A large low pressure system tracked from the southern Great Basin across Wyoming bringing heavy snowfall to western and central Wyoming. The slow moving storm pumped abundant moisture north into the state ahead of the main area of low pressure producing heavy snow.
Snowfall of 6 to 12 inches occurred at most lower elevation locations. However, upslope favored locations such as Thermopolis and Lander received 24 to near 30 inches of snow, respectively. The heavy snow wreaked havoc on trees around the cities of Worland, Thermopolis, and Lander. Numerous trees were still in full leaf causing branches to break under the weight of the snow. The falling tree limbs caused power outages lasting up to five hours near Thermopolis. Hundreds of tree limbs fell at Hot Springs State Park prompting officials to request state assistance. Long-time residents of Thermopolis recalled this being the worst tree damage due to snow in recent memory. Snow totals of one to two feet were common in the high country. Higher amounts of two to three feet were found on the east slopes of the Wind River and Absaroka ranges.
Northwest to northeast wind of 15 to 25 mph persisted throughout the region during the 48-hour snowstorm. The strongest winds were observed in Sweetwater County where easterly wind was routinely clocked between 30 and 45 mph on Saturday. A peak gust of 56 mph was recorded at the Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport at 1246MST on October 11. However, a lack of snowfall kept visibilities across Sweetwater County around three-quarters of a mile or better during the storm.
The heavy snow and slick roads caused three separate accidents on state or federal highways on Friday night, October 10. The accidents were responsible for four deaths and four injuries. Two accidents occurred in Park County while another happened in Johnson County.

Winter Storm in GREEN MOUNTAINS & RATTLESNAKE RANGE, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 03:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 07:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in SOUTHWEST BIG HORN BASIN, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 09:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Winter Storm in SOUTHEAST JOHNSON COUNTY, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 07:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 06:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Winter Storm in ROCK SPRINGS & GREEN RIVER, WYOMING
From 11-OCT-08 03:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Winter Storm in WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS WEST, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 21:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Winter Storm in UPPER WIND RIVER BASIN, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 07:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 07:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in LANDER FOOTHILLS, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 05:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 09:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in BIGHORN MOUNTAINS WEST, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 10:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winter Storm in NORTHEAST JOHNSON COUNTY, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 03:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 11:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in OWL CREEK & BRIDGER MOUNTAINS, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 05:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 03:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winter Storm in STAR VALLEY, WYOMING
From 11-OCT-08 01:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Winter Storm in WIND RIVER BASIN, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 05:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 09:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Winter Storm in CODY FOOTHILLS, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 11:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in BIGHORN MOUNTAINS SOUTHEAST, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 10:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winter Storm in TETON & GROS VENTRE MOUNTAINS, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 16:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winter Storm in WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS EAST, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 05:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winter Storm in NORTH BIG HORN BASIN, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 12-OCT-08 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Winter Storm in SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 16:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 11:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CASPER MOUNTAIN, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 09:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 09:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Winter Storm in SOUTHEAST BIG HORN BASIN, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 07:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in SALT RIVER & WYOMING RANGES, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 12:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winter Storm in EAST SWEETWATER COUNTY, WYOMING
From 11-OCT-08 03:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Winter Storm in NATRONA COUNTY LOWER ELEVATIONS, WYOMING
From 11-OCT-08 07:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 09:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Winter Storm in UPPER GREEN RIVER BASIN FOOTHILLS, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 13:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 09:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in ABSAROKA MOUNTAINS, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 11:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winter Storm in UPPER GREEN RIVER BASIN, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 19:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING
From 10-OCT-08 22:00:00 to 12-OCT-08 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public