4 inches blankets Wheatland

Storm not as severe as initially predicted

By Andrew Brosig
Posted 2/21/18

GOSHEN COUNTY – It appears Eastern Wyoming has yet again weathered the storm.

Initial reports from the National Weather Service earlier this week predicted a major winter storm moving into the area from the west Sunday night and through Monday. With a few exceptions, however, the majority of the storm and potentially-heavy snowfall expected early didn’t materialize to the levels first predicted.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

4 inches blankets Wheatland

Storm not as severe as initially predicted

Posted

GOSHEN COUNTY – It appears Eastern Wyoming has yet again weathered the storm.
Initial reports from the National Weather Service earlier this week predicted a major winter storm moving into the area from the west Sunday night and through Monday. With a few exceptions, however, the majority of the storm and potentially-heavy snowfall expected early didn’t materialize to the levels first predicted.
According to automated observations from the Torrington Airport, the immediate area received only 1.5 to 2 inches of snow from the recent storm, said Brian Chapman, meteorological technician for the National Weather Service in Cheyenne.

“Most of the storm appears to have been to the north and the west of us, up towards the mountains,” Chapman said Tuesday. “It kind of skirted around our immediate area.”
As of Tuesday morning, reports ranged from about 4 inches in the Wheatland area to as much as 14 inches of the white stuff in an area a few miles north of Glenrock in Converse County. Other reports include 10.5 inches in the Lusk area, 8 inches around Chadron, Neb., 6 inches in Glenrock and other areas of Converse County, and in excess of 8.5 inches in the Douglas area.
The storm moved into the region from the west, and the primary low-pressure area has since moved out to the south and east, Chapman said. Forecast maps Tuesday showed the storm headed into the Midwest, extending along a line from the Great Lakes region to eastern Texas.
For the rest of the week, Chapman expects conditions to improve, with partly sunny skies and warming temperatures forecast through Saturday. The low this morning (Wednesday) is expected in the single-digits below zero, with lows forecast to creep above the zero-degree mark for the rest of the week.
Highs through Saturday are expected in the 30s, with partly cloudy skies anticipated, he said.
“But we will have periods of sunshine, so we should see some melting going on,” Chapman said. “And the winds should be gentle, so that’s something.”