Bitter Cold Christmas Eve Morning Star Valley and Surroundings
Fresh snow cover, one of the longest nights of the year and clear skies allowed temperatures to plummet across Western Wyoming, Southeast Idaho including Star Valley this Christmas Eve Morning.
As is typical in Star Valley, there is a wide range in temperatures that occur under these conditions. The coldest are located near the Salt River while the further into the forest and higher elevations the minimums can be significantly higher. Afton Airport dipped to -27 and at Double L Ranch northwest of Etna -26. There was a report of -31 on US 89 just north of Grover noted below
However at Star Valley Ranch at the mouth of Cedar Creek Canyon it was a relatively mild -6. In the Wyoming Range at the Triple Peak site located at 8500 feet the minimums was a plus 1.
Following is a list of all the minimums observed across Western Wyoming Christmas Eve morning
...Bitter Cold Temperatures Occurred Saturday Night... Location Temp Time/Date Elevation (ft.) ...Absaroka Mountains... 14 ENE Dubois -31 F 1115 PM 12/23 7365 NE Entrance Yellowstone -20 F 0245 AM 12/24 7360 17 NE Dubois -18 F 1100 PM 12/23 8400 Kirwin Snotel -9 F 0800 PM 12/23 9550 19 SW Pitchfork -9 F 0800 PM 12/23 9550 Beartooth Lake -7 F 0800 PM 12/23 9275 14 N Sunlight Basin -6 F 0900 PM 12/23 9275 12 SE Pahaska -6 F 0800 PM 12/23 9780 10 N Dubois -6 F 1057 PM 12/23 8085 19 SSW Wapiti -6 F 0700 PM 12/23 6200 Crandall -5 F 1112 PM 12/23 6640 39 W Thermopolis -5 F 0600 PM 12/23 8975 22 WSW Hamilton Dome -5 F 0600 PM 12/23 8975 14 NE Pahaska -4 F 0700 PM 12/23 9200 13 WSW Sunlight Basin -3 F 0600 PM 12/23 9200 ...Bighorn Mountains Southeast... 28 N Waltman -8 F 0900 PM 12/23 8550 Cloud Peak -7 F 0700 PM 12/23 9860 15 WSW Buffalo -7 F 0600 PM 12/23 8360 14 WNW Mayoworth -6 F 1200 AM 12/24 8200 15 WSW Buffalo -6 F 0700 PM 12/23 8360 14 WSW Story -6 F 0800 PM 12/23 8870 18 NW Buffalo -6 F 0447 AM 12/24 8604 18 WNW Buffalo -5 F 0400 AM 12/24 8580 15 W Buffalo -3 F 1100 PM 12/23 8720 7 SW Barnum -2 F 0846 PM 12/23 6440 ...Bighorn Mountains West... 13 NE Ten Sleep -19 F 1105 PM 12/23 8038 17 E Shell -13 F 0700 PM 12/23 9580 Bald Mtn. -12 F 0600 PM 12/23 9380 Powder River Pass -11 F 1200 AM 12/24 9480 12 ENE Ten Sleep -10 F 1014 PM 12/23 8202 5 NW Granite Pass -9 F 1200 AM 12/24 9350 30 E Greybull -9 F 0458 AM 12/24 8898 12 SE Big Trails -3 F 1200 AM 12/24 7760 15 SSW Big Trails -3 F 0640 PM 12/23 6554 5 ENE Hyattville -2 F 1152 PM 12/23 5670 ...Casper Mountain... 8 S Casper -5 F 0252 AM 12/24 7740 22 SE Casper -5 F 1100 PM 12/23 8500 Casper Mtn -3 F 1200 AM 12/24 7850 ...Cody Foothills... Cody Airport -17 F 0500 AM 12/24 5100 2 W Pitchfork -13 F 0645 PM 12/23 6883 Meeteetse -12 F 0348 AM 12/24 5797 1 W Clark -12 F 0428 AM 12/24 4270 3 E Wapiti -11 F 0730 PM 12/23 5400 2 WSW Cody -10 F 0334 AM 12/24 5167 Buffalo Bill Reservoir -8 F 0930 PM 12/23 5357 5 WNW Clark -4 F 0952 PM 12/23 4659 8 N Meeteetse -4 F 0536 PM 12/23 5926 ...East Sweetwater County... 4 NE Bitter Creek -13 F 0230 AM 12/24 6720 10 E Wamsutter -9 F 1200 AM 12/24 7062 13 E Wamsutter -9 F 1200 AM 12/24 7052 I 80 - Mile Marker 184 -7 F 0146 AM 12/24 7112 5 SSE Point Of Rocks -7 F 0200 AM 12/24 6568 I 80 - Mile Marker 131 -7 F 1205 AM 12/24 6636 23 W Wamsutter -5 F 1100 PM 12/23 6804 I 80 - Mile Marker 157 -3 F 1145 PM 12/23 6965 16 W Red Desert -2 F 0300 AM 12/24 6805 I 80 - Mile Marker 124 -2 F 1246 AM 12/24 6475 Rock Springs Airport 5 F 0500 AM 12/24 6760 15 SE Rock Springs 7 F 0144 AM 12/24 7550 5 E Rock Springs 7 F 1140 PM 12/23 6369 ...Green Mountains and Rattlesnake Range... Independence Rock -14 F 0230 AM 12/24 5920 Jeffrey City -11 F 1058 PM 12/23 6374 7 W Alcova -10 F 0415 AM 12/24 6342 Beaver Rim -7 F 0101 AM 12/24 6784 16 S Hiland -3 F 0810 PM 12/23 6380 7 SW Muddy Gap 0 F 0650 PM 12/23 7380 ...Jackson Hole... Moran Junction -18 F 0518 AM 12/24 6749 Moose -18 F 0415 AM 12/24 6466 Snake River At Jackson Lake -17 F 0445 AM 12/24 6779 Kelly -16 F 0509 AM 12/24 6653 3 SW Moose -13 F 0323 AM 12/24 6440 7 E Moran Jct -13 F 0352 AM 12/24 7251 4 N Moose -13 F 0258 AM 12/24 6730 5 S Of South Entrance Ynp -13 F 0945 PM 12/23 7020 Jackson Hole Airport -13 F 0500 AM 12/24 6445 Hoback Junction -12 F 0519 AM 12/24 5928 2 NE Wilson -10 F 0511 AM 12/24 6184 Jackson -5 F 0445 AM 12/24 6240 Jackson -3 F 0515 AM 12/24 6247 3 SSW Jackson -3 F 0502 AM 12/24 6158 Mid - Jackson Resort -3 F 1045 PM 12/23 8179 Base - Jackson Resort 0 F 0445 AM 12/24 6339 ...Lander Foothills... N Fork Popo Agie River -9 F 1200 AM 12/24 5760 Lander Airport -6 F 0500 AM 12/24 5586 7 NW Lander -5 F 1219 AM 12/24 5797 1 SW Lander -4 F 1245 AM 12/24 5480 11 SSE Lander -3 F 0925 PM 12/23 5773 ...Natrona County Lower Elevations... Natrona -20 F 0120 AM 12/24 5589 2 SE Hiland -11 F 0941 PM 12/23 6134 Midwest -9 F 0449 AM 12/24 4865 20 N Casper -8 F 0906 PM 12/23 5677 Casper Airport -6 F 0500 AM 12/24 5320 8 SE Evansville -6 F 0800 PM 12/23 5592 Casper Outer Drive -4 F 0816 PM 12/23 5463 Casper -4 F 1100 PM 12/23 5399 Casper - N Platte River 3 F 0800 PM 12/23 5100 3 WSW Mills 4 F 1040 PM 12/23 5197 ...North Big Horn Basin... Greybull Airport -18 F 0500 AM 12/24 3935 Basin -16 F 0450 AM 12/24 3897 Cowley Airport -15 F 0435 AM 12/24 4090 2 N Frannie -13 F 0453 AM 12/24 4275 Lovell -10 F 0513 AM 12/24 3830 Powell -9 F 0515 AM 12/24 4386 ...Northeast Johnson County... 20 SW Echeta -13 F 0440 AM 12/24 4068 5 ESE Story -8 F 0846 PM 12/23 4673 Buffalo -7 F 0510 AM 12/24 4635 25 ESE Buffalo -5 F 0130 AM 12/24 4657 Buffalo Airport -3 F 0500 AM 12/24 4970 1 E Buffalo -3 F 1032 PM 12/23 4727 7 NE Buffalo -3 F 1103 PM 12/23 4370 ...Owl Creek and Bridger Mountains... 10 S Meeteetse -6 F 0842 PM 12/23 7127 ...Rock Springs and Green River... 12 W Green River -12 F 0500 AM 12/24 6130 9 WNW Green River -1 F 0300 AM 12/24 6290 7 WNW Green River 1 F 0407 AM 12/24 6387 3 ENE Granger 1 F 0400 AM 12/24 6254 Mckinnon 2 F 0401 AM 12/24 7086 1 NNE Green River 8 F 0437 AM 12/24 6315 7 WSW Rock Springs 9 F 0440 AM 12/24 6238 ...Salt River and Wyoming Ranges... Box Y Ranch -17 F 0400 AM 12/24 6650 Deadman Mtn -9 F 1100 PM 12/23 10350 Mt Coffin -8 F 1100 PM 12/23 10870 Blind Bull Summit -7 F 1100 PM 12/23 9000 6 ENE Smoot -6 F 1200 AM 12/24 7600 15 NE Cokeville -6 F 1200 AM 12/24 8180 8 NE Afton -5 F 1000 PM 12/23 8450 20 NE Cokeville -4 F 1200 AM 12/24 9425 15 NE Cokeville -3 F 0100 AM 12/24 8470 15 E Cokeville -1 F 1200 AM 12/24 7840 ...South Lincoln County... 4 E Sage Junction -22 F 0435 AM 12/24 6387 Cokeville -18 F 0445 AM 12/24 6194 3 E Sage Junction -18 F 0400 AM 12/24 6378 4 S Cokeville -15 F 0400 AM 12/24 6185 4 W Kemmerer -9 F 0300 AM 12/24 6989 Kemmerer -3 F 0400 AM 12/24 6980 6 WNW Granger -3 F 0200 AM 12/24 6359 13 W Kemmerer 2 F 0445 AM 12/24 6718 4 E Opal 3 F 0400 AM 12/24 6589 4 ESE Diamondville 6 F 0400 AM 12/24 6789 ...Southeast Big Horn Basin... Worland Airport -22 F 0500 AM 12/24 4245 Worland -22 F 0501 AM 12/24 4042 1 NNE Worland -20 F 0444 AM 12/24 4065 6 SE Ten Sleep -20 F 0425 AM 12/24 4541 10 SSE Worland -13 F 0317 AM 12/24 4520 Ten Sleep -11 F 0403 AM 12/24 4470 ...Southeast Johnson County... Kaycee -11 F 1000 PM 12/23 4681 10 SW Kaycee -11 F 0300 AM 12/24 4900 12 N Kaycee -6 F 0746 PM 12/23 5287 2 NW Mayoworth -4 F 0717 PM 12/23 5404 ...Southwest Big Horn Basin... Kirby -16 F 0418 AM 12/24 4350 Thermopolis -14 F 0515 AM 12/24 4426 ...Star Valley... 3 NW Etna -26 F 0427 AM 12/24 5692 Afton Airport -18 F 0515 AM 12/24 6220 Thayne -16 F 0501 AM 12/24 5928 Etna -14 F 0506 AM 12/24 5823 1 NW Afton -12 F 0400 AM 12/24 6211 Afton -8 F 0508 AM 12/24 6267 1 S Bedford -7 F 0455 AM 12/24 6279 4 NE Thayne -6 F 0440 AM 12/24 6217 ...Teton and Gros Ventre Mountains... 32 ESE Jackson -21 F 1200 AM 12/24 8750 8 W South Entrance Ynp -15 F 1000 PM 12/23 7265 Togwotee Mtn Lodge -12 F 0300 AM 12/24 9184 3 S Togwotee Pass -12 F 1100 PM 12/23 10430 8 NNE Moran Junction -11 F 1200 AM 12/24 7030 15 SE Moran Jct -11 F 0900 PM 12/23 10380 23 E Moran Junction -11 F 0200 AM 12/24 9576 Summit - Jackson Resort -10 F 0915 PM 12/23 10318 14 E Bondurant -10 F 1000 PM 12/23 8240 Togwotee Pass -9 F 1100 PM 12/23 9850 Grand Targhee - Chief Joseph -8 F 0915 PM 12/23 8800 Teton Pass -8 F 1000 PM 12/23 8463 10 N Bondurant -7 F 1100 PM 12/23 6770 5 ENE Alta - Freds Mtn -7 F 1130 PM 12/23 9840 Grand Targhee -7 F 1100 PM 12/23 9260 Raymer - Jackson Resort -7 F 1030 PM 12/23 9360 17 N Alta -5 F 0303 AM 12/24 6830 Alta - Coop -3 F 0900 PM 12/23 6435 Alta -1 F 0900 PM 12/23 6430 2 NE Teton Pass 0 F 1000 PM 12/23 8200 ...Upper Green River Basin... 9 NW Marbleton -20 F 0501 AM 12/24 7176 Big Piney Airport -20 F 0500 AM 12/24 6974 9 E Big Piney -18 F 0500 AM 12/24 6803 3 W Big Piney -18 F 0330 AM 12/24 6990 14 N Farson -14 F 0315 AM 12/24 6780 5 SSE La Barge -11 F 0500 AM 12/24 6530 Farson -10 F 0410 AM 12/24 6594 20 ENE Opal 0 F 1117 PM 12/23 6556 1 S Fontenelle Reservoir 2 F 1200 AM 12/24 6390 ...Upper Green River Basin Foothills... Bondurant -27 F 0430 AM 12/24 6650 2 NW Bondurant -25 F 0451 AM 12/24 6726 6 NW Cora -24 F 0203 AM 12/24 7462 8 SE Bondurant -20 F 1241 AM 12/24 7797 Pinedale Airport -20 F 0435 AM 12/24 7085 Pinedale -9 F 0430 AM 12/24 7310 East Rim Divide -1 F 1200 AM 12/24 7930 Bondurant 10 F 0600 PM 12/23 6687 ...Upper Wind River Basin... Crowheart -8 F 1112 PM 12/23 6099 Wind River Above Red Creek -3 F 0630 PM 12/23 6400 6 NW Dubois 0 F 0145 AM 12/24 7189 11 W Crowheart 1 F 0800 PM 12/23 6520 Dubois Airport 1 F 0215 AM 12/24 7297 ...Wind River Basin... Riverton - CWC -15 F 0200 AM 12/24 5372 10 SE Crowheart -14 F 1130 PM 12/23 5654 Fort Washakie -14 F 1215 AM 12/24 5565 Riverton Airport -13 F 0500 AM 12/24 5525 N. Fork Little Wind River -5 F 0945 PM 12/23 6120 3 NNW Hudson -3 F 1246 AM 12/24 5555 Boysen Reservoir 0 F 0315 AM 12/24 4710 ...Wind River Mountains East... 12 SW Lander -14 F 1200 AM 12/24 8700 18 W Lander -13 F 1000 PM 12/23 10100 18 W Lander -13 F 0900 PM 12/23 10100 South Pass -10 F 1100 PM 12/23 9040 10 NW South Pass City -9 F 1000 PM 12/23 9700 13 W Fort Washakie -8 F 1000 PM 12/23 8620 South Pass -8 F 1000 PM 12/23 9040 5 WSW Dubois -5 F 1000 PM 12/23 9370 10 W Fort Washakie -4 F 1001 PM 12/23 9235 9 SW Lander -2 F 0730 PM 12/23 7085 13 W Crowheart -1 F 0900 PM 12/23 9630 Red Canyon 1 F 0841 PM 12/23 6768 ...Wind River Mountains West... 19 WSW Dubois -15 F 1110 PM 12/23 8833 20 E Bondurant -14 F 1200 AM 12/24 7740 7 NE Pinedale -12 F 0926 PM 12/23 8530 10 E Big Sandy -10 F 1000 PM 12/23 9080 N Wind River Mts -10 F 0900 PM 12/23 9820 2 W South Pass City -10 F 1006 PM 12/23 8185 New Fork Lake -10 F 1200 AM 12/24 8340 8 W South Pass City -7 F 0150 AM 12/24 8120 3 NNE South Pass City -5 F 1145 PM 12/23 8540 16 E Boulder -4 F 1200 AM 12/24 9360 ...Yellowstone National Park... Extreme Sw Yellowstone -27 F 0249 AM 12/24 6400 9 E Tower Junction -27 F 0400 AM 12/24 7266 South Entrance YNP -25 F 0415 AM 12/24 6900 1 SW Canyon -24 F 0249 AM 12/24 7900 4 W South Entrance YNP -22 F 0400 AM 12/24 7040 Lake Yellowstone -22 F 0500 AM 12/24 7835 9 W Canyon -21 F 0425 AM 12/24 7686 Old Faithful -21 F 0425 AM 12/24 7481 12 SE Lake -21 F 0425 AM 12/24 7807 1 WSW Canyon -21 F 0425 AM 12/24 7830 5 ENE Tower Junction -21 F 0425 AM 12/24 6312 1 ESE Grant Village -21 F 0425 AM 12/24 7771 Tower Falls -21 F 0345 AM 12/24 6266 South Entrance YNP -20 F 1100 PM 12/23 6920 Sylvan Lake -18 F 1000 PM 12/23 8420 NE Entrance Yellowstone -20 F 0245 AM 12/24 7360 7 W East Entrance -18 F 1000 PM 12/23 8420 Lake Village -12 F 0130 AM 12/24 7875 5 NE Canyon -12 F 0300 AM 12/24 9224 Hoyt Peak -11 F 1000 PM 12/23 9800 2 S Grant Village -11 F 0900 PM 12/23 7980 Parker Peak (E. YNP) -10 F 0900 PM 12/23 9400 16 NNE Pahaska -10 F 0900 PM 12/23 9400 4 W Pahaska -10 F 1000 PM 12/23 7120 1 WSW East Entrance -10 F 1000 PM 12/23 7120 15 WSW Mammoth -9 F 0149 AM 12/24 7900 Mammoth -7 F 0515 AM 12/24 6300 6 S Lewis Lake In YNP -6 F 0900 PM 12/23 7850 14 S Sylvan Pass -6 F 1208 AM 12/24 8650 Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.