As winter tightens its grip on Wyoming, residents brace for frigid temperatures, heavy snowfall, and relentless winds, Casper Star Tribune reports.
To identify the state’s most extreme winter locations, Chris Jones, a veteran meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Riverton, shared insights into Wyoming’s coldest, snowiest, and windiest towns.
The title of Wyoming’s coldest town goes to Bondurant, nestled in the Hoback Basin of Sublette County between Jackson and Pinedale. With an average temperature of just 11.5°F during December, January, and February, Bondurant narrowly misses matching the frigid temperatures of International Falls, Minnesota—the nation’s coldest town.
Close runners-up include:
- Daniel, located west of Pinedale, with an average winter temperature of 12°F.
- Big Piney, averaging 13.3°F, which once claimed the nickname “Icebox of the Nation.”
When it comes to snowfall, Moose, situated north of Jackson, takes the top spot with an impressive 164.3 inches of annual snowfall on average.
Other snowy standouts are:
- Pahaska, near Yellowstone National Park’s east entrance, averaging 153.5 inches annually.
- Bedford, in Star Valley, with 152.2 inches each year.
Within Yellowstone National Park, snowfall averages soar even higher. The South Entrance records an average of 263.3 inches annually, while Old Faithful receives 196.5 inches.
Wyoming’s wind-prone geography earns it a reputation for gusty conditions, and Rawlins leads the pack with an average wind speed of 12.9 mph over a 10-year period.
Trailing closely behind are:
- Cheyenne and Laramie, tied at 12.4 mph.
- Casper, with an average of 12 mph.
For those seeking relief from the wind, Worland, located in the sheltered Big Horn Basin, is the state’s least windy town.
