AccuWeather
“Historic” snowstorm to hit Wyoming, Colorado
There are only a few days left in winter, but that will not stop Mother Nature from interrupting all stops in the last stretch of the season in the central and southern Rocky Mountains. A developing storm that AccuWeather meteorologists have been monitoring since last week will hit parts of Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska this weekend with a potentially historic snowfall that could paralyze travel. AccuWeather meteorologists say Cheyenne, Wyoming, will be at the center of the storm’s target and could potentially catch the largest snowstorm recorded in the city’s history. Denver may not set a new snowstorm record, but Mile High City is still expected to be buried under heavy snowfalls – and the hardest hit areas can be left digging from the snow to the waist with an expected 60-inch AccuWeather Local StormMax ™ . Winter storm warnings were spread across southeastern Wyoming and northern Colorado, and winter storm clocks extended further east, southwestern South Dakota and western Nebraska, on Friday. An avalanche alert was also posted in Colorado’s Front Range mountains. The winter blast could be even more shocking because it is closely following the spring weather in places like Denver, where temperatures were on average almost 20 degrees above normal earlier this week. Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced on Thursday that he had activated the Colorado National Guard to respond to search and rescue requests through the state’s Emergency Operations Center from 12pm Friday to 12pm Monday. . “I recommend that you stay home if it snows heavily in your area, so you don’t need them to save you,” said Polis. Colorado State Patrol said drivers should stay off the road amid what a police officer called “Snowmaggedon” or “Snowpocalypse” in a video recorded and sent on Twitter. He went on to explain, “It’s so much better this way,” and joked, “Do you know what’s better than driving in the snow? Literally anything.” The Cheyenne, Wyoming area, located in the southeast of the state, as far as Fort Collins and Boulder, located west of Denver, is experiencing the heaviest total blizzards, from 24 to 36 inches. Cheyenne could easily eclipse her old record for the strongest snowstorm in history, which is 25.6 inches between November 19 and 21, 1979. The National Weather Service’s office in Cheyenne, Wyoming, noted in a tweet that the snowstorm will be “VERY impactful” and “possibly historic” and later tweeted a warning about the intense cold that will set in on Sunday morning, which will be even more extreme with the wind considered. It may look like a digit as the snow continues to accumulate early Sunday. The NWS added, “Be sure to protect your newborn cattle!” Denver is still in line for a massive storm, but the totals will come below the most westerly locations with a 12 to 24 inch forecast, with 12-18 more likely than 18-24 inches at this point. This would not define Mile High City for a snowstorm in the top five, but it could put a snowstorm in the top ten in the race. Since meteorological records began in Denver in 1881, nine snowstorms have triggered more than 20 inches of snow – and three of those major storms have fallen more than 30 inches. “We’ve seen a slight shift north with the upper part of the storm in the atmosphere in the Four Corners region of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, and this is usually a sign that the heaviest snow could end just north of Denver , “Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. There are other factors that can prevent a 60 cm snowfall in Denver and other parts of eastern Colorado in general. “There will likely be some winter mix or even rain for a while during the first stage of the storm, and then dry air can sweep quickly towards the middle of the storm and can break heavy snow in Denver,” AccuWeather Senior meteorologist Mike Doll said. Further north, this is projected to be a major storm for Casper, Wyoming, with 1-2 feet projected. And as the system heads east across the Nebraska border, one of the top five blizzards may be forming for Scottsbluff. The fifth largest snowstorm ever recorded for the city of western Nebraska was 17.8 inches from October 27 to 29, 2009. AccuWeather is projecting 30 to 60 centimeters of snow to fall there. AccuWeather meteorologists expect snow to fall at rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour at the height of the storm in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado from Saturday to Sunday, with the potential to immobilize travel. Thunder and lightning can occur in the most intense snow ranges. Visibility will be dangerously reduced and parts of I-25, I-70, I-76 and I-80 can be turned off as a result. The snow will also be heavy and moist in nature, causing tree branches and power lines to fall under the weight of the snow. Power failures are likely to occur. Heavy snow can not only be difficult to shovel and plow, but can force flat or shallow roofs to the point of damage and breakage. “A blizzard of this intensity will not only lead to blackout conditions, but can leave drivers stuck on the roads and force the closure of major highways,” said Rayno. The storm is shaping up to be the biggest of the winter season in the western United States and, while impacting, can be beneficial in one respect: increasing levels of snow in the mountains and rain at lower elevations as the ground conditions they range from abnormally dry to exceptional drought in Colorado and much of the west, according to the latest report from the United States Drought Monitor. Blizzard conditions are possible in Wyoming and perhaps in parts of western Nebraska and southwestern South Dakota, as the storm peaks in intensity. Gusts can reach 30 mph when the snowstorm starts on Saturday, then increases to 40 mph on Saturday night and up to 50 mph on Sunday. Even though winds may fall short of official blizzard criteria in much of Colorado, a mere breeze can cause some blown snow, trees sway under the weight of the snow and cause power outages. A blizzard is a winter storm that produces visibility below 1/4 mile in snow or blown snow with constant winds or gusts of 35 mph or more for three consecutive hours or more. As the storm subsides on Sunday and Sunday night, northwest winds are expected to increase and could lead to more widespread blowing and snowfall in Colorado. Due to the risk of a power outage due to the storm, people should locate flashlights and batteries and make sure that the generators are running and powered before the storm. It is also a good time to review operating procedures for generators, such as avoiding indoor use, including in a garage or basement. The amount of snow will decrease further south in eastern Colorado, with Colorado Springs forecasting 6-12 inches and Pueblo likely in the 1 to 3 inch snow range. Any change in this lane can cause the heaviest snow to move further south or north. As a result, people in southern Colorado and western Kansas, as well as northern Wyoming and western South Dakota, must monitor the storm’s progress. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FREE ACUWEATHER APPLICATION In parts of northwest Kansas, central and northeast Nebraska and southern South Dakota, temperatures within a few degrees of the freeze mark can allow rain or a winter mix to occur during the height of the storm. If this mixture is limited or the temperature drops a little, very heavy snow can fall in those places too. On its warmer, southern and eastern side, the climate system is forecast to unleash severe storms on the plains and in the Mississippi Valley this weekend and perhaps in part of the Tennessee and Ohio valleys early next week. The snow will spread further to the northeast over the plains and upper Midwest at the end of this weekend until the beginning of next week as well and may even bring a winter mix to parts of the Northeast states next week. Continue to access AccuWeather.com and stay connected to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo and Verizon Fios.