINGS -19 F 6238 FT 23 W WAMSUTTER -18 F 6804 FT GREEN RIVER -17 F 6091 FT 22 NW GREEN RIVER -15 F 6454 FT 20 ENE OPAL -13 F 6556 FT 1 S FONTENELLE RESERVOIR -11 F 6390 FT I 80 - MILE MARKER 157 -10 F 6965 FT I 80 - MILE MARKER 184 -9 F 7112 FT MCKINNON -8 F 7086 FT ROCK SPRINGS AIRPORT -8 F 6760 FT ...TETON COUNTY... 3 S TETON VILLAGE -24 F 6221 FT JACKSON -22 F 6240 FT 3 SW MOOSE -21 F 6440 FT 32 ESE JACKSON -20 F 8750 FT JACKSON HOLE AIRPORT -20 F 6445 FT MOOSE -19 F 6466 FT 4 SW JACKSON -16 F 6073 FT JACKSON -16 F 6247 FT MORAN JUNCTION -15 F 6749 FT 8 NNE MORAN JUNCTION -12 F 7030 FT SNAKE RIVER AT JACKSON LAKE -12 F 6779 FT 7 E MORAN JCT -11 F 7251 FT GRAND TARGHEE - CHIEF JOSEPH -6 F 8800 FT BASE - JACKSON RESORT -6 F 6339 FT TOGWOTEE MTN LODGE -5 F 9184 FT SUMMIT - JACKSON RESORT -5 F 10318 FT 15 SE MORAN JCT -3 F 10380 FT 2 NE TETON PASS -3 F 8200 FT TOGWOTEE PASS -3 F 9850 FT 23 E MORAN JUNCTION -3 F 9576 FT ALTA -2 F 6430 FT GRAND TARGHEE -2 F 9260 FT RENDEZVOUS BOWL -2 F 9608 FT TETON PASS -2 F 8463 FT ...WASHAKIE COUNTY... WORLAND AIRPORT -9 F 4245 FT WORLAND -9 F 4052 FT ...YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK... 1 W GRANT VILLAGE -25 F 7874 FT OLD FAITHFUL -24 F 7320 FT EXTREME SW YELLOWSTONE -19 F 6400 FT OLD FAITHFUL -19 F 7350 FT 2 S GRANT VILLAGE -19 F 7980 FT 1 SW CANYON -16 F 8090 FT 4 W PAHASKA -15 F 7120 FT TOWER FALLS -15 F 6266 FT 4 W SOUTH ENTRANCE YNP -14 F 7040 FT LAKE YELLOWSTONE -14 F 7835 FT SOUTH ENTRANCE YNP -11 F 6900 FT SE YELLOWSTONE -7 F 9240 FT LAKE VILLAGE -5 F 7875 FT 15 WSW MAMMOTH -2 F 7900 FT HOYT PEAK -1 F 9800 FT OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Bitter Cold Temperatures Saturday Morning

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
611 AM MST SAT DEC 26 2015


...BITTER COLD TEMPERATURES OBSERVED FRIDAY NIGHT...

BELOW ARE LOW TEMPERATURES OF ZERO OR COLDER BY COUNTY THAT OCCURRED
FRIDAY NIGHT.

LOCATION                     TEMP       ELEVATION
...LINCOLN COUNTY...
4 S COKEVILLE                -24 F      6185 FT
4 E SAGE JUNCTION            -18 F      6387 FT
FREEDOM                      -17 F      5800 FT 
COKEVILLE                    -17 F      6191 FT
COKEVILLE                    -16 F      6160 FT
5 SSE LA BARGE               -16 F      6530 FT
KEMMERER                     -15 F      6980 FT
3 NW ETNA                    -13 F      5692 FT
3 NW ETNA                    -12 F      5676 FT
AFTON AIRPORT                 -8 F      6220 FT
BLIND BULL SUMMIT             -8 F      9000 FT
BOX Y RANCH                   -7 F      6650 FT
6 ENE SMOOT                   -7 F      7600 FT
MT COFFIN                     -7 F     10870 FT
THAYNE                        -6 F      5928 FT
3 NNE ETNA                    -6 F      5997 FT
ETNA                          -5 F      5823 FT
DEADMAN MTN                   -5 F     10350 FT
15 E COKEVILLE                -5 F      7840 FT
KEMMERER AIRPORT              -4 F      7285 FT
1 NW AFTON                    -1 F      6211 FT
4 NE THAYNE                    0 F      6217 FT
AFTON                          0 F      6267 FT
15 NE COKEVILLE                0 F      8180 FT
15 NE COKEVILLE                0 F      8470 FT
8 NE AFTON                     0 F      8450 FT
...BIG HORN COUNTY... 13 NE TEN SLEEP -14 F 8038 FT 30 E GREYBULL -2 F 8898 FT BALD MTN. -1 F 9380 FT 5 NW GRANITE PASS 0 F 9350 FT COWLEY AIRPORT 0 F 4090 FT ...FREMONT COUNTY... 10 W DUBOIS -13 F 8432 FT 5 WSW DUBOIS -13 F 9370 FT 19 WSW DUBOIS -13 F 8833 FT 17 NE DUBOIS -12 F 8400 FT 11 N DUBOIS -10 F 8750 FT BROOKS LAKE LODGE -9 F 9340 FT DUBOIS -9 F 6980 FT 6 NW DUBOIS -6 F 7189 FT 10 N DUBOIS -5 F 8085 FT 3 S TOGWOTEE PASS -4 F 10430 FT 13 W CROWHEART -3 F 9630 FT 10 NW SOUTH PASS CITY -3 F 9700 FT CROWHEART -2 F 6099 FT 2 N ATLANTIC CITY 0 F 8292 FT DUBOIS AIRPORT 0 F 7297 FT 18 W LANDER 0 F 10100 FT ...JOHNSON COUNTY... CLOUD PEAK -5 F 9860 FT 14 WNW MAYOWORTH -1 F 8200 FT POWDER RIVER PASS -1 F 9480 FT 20 NW MAYOWORTH 0 F 8180 FT 15 W BUFFALO 0 F 8720 FT ...NATRONA COUNTY... 2 SE HILAND -4 F 6134 FT INDEPENDENCE ROCK -3 F 5920 FT 8 S CASPER -2 F 7740 FT 28 N WALTMAN -2 F 8550 FT 22 SE CASPER -2 F 8500 FT CASPER MTN 0 F 7850 FT ...PARK COUNTY... 1 SW CANYON -14 F 7900 FT BEARTOOTH LAKE -12 F 9275 FT CRANDALL -8 F 6640 FT 17 NE TOGWOTEE PASS -7 F 8350 FT KIRWIN SNOTEL -6 F 9550 FT PAHASKA -4 F 6800 FT 12 SE PAHASKA -3 F 9780 FT 3 E PAHASKA -3 F 7500 FT 14 NE PAHASKA -2 F 9200 FT 3 E WAPITI 0 F 5400 FT 10 WNW CODY 0 F 8401 FT N. ABSAROKA MTS 0 F 7650 FT ...SUBLETTE COUNTY... BONDURANT -28 F 6650 FT 21 W BIG PINEY -24 F 8200 FT 2 NW BONDURANT -21 F 6726 FT 7 NE PINEDALE -19 F 8530 FT PINEDALE AIRPORT -17 F 7085 FT 9 E BIG PINEY -14 F 6803 FT 10 E BIG SANDY -12 F 9080 FT PINEDALE -10 F 7195 FT 1 NE PINEDALE -8 F 7382 FT N WIND RIVER MTS -7 F 9820 FT 8 SE BONDURANT -6 F 7797 FT 16 E BOULDER -6 F 9360 FT BIG PINEY AIRPORT -5 F 6974 FT 20 E BONDURANT -5 F 7740 FT PINEDALE -5 F 7310 FT BOULDER LAKE -4 F 7350 FT 3 SW BOULDER -3 F 7113 FT MARBLETON -3 F 6896 FT 4 S BIG PINEY -2 F 6854 FT 19 NNW FARSON 0 F 6614 FT 28 WNW BIG PINEY 0 F 8500 FT ...SWEETWATER COUNTY... 12 W GREEN RIVER -18 F 6130 FT 22 NNE GRANGER -16 F 6322 FT FARSON -13 F 6594 FT 20 ENE OPAL -11 F 6556 FT 1 S FONTENELLE RESERVOIR -9 F 6390 FT 7 WNW GREEN RIVER -6 F 6387 FT I 80 - MILE MARKER 184 -4 F 7112 FT 5 E ROCK SPRINGS -4 F 6369 FT 22 NW GREEN RIVER -3 F 6454 FT I 80 - MILE MARKER 131 -2 F 6636 FT 7 WSW ROCK SPRINGS -2 F 6238 FT 4 NE BITTER CREEK -1 F 6720 FT I 80 - MILE MARKER 142 -1 F 7162 FT 1 NNE GREEN RIVER 0 F 6315 FT ROCK SPRINGS AIRPORT 0 F 6760 FT ...TETON COUNTY... JACKSON -17 F 6240 FT 3 S TETON VILLAGE -15 F 6221 FT MORAN JUNCTION -12 F 6749 FT 3 SW MOOSE -10 F 6440 FT 4 SW JACKSON -10 F 6073 FT 8 NNE MORAN JUNCTION -9 F 7030 FT TOGWOTEE MTN LODGE -9 F 9184 FT JACKSON -9 F 6247 FT GRAND TARGHEE - CHIEF JOSEPH -9 F 8800 FT MOOSE -9 F 6466 FT 32 ESE JACKSON -8 F 8750 FT JACKSON HOLE AIRPORT -8 F 6445 FT SUMMIT - JACKSON RESORT -8 F 10318 FT SNAKE RIVER AT JACKSON LAKE -8 F 6779 FT 3 SSW JACKSON -7 F 6158 FT 7 E MORAN JCT -7 F 7251 FT 15 SE MORAN JCT -7 F 10380 FT 5 S OF SOUTH ENTRANCE YNP -7 F 7020 FT 23 E MORAN JUNCTION -6 F 9576 FT RENDEZVOUS BOWL -4 F 9608 FT TOGWOTEE PASS -4 F 9850 FT ALTA -3 F 6430 FT 4 N MOOSE -3 F 6730 FT GRAND TARGHEE -2 F 9260 FT RAYMER - JACKSON RESORT -2 F 9360 FT TETON PASS -2 F 8463 FT 17 N ALTA -1 F 6830 FT 5 ENE ALTA - FREDS MTN -1 F 9840 FT 2 NE TETON PASS -1 F 8200 FT MID - JACKSON RESORT 0 F 8179 FT ...YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK... EXTREME SW YELLOWSTONE -24 F 6400 FT 1 W GRANT VILLAGE -22 F 7874 FT OLD FAITHFUL -22 F 7320 FT SOUTH ENTRANCE YNP -20 F 6920 FT SOUTH ENTRANCE YNP -19 F 6900 FT OLD FAITHFUL -16 F 7350 FT 4 W SOUTH ENTRANCE YNP -16 F 7040 FT LAKE YELLOWSTONE -16 F 7835 FT 2 S GRANT VILLAGE -12 F 7980 FT 1 SW CANYON -11 F 8090 FT SYLVAN LAKE -11 F 8420 FT LAKE VILLAGE -8 F 7875 FT TOWER FALLS -6 F 6266 FT HOYT PEAK -5 F 9800 FT PARKER PEAK (E. YNP) -5 F 9400 FT SE YELLOWSTONE -1 F 9240 FT 15 WSW MAMMOTH 0 F 7900 FT OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

FINAL SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON TO THIS MORNING...DECEMBER 24TH

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
0155 PM MST THU DEC 24 2015


...FINAL SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM TUESDAY
AFTERNOON...DECEMBER22ND...THROUGH THIS MORNING...DECEMBER 24TH...

SNOW CONTINUED TO ACCUMULATE ACROSS THE WEST TUESDAY
THROUGHWEDNESDAY...WHILE THE CASPER AREA RECEIVED 3 TO 4 INCHES OF
NEW SNOWWEDNESDAY EVENING. HERE ARE THE FINAL SNOWFALL REPORTS
FROMTUESDAY AFTERNOON...THROUGH WEDNESDAY...INTO THIS MORNING.

LOCATION                             SNOWFALL
LINCOLN COUNTY... 
 COMMISSARY RIDGE...                 15 INCHES.
 WILLOW CREEK SNOTEL...              15 INCHES.
 5 NNE THAYNE...                   13.7 INCHES.
 BOX Y RANCH...                      12 INCHES.
 2 SE THAYNE...                    11.9 INCHES.
 STAR VALLEY RANCH...                11 INCHES.
 BLIND BULL SUMMIT...                11 INCHES.
 3 SE BEDFORD...                     10 INCHES.
 BLIND BULL SUMMIT SNOTEL...          9 INCHES.
 COTTONWOOD CREEK SNOTEL...           7 INCHES.
 SPRING CREEK DIVIDE SNOTEL...        6 INCHES.
 KELLEY RANGER STATION SNOTEL...      6 INCHES.
 5 SSE SMOOT...                       6 INCHES.
 AFTON...                           4.4 INCHES.
 INDIAN CREEK SNOTEL...               4 INCHES.
 HAMS FORK SNOTEL...                  3 INCHES.
FREMONT COUNTY... BROOKS LAKE... 2.1 INCHES. ATLANTIC CITY... 1.5 INCHES. DUBOIS... 0.5 INCHES. JOHNSON COUNTY... 12 SSE BUFFALO... 0.5 INCHES. NATRONA COUNTY... CASPER MOUNTAIN... 6.8 INCHES. CASPER MOUNTAIN SNOTEL... 4 INCHES. CASPER... 3-4 INCHES. 1 SW CASPER... 3.5 INCHES. 4 WSW CASPER... 3.3 INCHES. 10 WSW CASPER... 3 INCHES. 2 E EVANSVILLE... 3 INCHES. 1 S CASPER... 3 INCHES. RENO HILL SNOTEL... 3 INCHES. MILLS... 3 INCHES. CASPER AIRPORT... 2.7 INCHES. POWDER RIVER... 2 INCHES. MIDWEST... 0.3 INCHES. PARK COUNTY... MARQUETTE SNOTEL... 2 INCHES. WOLVERINE SNOTEL... 2 INCHES. 26 SW CODY... 1 INCH. PAHASKA... 1 INCH. SUBLETTE COUNTY... TRIPLE PEAK SNOTEL... 8 INCHES. 26 NNW PINEDALE... 6.5 INCHES. LOOMIS PARK SNOTEL... 5 INCHES. SNIDER BASIN SNOTEL... 4 INCHES. 14 NW PINEDALE... 3.5 INCHES. LARSEN CREEK SNOTEL... 3 INCHES. KENDALL RANGER STATION SNOTEL... 3 INCHES. BONDURANT... 2.4 INCHES. POCKET CREEK SNOTEL... 2 INCHES. EAST RIM DIVIDE SNOTEL... 2 INCHES. ELKHART PARK G.S. SNOTEL... 2 INCHES. BIG SANDY OPENING SNOTEL... 2 INCHES. NEW FORK LAKE SNOTEL... 2 INCHES. PINEDALE... 0.7 INCHES. BOULDER REARING STATION... 0.5 INCHES. SWEETWATER COUNTY... 5 N FARSON... 2.5 INCHES. BUCKBOARD MARINA... 2 INCHES. ROCK SPRINGS... 0.5-1.7 INCHES. GREEN RIVER... 1.6 INCHES. WAMSUTTER... 1 INCH. 7 SE ROCK SPRINGS... 0.8 INCHES. TETON COUNTY... GRAND TARGHEE - CHIEF JOSEPH... 24 INCHES. GRAND TARGHEE SNOTEL... 21 INCHES. JACKSON HOLE - RENDEZVOUS BOWL... 18 INCHES. JACKSON HOLE - RAYMER... 11 INCHES. GRASSY LAKE SNOTEL... 11 INCHES. 3 SSW WILSON... 9 INCHES. JACKSON HOLE - MID MOUNTAIN... 8 INCHES. TOGWOTEE MOUNTAIN LODGE... 8 INCHES. 5 NW JACKSON... 7.5 INCHES. PHILLIPS BENCH SNOTEL... 7 INCHES. MOOSE... 6 INCHES. 2 NE TETON VILLAGE... 5 INCHES. SNOW KING... 5 INCHES. GRANITE CREEK SNOTEL... 5 INCHES. TOGWOTEE PASS SNOTEL... 4 INCHES. BASE CAMP SNOTEL... 4 INCHES. 1 NNW ALTA... 4 INCHES. JACKSON... 3.5 INCHES. SNAKE RIVER STN SNOTEL... 3 INCHES. JACKSON HOLE - BASE... 3 INCHES. 4 SW JACKSON... 2.3 INCHES. JACKSON DAM... 1.2 INCHES. 12 NE JACKSON... 0.5 INCHES. DARWIN RANCH... 0.4 INCHES. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK... LEWIS LAKE DIVIDE SNOTEL... 4 INCHES. THUMB DIVIDE SNOTEL... 3 INCHES. SNAKE RIVER RANGER STATION... 2 INCHES. SYLVAN LAKE SNOTEL... 1 INCH. YELLOWSTONE EAST ENTRANCE... 1 INCH. LAMAR RANGER STATION... 0.2 INCHES.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Snow and Winds Reports for Western Wyoming 3 pm Tuesday

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
0255 PM MST TUE DEC 22 2015


...UPDATED SNOW AND WIND REPORTS...

THE MAJOR WINTER STORM THAT MOVED THROUGH THE AREA BEGINNING
SUNDAY HAS EXPERIENCED A LULL IN SNOW AND WIND. HERE ARE SOME
ONGOING TALLIES FROM THIS EVENT THROUGH AROUND 2 PM THIS
AFTERNOON. SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL REMAIN A CONCERN THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. PLEASE SEE OUR WINTER WEATHER PRODUCTS
FOR ADDITIONAL UPDATES.

LOCATION                             SNOWFALL
LINCOLN COUNTY...
 BLIND BULL SUMMIT...                19 INCHES.
 COMMISSARY RIDGE...                 18 INCHES.
 INDIAN CREEK SNOTEL...              15 INCHES.
 WILLOW CREEK SNOTEL...              10 INCHES.
 BLIND BULL SUMMIT SNOTEL...         10 INCHES.
 BOX Y RANCH...                       9 INCHES.
 5 NNE THAYNE...                    8.5 INCHES.
 2 SE THAYNE...                     8.3 INCHES.
 HAMS FORK SNOTEL...                  8 INCHES.
 SMOOT...                             8 INCHES.
 ALPINE...                          6.5 INCHES.
 3 SE BEDFORD...                      6 INCHES.
 SPRING CREEK DIVIDE SNOTEL...        6 INCHES.
 AFTON...                       4.5-4.9 INCHES.
 FOSSIL BUTTE...                      1 INCH.
BIG HORN COUNTY... BALD MOUNTAIN SNOTEL... 6 INCHES. BONE SPRINGS DIVIDE SNOTEL... 5 INCHES. SHELL CREEK SNOTEL... 4 INCHES. FREMONT COUNTY... BROOKS LAKE... 15 INCHES. DEER PARK SNOTEL... 10 INCHES. BURROUGHS CREEK SNOTEL... 8 INCHES. SOUTH PASS SNOTEL... 8 INCHES. ATLANTIC CITY... 6.3 INCHES. TOWNSEND CREEK SNOTEL... 5 INCHES. CASTLE CREEK SNOTEL... 5 INCHES. HOBBS PARK SNOTEL... 5 INCHES. ST. LAWRENCE ALT SNOTEL... 4 INCHES. COLD SPRINGS SNOTEL... 1 INCH. LITTLE WARM SNOTEL... 1 INCH. JOHNSON COUNTY... CLOUD PEAK RESERVOIR SNOTEL... 5 INCHES. HANSEN SAWMILL SNOTEL... 4 INCHES. SOLDIER PARK SNOTEL... 3 INCHES. LITTLE GOOSE SNOTEL... 2 INCHES. PARK COUNTY... YOUNTS PEAK SNOTEL... 12 INCHES. EVENING STAR SNOTEL... 11 INCHES. BLACKWATER SNOTEL... 10 INCHES. BEARTOOTH LAKE SNOTEL... 9 INCHES. WOLVERINE SNOTEL... 9 INCHES. PAHASKA... 7 INCHES. KIRWIN SNOTEL... 7 INCHES. WAPITI... 3 INCHES. MARQUETTE SNOTEL... 3 INCHES. 26 SW CODY... 2.5 INCHES. SUBLETTE COUNTY... TRIPLE PEAK SNOTEL... 11 INCHES. BIG SANDY OPENING SNOTEL... 10 INCHES. LARSEN CREEK SNOTEL... 9 INCHES. SNIDER BASIN SNOTEL... 7 INCHES. ELKHART PARK G.S. SNOTEL... 6 INCHES. BONDURANT... 5.6 INCHES. POCKET CREEK SNOTEL... 5 INCHES. KENDALL RANGER STATION SNOTEL... 5 INCHES. GUNSITE PASS SNOTEL... 4 INCHES. 21 W BIG PINEY... 4 INCHES. NEW FORK LAKE SNOTEL... 4 INCHES. 14 NW PINEDALE... 3.5 INCHES. LOOMIS PARK SNOTEL... 3 INCHES. BOULDER REARING STATION... 3 INCHES. DANIEL FISH HATCHERY... 2 INCHES. 26 NNW PINEDALE... 1.3 INCHES. SWEETWATER COUNTY... 5 N FARSON... 4 INCHES. ROCK SPRINGS... 3.4 INCHES. GREEN RIVER... 1-3.2 INCHES. BUCKBOARD MARINA... 2 INCHES. TETON COUNTY... JACKSON HOLE - RAYMER... 24.5 INCHES. JACKSON HOLE - RENDEZVOUS BOWL... 23.5 INCHES. JACKSON HOLE - MID MOUNTAIN... 21 INCHES. BASE CAMP SNOTEL... 18 INCHES. GRASSY LAKE SNOTEL... 18 INCHES. GRANITE CREEK SNOTEL... 18 INCHES. 3 SSW WILSON... 17.5 INCHES. SNOW KING... 17 INCHES. 2 NE TETON VILLAGE... 16.3 INCHES. 5 NW JACKSON... 16 INCHES. GRAND TARGHEE - CHIEF JOSEPH... 15 INCHES. MOOSE... 12.7 INCHES. JACKSON... 12.1 INCHES. TOGWOTEE PASS SNOTEL... 12 INCHES. JACKSON HOLE - BASE... 11.6 INCHES. JACKSON AWOS... 8 INCHES. 1 NNW ALTA... 8 INCHES. 1 ENE TETON VILLAGE... 7 INCHES. TOGWOTEE MOUNTAIN LODGE... 6 INCHES. DARWIN RANCH... 1 INCH. WASHAKIE COUNTY... POWDER RIVER PASS SNOTEL... 2 INCHES. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK... LEWIS LAKE DIVIDE SNOTEL... 20 INCHES. TWO OCEAN PLATEAU SNOTEL... 16 INCHES. THUMB DIVIDE SNOTEL... 12 INCHES. SNAKE RIVER RANGER STATION... 11 INCHES. PARKER PEAK SNOTEL... 7 INCHES. OLD FAITHFUL RANGER STATION... 7 INCHES. SYLVAN LAKE SNOTEL... 6 INCHES. CANYON SNOTEL... 4 INCHES. YELLOWSTONE EAST ENTRANCE... 2 INCHES. SYLVAN ROAD SNOTEL... 1 INCH. ...WIND REPORTS PAST 48 HOURS ... LOCATION SPEED TIME/DATE ELEVATION ...FREMONT COUNTY... RED CANYON 63 MPH 0545 PM 12/21 6768 FT 7 SW MUDDY GAP 56 MPH 0950 AM 12/21 7380 FT 10 W FORT WASHAKIE 54 MPH 0401 AM 12/22 9235 FT BEAVER RIM 52 MPH 0816 PM 12/21 6784 FT JEFFREY CITY 51 MPH 0936 PM 12/21 6374 FT 3 S TOGWOTEE PASS 49 MPH 1200 AM 12/22 10430 FT LANDER AIRPORT 46 MPH 0745 PM 12/21 5586 FT 2 W SOUTH PASS CITY 45 MPH 1011 PM 12/21 8185 FT ...HOT SPRINGS COUNTY... BOYSEN PEAK 63 MPH 0435 AM 12/22 7300 FT THERMOPOLIS 46 MPH 0330 AM 12/22 4426 FT ...JOHNSON COUNTY... 12 N KAYCEE 74 MPH 0446 AM 12/22 5287 FT 7 SW BARNUM 56 MPH 0446 AM 12/22 6440 FT ...LINCOLN COUNTY... MT COFFIN 112 MPH 1045 PM 12/21 10870 FT COKEVILLE 47 MPH 1024 PM 12/21 6191 FT 4 E SAGE JUNCTION 45 MPH 1215 AM 12/22 6387 FT ...NATRONA COUNTY... 16 S HILAND 67 MPH 1210 AM 12/22 6380 FT CASPER AIRPORT 61 MPH 0952 PM 12/21 5320 FT 2 SE HILAND 57 MPH 0950 PM 12/21 6134 FT 8 S CASPER 50 MPH 0252 AM 12/22 7740 FT 20 N CASPER 49 MPH 0830 PM 12/21 5677 FT 7 W ALCOVA 45 MPH 0720 PM 12/21 6342 FT ...PARK COUNTY... 8 S CLARK 57 MPH 0900 PM 12/20 4710 FT CHIEF JOSEPH HWY 56 MPH 1015 AM 12/22 8136 FT 5 WNW CLARK 55 MPH 1106 AM 12/22 4659 FT 1 W CLARK 55 MPH 1013 PM 12/20 4270 FT 10 WNW CODY 53 MPH 0840 PM 12/20 8401 FT CRANDALL 52 MPH 1212 AM 12/21 6640 FT 3 E PAHASKA 45 MPH 0257 AM 12/22 7500 FT ...SUBLETTE COUNTY... 21 W BIG PINEY 53 MPH 1009 PM 12/21 8200 FT ...SWEETWATER COUNTY... I 80 - MILE MARKER 142 63 MPH 0305 AM 12/22 7162 FT ROCK SPRINGS AIRPORT 48 MPH 0222 AM 12/22 6760 FT 5 E ROCK SPRINGS 48 MPH 0215 AM 12/22 6369 FT 7 WNW GREEN RIVER 45 MPH 1227 AM 12/22 6387 FT I 80 - MILE MARKER 157 45 MPH 0715 PM 12/21 6965 FT ...TETON COUNTY... SUMMIT - JACKSON RESORT 66 MPH 0900 PM 12/21 10318 FT 4 N MOOSE 45 MPH 1058 PM 12/21 6730 FT ...WASHAKIE COUNTY... 15 SSW BIG TRAILS 57 MPH 0440 AM 12/22 6554 FT OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.