Winter weather alerts for 2011-12 (First post Highway Cams) (Cheyenne: home, move)

[Cambium]

Is it snowing anywhere in Wyoming last night or past 2 days?? I'm debating with someone whether snow has fallen...

[Zephyrah]

No snow in Casper. Maybe on the mountain??? But just rain here in town.

[ElkHunter]

WYDOT is advising no unecessry travel on Hwy 14 on top between Burgess Junction and Big Norn National Rec area.

[Cambium]

Snow would potentially fall Monday to Tuesday in portions of Montana and Wyoming and Wednesday to Thursday in portions of Colorado and New Mexico.

Colorado, New Mexico Snow Patrol for Next Week (http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/56581/colorado-new-mexico-snow-patro.asp - broken link)



Even if the storm takes shape, it could still track too far north or south, spoiling much of the snow and show for Denver. A storm dipping more to the south could bring the heaviest snow to northern New Mexico.
Getting cold air into the foothills, High Plains and other cities and locations on the immediate eastern side of the Rockies is not a problem. Simply turning the winds around to the east and northeast causes them to blow thousands of feet uphill, resulting in substantial cooling.

Rather than a deep, heavy snowfall for areas along the Front Range and foothills, there could just be a period of what is called "upslope snow."
This setup, without a big storm to focus the moisture, would tend to only bring light to moderate snow, just a few inches or less, to Denver, Pueblo or Colorado Springs. Even in this situation, wind direction at the local level is the key as to which metro area would gather the most snow.

At the very least next week, the overall pattern seems to support the possibility for a period of snow to spread southward across the various ranges that make up the Rockies and the Continental Divide.

[ElkHunter]

Urgent - winter weather message
national weather service cheyenne wy
306 pm mdt mon oct 24 2011

...winter storm will impact portions of southeast wyoming and
southwest nebraska late tuesday through wednesday...

.a pacific storm system will develop across the central rockies
tuesday night and wednesday. This storm combined with upslope
flow at the surface will produce widespread snow across southeast
wyoming and the panhandle of nebraska. Snow is expected to be
heavy at times tuesday night...especially in southeast wyoming
from the snowy range eastward to cheyenne. This includes the
interstate 80 corridor. Snow is expected to begin tapering off
wednesday as the upper level disturbance moves southeast into
arizona and new mexico.

Wyz106-110-114>118-251100-
/o.con.kcys.ws.w.0013.111025t2100z-111027t0000z/
central laramie range and southwest platte county-
north snowy range foothills-snowy range-laramie valley-
south laramie range-south laramie range foothills-
central laramie county-
including the cities of...bordeaux...arlington...elk mountain...
Centennial...albany...woods landing...laramie...vedauwoo...
Buford...pumpkin vine...horse creek...harriman...whitaker...
Cheyenne
306 pm mdt mon oct 24 2011

...winter storm warning remains in effect from 3 pm tuesday to
6 pm mdt wednesday...

A winter storm warning remains in effect from 3 pm tuesday to
6 pm mdt wednesday.

* timing...snow will begin tuesday afternoon across southeast
wyoming. Rain may mix with snow for a brief time before quickly
changing to all snow by tuesday evening. Snow will fall heavy
at times tuesday night.

* total snow accumulations...5 to 10 inches are expected in the
valleys and high plains along interstate 80 with locally
higher amounts possible. 12 to 20 inches are expected in the
mountains including the southern laramie range and the snowy
range.

* winds/visibilities...northeast winds of 15 to 20 mph along
with higher gusts may combine with the heavy snowfall to
produce near zero visibilities at times and blowing snow.

* wind chills...wind chill values will drop into the single
digits and teens across the area tuesday night.

* impacts...travel may become very difficult due to snow covered
roads and low visibilities including portions of interstate 25
and interstate 80. Some roads could become impassible or
closed. Hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts may be
significantly impacted by these wintry conditions. Also...the
heavy wet snow may accumulate on trees that still have late
season foliage... Which may produce some power outages.

[ElkHunter]

Urgent - winter weather message
national weather service cheyenne wy
337 pm mdt tue oct 25 2011

...an early season winter storm will affect portions of southeast
wyoming and panhandle of nebraska through wednesday afternoon...

.a pacific storm system will move across the central rockies
through wednesday. This storm combined with surface upslope wind
flow will produce snow across much of southeast wyoming and the
panhandle of nebraska. Snow will continue to increase in coverage
and intensity over southeast wyoming prior to sunset and spread into
the panhandle early this evening. The snow will be heavy at
times...especially in southeast wyoming from the snowy range
eastward to cheyenne early tonight. This includes the interstate
80 corridor. Heavy snow may reach as far east as kimball nebraska
overnight. Snow will taper off wednesday as the storm system moves
southward into new mexico. Skies will clear wednesday night but
cold temperatures will remain.

Wyz106-110-114>118-260600-
/o.con.kcys.ws.w.0013.000000t0000z-111027t0000z/
central laramie range and southwest platte county-
north snowy range foothills-snowy range-laramie valley-
south laramie range-south laramie range foothills-
central laramie county-
including the cities of...bordeaux...arlington...elk mountain...
Centennial...albany...woods landing...laramie...vedauwoo...
Buford...pumpkin vine...horse creek...harriman...whitaker...
Cheyenne
337 pm mdt tue oct 25 2011

...winter storm warning remains in effect until 6 pm mdt
wednesday...

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 6 pm mdt
wednesday.

* total snow accumulations...8 to 12 inches are expected in the
lower elevations with 12 to 20 inches over the snowy range and
southern laramie range.

* winds/visibilities...northeast winds of 15 to 20 mph along with
higher gusts will combine with the heavy snowfall to produce
blowing snow and near zero visibilities at times.

* wind chills...wind chill values will drop into the single digits
and teens across the warning area tonight and wednesday morning.

* impacts...travel may become very difficult due to snow covered
roads and low visibilities including portions of interstate 25
and interstate 80. Some roads could become impassible or
closed. Hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts may be
significantly impacted by these wintry conditions. Also...
Heavy wet snow could accumulate on trees with late season
foliage. This could cause branches to break...potentially
producing power outages.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A winter storm warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather
conditions are expected or occurring. Significant amounts of snow
are forecast that will make travel dangerous. Only travel in an
emergency. If you must travel...keep an extra flashlight...food...
And water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

[sunsprit]

At 4AM today, we had 15" of snowfall on the ground at the ranch and it's snowing heavily.

WYDOT reports that I-80 into Cheyenne from here is slick and snowing, and they've closed I-80 West of Cheyenne to Laramie, along with Happy Jack near the summit of the pass.

Have friends up in the Granite Canyon area who are snowed in at this time. They'll be looking forward to the warmer temps later this week and sunshine to clear the roads for them.

[ElkHunter]

Thank you for letting us know Sunsprit, I post the warnings but seldom here the results. I think it's an excellent idea to add that data so folks have a clear picture of what the weather has done in Wyoming.

[ElkHunter]

Urgent - winter weather message
national weather service riverton wy
311 pm mdt mon oct 31 2011

...winter storm expected for most of wyoming monday night into tuesday
night...

.a strong pacific storm system is about to move into the northern
and central rockies. A strong cold front will first move south
across central wyoming monday night into tuesday morning. Snow
will begin in the north central mountains at first...while more
snow develops across southern and central wyoming early tuesday
morning through late tuesday night.

Wyz020-022-010515-
/o.upg.kriw.ws.a.0007.111101t1200z-111102t1200z/
/o.new.kriw.ws.w.0011.111101t1200z-111102t1200z/
natrona county lower elevations-casper mountain-
including the city of...casper
311 pm mdt mon oct 31 2011

...winter storm warning in effect from 6 am tuesday to 6 am mdt
wednesday...

The national weather service in riverton has issued a winter
storm warning for heavy snow and gusty wind...which is in effect
from 6 am tuesday to 6 am mdt wednesday. The winter storm watch is
no longer in effect.

* summary and timing...light rain will turn to snow shortly after
midnight tonight. The snow will likely become steadier and
heavy at times through the day tuesday and tuesday night with
the heaviest snowfall expected tuesday afternoon.

* snow accumulations...6 to 9 inches across the lower elevations
of natrona county including casper along with 10 to 20 inches
on casper mountain possible.

* wind and visibility...north winds will increase to 15 to 20 mph
by tuesday afternoon which may result in drifting and some
blowing snow reducing the visibility to less than a mile at
times.

* impacts...interstate 25 and local highways highways will likely
become slick and snow covered tuesday into wednesday morning.

[ElkHunter]

Urgent - winter weather message
national weather service billings mt
244 pm mdt mon oct 31 2011

.a storm system will bring snow to the foothills and mountains
tonight and continuing into tuesday evening. A cold front will
bringing colder northerly winds to the region. Upslope northerly
winds will maximize snow development along the north slopes of
the beartooth and absaroka mountains as well as the northeast big
horn mountains and portions of sheridan county.

Wyz099-010845-
/o.exb.kbyz.ww.y.0032.111101t1200z-111102t0600z/
sheridan foothills-
including the locations of...sheridan...dayton...ranchester...
Big horn...story...clearmont
244 pm mdt mon oct 31 2011

...winter weather advisory in effect from 6 am tuesday to
midnight mdt tuesday night...

The national weather service in billings has issued a winter
weather advisory for snow...which is in effect from 6 am tuesday to
midnight mdt tuesday night.

* impacts: Roadways will be mainly wet tonight...with slick spots
developing toward daybreak tuesday as temperatures drop to
around freezing. Expect winter travel conditions during the day
tuesday and continuing into tuesday evening especially across
the southern half of sheridan county.

* timing: A cold front will move through the area late this
afternoon with rain showers changing to snow showers overnight.
Snow will be likely during the day tuesday into tuesday evening
and be most intense tuesday afternoon. The snow will taper off
late tuesday evening.

* snow accumulation: 2 to 4 inches of snow is expected mainly on
grassy surfaces by late tuesday evening...with locally heavier
accumulations possible.