Blizzard December 2006 - Details Inside
The charts below contain storm total snowfall across southeast Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle. Most reports are estimated due to the strong winds. Many areas are reporting 5 to 6 foot drifts.
Storm Summary -
A classic winter storm affected the southeast Wyoming plains and the western Nebraska panhandle on Wednesday December 20. Blizzard conditions were predicted and realized during this time...with widespread 1/4 visibilities or less in heavy snow and blowing snow. Wind speeds were between 30 mph and 40 mph with gusts over 50 mph. The snow finally subsided shortly after sunrise on Thursday DEC 21. About 13 inches of snow had fallen at WFO Cheyenne, 8 to 18 inches across the southern Nebraska panhandle, and 8 to 17 inches across southeast Wyoming. Significant drifting to over 5 feet throughout the blizzard warning area made conditions worse. Several major highways were closed during this event. At 1130 on DEC 20 Interstate 80 was closed from Cheyenne to the eastern extent of CYS’s forecast area. At 1700 that day Interstate 25 was closed through Laramie County. Also at that time, U.S. Highways 287 and 85 were closed through Laramie County.
December 20th, 2006 became the snowiest December Day since 1915 in Cheyenne and the ninth snowiest day on record.
Snowiest Cheyenne Day
Nebraska Storm Totals
Wyoming Storm Totals
View north of the National Weather Service Forecast Office on Wednesday -
View east of the National Weather Service Forecast Office on Wednesday -
View west of the National Weather Service Forecast Office on Wednesday -
Winchester Hills - South of Cheyenne (Photos Courtesy of Ben Jacquot) (Times are before snow, 11A, 2P, and 3P, respectively)
View East of the National Weather Service Forecast Office on Thursday -
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Storm Summary -
A classic winter storm affected the southeast Wyoming plains and the western Nebraska panhandle on Wednesday December 20. Blizzard conditions were predicted and realized during this time...with widespread 1/4 visibilities or less in heavy snow and blowing snow. Wind speeds were between 30 mph and 40 mph with gusts over 50 mph. The snow finally subsided shortly after sunrise on Thursday DEC 21. About 13 inches of snow had fallen at WFO Cheyenne, 8 to 18 inches across the southern Nebraska panhandle, and 8 to 17 inches across southeast Wyoming. Significant drifting to over 5 feet throughout the blizzard warning area made conditions worse. Several major highways were closed during this event. At 1130 on DEC 20 Interstate 80 was closed from Cheyenne to the eastern extent of CYS’s forecast area. At 1700 that day Interstate 25 was closed through Laramie County. Also at that time, U.S. Highways 287 and 85 were closed through Laramie County.
December 20th, 2006 became the snowiest December Day since 1915 in Cheyenne and the ninth snowiest day on record.
Snowiest Cheyenne Day
| 19.8 | 11/20/1979 |
| 17.3 | 04/20/1984 |
| 15.9 | 03/18/2003 |
| 14.0 | 05/02/1942, 01/24/1921 |
| 13.9 | 02/19/1953 |
| 12.7 | 01/07/1992, 04/13/1967 |
| 12.5 | 12/20/2006 |
| 12.0 | 01/25/1980 |
Nebraska Storm Totals
| Bridgeport 18 WSW | 17.5 |
| Bushnell 15 S | 16.2 |
| Morrill 5.7 SSW | 16.0 |
| Lodgepole | 13.0 |
| Harrisburg 12 WNW | 13.0 |
| Bayard 5.4 ESE | 10.3 |
| Scottsbluff 1 E |
10.0 |
| Broadwater 3 WNW | 10.0 |
| Alliance 7.4 NW | 8.0 |
| Hemingford | 7.5 |
| Mitchell 2.3 WNW | 6.1 |
| Bayard 13.5 NNE | 4.9 |
| Scottsbluff Airport |
4.4 |
| Harrison | T |
| Chadron 3 SW | T |
Wyoming Storm Totals
| Chugwater | 17.0 |
| WFO Cheyenne | 13.6 |
| Cheyenne 8.9 N | 12.0 |
| Cheyenne 5.3 NE | 11.5 |
| Warren AFB 20.6 WSW | 11.0 |
| Cheyenne 4.8 ENE | 10.5 |
| Burns 6.5 WNW | 10.0 |
| LaGrange 4.4 ESE | 9.4 |
| Warren 11.7 W | 8.0 |
| Rock River 9.6 WSW | 6.8 |
| Lost Springs 11.9 NW | 4.6 |
| Douglas 1 SE | 4.0 |
| Glendo 6 NE | 3.0 |
| Guernsey 3.1 SSE | 2.0 |
| Manville 13 SSW | 1.5 |
| Old Fort Laramie | 1.0 |
| Torrington | 0.7 |
| Lusk 25 NE | T |
View north of the National Weather Service Forecast Office on Wednesday -
View east of the National Weather Service Forecast Office on Wednesday -
View west of the National Weather Service Forecast Office on Wednesday -
Winchester Hills - South of Cheyenne (Photos Courtesy of Ben Jacquot) (Times are before snow, 11A, 2P, and 3P, respectively)
View East of the National Weather Service Forecast Office on Thursday -
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