Seasonal Temperatures Ahead of Snow Showers/Cold Front Wednesday

Published: Dec. 18, 2022 at 8:16 PM CST
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Southeast Wyoming welcomed warmth in the Cheyenne region as temperatures rose above 40F Sunday. That is due to a frontal boundary that has stalled over Wyoming from the northwest to southeast part of the state. There is a tight pressure gradient east of the quasi-stationary boundary that will produce breezy winds in eastern Wyoming. A couple High Wind Warnings have been issued today west of Cheyenne along I-80. They expire by Monday at 5:00pm. A Winter Storm Watch is issued along the west Wyoming border where snow showers will start Monday and expire by Wednesday at 11:00pm. A Wind Chill Watch that started in northeast Wyoming has now expanded to the eastern third of Wyoming that spans from Wednesday to Friday. Low temperatures combined with the wind are going to harsh from Wednesday to Friday. Winds are going to be breezy this week. Its not so bad until you add the cold air and snow inbound Wednesday to create blowing snow conditions and a much colder feel to outside temperatures. Breezy winds will start Monday morning from Buffalo to Elk Mountain reaching 30 mph. By the afternoon the wind swept region will have migrated southeast to Laramie and Cheyenne with 30 to 40 mph winds. Tuesday morning winds from Rock Springs to Laramie will near 40 mph.

Two Wind Warnings west of Cheyenne are valid until Monday at 5:00pm. A Winter Storm Watch along...
Two Wind Warnings west of Cheyenne are valid until Monday at 5:00pm. A Winter Storm Watch along the west border lasts until Wednesday at 11:00pm. A Wind Chill Watch has expanded its coverage to much of east Wyoming as the Central Plains will get very cold and windy.(Ryan Shollenberger)
Southeast Wyoming will have most of the higher winds in the beginning of the week.
Southeast Wyoming will have most of the higher winds in the beginning of the week.(Ryan Shollenberger)

A lack of initial moisture associated with this front will start to see some cloud building Monday afternoon along the western border over Jackson Hole. A few snow showers will grow and become more widespread into Monday night and Tuesday. Snow over the Medicine Bow Mountains will also begin to develop Tuesday morning. These regions will collect the most snow after the next cold front moves across Wyoming Wednesday adding to other parts of the state. For now, over 10 inches of snow in Jackson and half a foot in Medicine Bow are the highest estimates. Other parts are preliminary forecasting 1 to 3 inches for most of Wyoming.

The northwest and Medicine Bow will have the most snowfall with the midweek cold front.
The northwest and Medicine Bow will have the most snowfall with the midweek cold front.(Ryan Shollenberger)

High temperatures will drop some from Sunday to Monday but remain constant into Tuesday with no major fluctuations in air masses. Wednesday temperatures will start to decrease from the northwest as a cold front brings in cold moisture from the Pacific and Canada. Temperatures plummet by Thursday morning and wind chill will be a concern for east Wyoming and the Central Plains states.

The week starts off near seasonal averages before snow and cold arrive Wednesday.
The week starts off near seasonal averages before snow and cold arrive Wednesday.(Ryan Shollenberger)