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Back-to-Back Pacific Storms to Impact the West Coast; Heavy Snow in the Central Appalachians

Back-to-back powerful Pacific storm systems to impact the Pacific Northwest and northern California through the end of this week with heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and higher elevation mountain snow. A strong, long-duration atmospheric river will accompany the Pacific storms, bringing excessive rainfall and flash flooding to southwest Oregon and northwest California through the week. Read More >

  Overview

A winter storm impacted portions of the Cowboy State for the final two days of 2018.  The winter storm began to impact western Wyoming Saturday evening, December 29th. Periods of heavy snow occurred late Saturday night and Sunday across far western Wyoming. As the winter storm was coming to an end across far western Wyoming late Sunday afternoon, it was just beginning across northern and central Wyoming. An Arctic cold front swept southward late Sunday afternoon and evening. In wake of this strong cold front, a combination of snow, strong northerly winds, and plunging temperatures were observed east of the Continental Divide. The combination of snow and strong wind caused considerable blowing and drifting of snow with whiteout conditions observed in rural areas. Several highways across central and northern Wyoming were closed Sunday night, and some did not open until early Monday afternoon, December 31st.  

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Storm Total Snowfall Map - Click to Enlarge
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Star Valley on December 30th Large snow drifts near Buffalo Monday morning Snapshot of Wyoming road closures
(red shading) as of 6 AM Monday
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