Winter Storm Summary January 29-30 2014

Winter Storm Summary January 29-30 2014

January 29-30 Storm Summary


The National Weather Service
Building a Weather-Ready Nation



Heavy snow fell in the mountains of far western Wyoming Wednesday, January 29, and Thursday, January 30.  A plume of moisture originating in the tropical Pacific Ocean was matched with significant atmospheric forcing and a favorable wind direction to generate snowfall amounts topping one foot in many mountains locales.  The westerly winds are lifted by the north-south mountain ranges of far west Wyoming, which in turn aids snowfall production.  The heaviest snow fell across the western mountains and valleys Wednesday and Wednesday evening, before winding down early Thursday.  The plume lingered longest over the Salt River and Wyoming mountain ranges of far west-central Wyoming through much of Thursday heping to boost totals in that region.  Some valley locations from Thayne to Moose had snowfall totals of 10″ to 12″, while many other valley communities saw totals approaching 6″.  The snowfall even extended to the Wind River Mountain foothills around Pinedale and Daniel where snow totals of 4″ to 8″ were observed.
There will be a brief respite from the snowy conditions across the west on Friday before snow chances increase for the weekend and early next week.  However, the Arctic origin of this airmass will limit snowfall totals as it will be lacking a warm moisture source.  What the pattern does lead to is that western and central Wyoming could see very cold temperatures by the early to middle part of next week.  

Click to enlarge a picture of the heavy snowfall in Star Valley Ranch Thursday morning. Click to enlarge to see a (shaky) image of wind blown Wyoming Boulevard Wednesday afternoon.
 A view of the 10″+ snowfall at Star Valley Ranch Thursday morning (1/30).
Image courtesy of Jack Hales.
  The camera shakes in the 50-70 mph wind on Wyoming Boulevard Wednesday afternoon (1/29).  Image courtesy of WYDOT.

Snow Map - Click to enlarge
Snowfall Query

 Lincoln
 Station Name
Snowfall  
Lincoln
Blind Bull Summit Snotel
21
Lincoln
Commissary Ridge
21
Lincoln
Indian Creek Snotel
20
Lincoln
Cottonwood Creek Snotel
19
Lincoln
Spring Creek Divide Snotel
18
Lincoln
Willow Creek Snotel
17
Lincoln
Blind Bull Summit
16
Lincoln
Kelley Ranger Station Snotel
15
Lincoln
Hams Fork Snotel
14
Lincoln
Alpine
12
Lincoln
Alpine
12
Lincoln
Alpine
12
Lincoln
5 NNE Thayne
11.7
Lincoln
Box Y Ranch
11
Lincoln
Bedford
10
Lincoln
Fairview
10
Lincoln
2 SE Thayne
9.3
Lincoln
Salt River Summit Snotel
8
Lincoln
4 ENE Thayne
7.5
Lincoln
Star Valley Ranch
7
Lincoln
Star Valley Ranch
6
Lincoln
21 NNW Kemmerer
5
Lincoln
3 W Afton
4
Lincoln
3 SE Bedford
4
Lincoln
Afton
3.3
Lincoln
Fossil Butte
1.2
Lincoln
5 SSE Smoot
1


County
Big Horn Station Name Snowfall
Big Horn Bone Springs Divide Snotel 9
Big Horn Shell Creek Snotel 9
Big Horn Bald Mountain Snotel 8
Big Horn Shell 3.5
Big Horn Basin 2
Big Horn Hyattville 1.5
Big Horn Deaver 1
Big Horn Greybull 0.7
Fremont Station Name Snowfall
Fremont Brooks Lake Lodge 10
Fremont South Pass Snotel 8
Fremont Deer Park Snotel 7
Fremont Castle Creek Snotel 5
Fremont St. Lawrence Alt Snotel 4
Fremont Little Warm Snotel 4
Fremont Hobbs Park Snotel 4
Fremont Townsend Creek Snotel 4
Fremont Atlantic City 3.5
Fremont Cold Springs Snotel 3
Fremont Dubois 1
Hot Springs Station Name Snowfall
Hot Springs Owl Creek Snotel 3
Hot Springs 9 NE Thermopolis 1.1
Hot Springs Thermopolis 0.5
Hot Springs Thermopolis 0.2
 Johnson Station Name  Snowfall 
Johnson Bear Trap Meadow Snotel 5
Johnson Cloud Peak Reservoir Snotel 4
Johnson 18 E Ten Sleep 4
Johnson Soldier Park Snotel 2
Johnson Little Goose Snotel 2
Johnson Hansen Sawmill Snotel 1
Johnson Buffalo 0.1
Johnson 4 SSW Buffalo 0.1

Natrona  Station Name  Snowfall 
Natrona Grave Spring Snotel 4
Natrona Casper 0.5 to 1
Natrona 5 SSW Casper 0.8
Natrona 10 WSW Casper 0.8
Natrona 4 WSW Casper 0.7
Natrona 11 ESE Casper 0.5
Natrona 11 WSW Casper 0.3
Park  Station Name  Snowfall
Park Blackwater Snotel 12
Park Wolverine Snotel 12
Park Evening Star Snotel 12
Park Beartooth Lake Snotel 10
Park Kirwin Snotel 7
Park 2 WSW Cody 3
Park Cody 2.9
Park Cody 2.5
Park Marquette Snotel 2
Park 4 SE Cody 1.7
Park 5 ESE Cody 1.7
Park Timber Creek Snotel 1
Park 26 SW Cody 1
Park 3 NE Sunshine 0.8
Park 4 ENE Powell 0.2
Sublette Station Name Snowfall
Sublette Triple Peak Snotel 17
Sublette Loomis Park Snotel 15
Sublette Snider Basin Snotel 14
Sublette Merna 14
Sublette Kendall Ranger Station Snotel 13
Sublette Larsen Creek Snotel 13
Sublette Elkhart Park G.S. Snotel 12
Sublette New Fork Lake Snotel 11
Sublette Big Sandy Opening Snotel 11
Sublette Pocket Creek Snotel 10
Sublette East Rim Divide Snotel 10
Sublette Gunsite Pass Snotel 9
Sublette 14 NW Pinedale 8
Sublette Daniel Fish Hatchery 5
Sublette 1 N Pinedale 5
Sublette Pinedale 4.7
Sublette Bondurant 4.4
Sublette Pinedale 4
Sublette Boulder Rearing Station 2
Sublette 13 SE Pinedale 0.4
Sweetwater Station Name Snowfall
Sweetwater Wamsutter 1
Sweetwater Rock Springs 0.7
Sweetwater Rock Springs 0.3
Sweetwater Green River 0.3
Teton Station Name Snowfall 
Teton Grand Targhee Snotel 24
Teton Grassy Lake Snotel 21
Teton Grand Targhee-Chief Joseph 20
Teton Jackson Hole-Raymer 19
Teton Phillips Bench Snotel 19
Teton Snake River Stn Snotel 18
Teton Jackson Hole-Rendezvous Bowl 18
Teton Granite Creek Snotel 16
Teton Jackson Hole-Mid 14
Teton Base Camp Snotel 13
Teton Moose 12.5
Teton Togwotee Pass Snotel 12
Teton Togwotee Mountain Lodge 11
Teton Moose 10.9
Teton 2 NE Teton Village 9.3
Teton 12 NE Jackson 9
Teton 5 NW Jackson 8.7
Teton 3 SSW Wilson 8.5
Teton Rafter J Ranch 8
Teton Teton Pass 8
Teton Jackson Hole-Base 7
Teton Gros Ventre Summit Snotel 6
Teton Snow King 6
Teton Moose 6
Teton 4 SSW Jackson 5.6
Teton Alta 5.5
Teton Colter Bay 5
Teton Jackson 4.5
Teton Jackson 3.5
Teton 2 WSW Jackson 3
Teton Darwin Ranch 1.9
Teton 4 SSW Jackson 1.8
Teton Rafter J Ranch 1.5
Teton 1 ENE Teton Village 1.3
 Washakie  Station Name Snowfall 
Washakie Powder River Pass Snotel 11
Washakie Middle Powder Snotel 4
Washakie 16 SSE Ten Sleep 2.7
Washakie Ten Sleep 2.7
Washakie 5 NNW Ten Sleep 2.7
Washakie Worland 0.5
Washakie 8 SW Worland 0.5
Washakie Winchester 0.2
 Yellowstone Station Name Snowfall 
Yellowstone Two Ocean Plateau Snotel 20
Yellowstone Lewis Lake Divide Snotel 19
Yellowstone Parker Peak Snotel 9
Yellowstone Sylvan Lake Snotel 7
Yellowstone Lamar Ranger Station 7
Yellowstone Thumb Divide Snotel 6
Yellowstone Sylvan Road Snotel 6
Yellowstone Canyon Snotel 4
Yellowstone Old Faithful Ranger Station 2
Yellowstone Tower Falls Ranger Station 1
Yellowstone Snake River Ranger Station 1

Strongest Wind Banner

Wind Map - Click to enlarge
Strongest Winds Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan 28-29)

County Station Name (Elevation) Wind Gust (mph)
Natrona Fales Rock (6380′) 75
Natrona Outer Drive (WYO 258 Wyoming Blvd) 71
Fremont Red Canyon (6768′) 70
Park 8 S Clark (4710′) 69
Fremont 7 SW Muddy Gap (Camp Creek RAWS 7380′) 68
Park Chief Joseph Highway (8136′) 65
Park 5 WNW Clark (4659′) 63
Fremont 10 N Dubois (8085′) 60
Teton Summit – Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (10K) 55
Natrona Casper- Natrona County Int’l Airport ASOS 55
Park Hoyt Peak (9800′) 55
Fremont Beaver Rim (6784′) 55
Johnson 7 SW Barnum (Poker Creek RAWS 6440′) 53
Natrona Hiland (6134′) 52
Johnson 13 NNW Buffalo (4737′) 52
Fremont 10 W Ft. Washakie (9235′) 52
Sweetwater 15 SE Rock Springs (Snow Springs RAWS 7550′) 52
Park Meeteetse 52
Johnson Buffalo-Johnson County Airport ASOS 52
Natrona 19 N Casper (5677′) 51
Park 10 WNW Cody (8401′) 50
Fremont Riverton Regional Airport ASOS  49
Sublette 21 W Big Piney (8200′) 49
Fremont 2 W South Pass City (8185′) 49
Johnson 21 ESE Buffalo (4657′) 48
Sweetwater I-80 Milepost 184 48
Fremont Jeffrey City (6374′) 48
Fremont South Pass (8491′) 47
Natrona 7 W Alcova (6342′) 47
Fremont 1 WNW Dubois (7014′) 47
Sweetwater Rock Springs-Sweetwater Co. Airport ASOS 47
Teton Raymer – Jackson Hole Mountain Resort 46
Sweetwater 5 E Rock Springs (6369′) 46
Park Chief Joseph Highway – Milepost 9 46
Fremont Lander Hunt Field ASOS 46
Fremont 8 W South Pass City (8120′) 46
Washakie S. Bighorn Mountains (6554′) 46
Johnson 2 NW Mayoworth (5404′) 46