CHEYENNE, Wyo. — While the constant high winds and snow Laramie County residents experienced these past few days did not break any county weather records, the combination was unusual, says a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Cheyenne.
“Having the cold, plus the snow, plus the long-duration wind has made this a very unique event for the county,” said Mike Napoli, meteorologist for the NWS in Cheyenne.
Local schools, roads and businesses closed early this week after the NWS in Cheyenne warned residents about several days of blowing snow and winds brought in from snowstorms in eastern and western Wyoming.
The county experienced winds as high as 45 mph, and residents in eastern cities, including Hillsdale and Pine Bluffs, saw as much as 8–10 inches of snow. While Napoli said these numbers are usual for wintertime, it is rare that the winds are persistent and colder instead of slower and warmer.
“I think the remarkable thing about this wind is its persistence,” Napoli said. “Having gusts of 50 mph in December really isn’t unusual, but the winds are relentless day and night and it’s rare to see the winds continue like this, especially during and after a fairly significant snowstorm.”
For more information, visit the NWS in Cheyenne.
