Arctic cold front moves in to the Basin

WORLAND - Snow and cold hit the Big Horn Basin over the weekend with Arctic temperatures hitting this week.

The National Weather Service reported a three-day total (Friday through Sunday) of two inches to more than a foot of snow fell in spots around the Big Horn Basin.

Meteorologist Chris Jones of the NWS Riverton office reported that in Washakie County, Winchester saw about 3.5 inches, southwest of Worland reported two to four inches, Ten Sleep reported 7 to 10 inches and Big Trails five inches.

He said there was two to four inches reported around Hot Springs County.

Big Horn County saw about nine inches including 8.8 inches in Lovell.

Park County saw three to five inches in Cody with six to eight inches on the west end of the city. Ralston and Powell saw about seven inches of snowfall. There was close to a foot reported near Wapiti, 16 inches at Pahaska and a foot of snow at the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

"The moisture streamed across the northern part of Big Horn Basin for a prolonged period of time, which is why it was not uncommon to see double the amount of snow fall five to 10 miles apart.

The statewide snowpack/snow water equivalent (SWE) averages increased to 89% of median during the past week, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Survey.

Wyoming NRCS hydrologist Jim Fahey said the snowpack is still below average for this time of year.

"There were 15% to 20% gains in snowpack/SWE across basins in northwest to north central Wyoming during the past week," Fahey said.

All mountains across Wyoming will have decent chances for snow - especially during the middle of the week and lasting through next weekend, he said.

The Wind River drainage basin increased from 69% of average last week to 78% of average as of Monday, Feb. 8. The Bighorn river drainage basin increased from 79% of average to 99% of average. The Shoshone river drainage basin increased 13 percentage points from 87% to 100% of average. The Powder river drainage basin increased 18 percentage points from 78% to 96% in the past week.

The Tongue river drainage basin was the only basin to measure above average in SWE, increasing from 90% of average to 102% of average.

TEMPERATURES

Jones said the Artic cold front hitting the area this week will bring its coldest air near the weekend. He said it is a different pattern and not one they see often. "It is difficult to predict how cold it will get," Jones said.

As of Monday the forecast had a high of 3 degrees today with a low of 17 below, a high of 1 below zero for Friday and a low of 18 below zero. Saturday was forecast with a high of 4 and low of minus 14.

He said there will be some retreat in the subzero temperatures but the Basin can expect to see below normal temperatures through next week.