The Calm After the Storm: Sun, Snow, and -30 Degrees in Laramie, Wyoming

Know that feeling when you wake up in the morning after a snow storm and can’t wait to open your window and see how many inches of powder are covering your neighborhood?  Today was one of those days for Wyomingites across the state hoping for a rare and elusive Rocky Mountain snow day. Wyoming may get a lot of snow, but it’s very rare for schools and businesses to actually close.  We got over a foot of snow in Laramie, Wyoming in about 24 hours and the Snowy Range mountains just to the West got about three feet making it a true skiers dream powder day.  After the storm, the skies cleared and left us cold arctic air, clear sunny blue skies, snow packed streets, and sub zero temperatures all day with a low of only -30 degrees F tonight with wind chills in the -50 degrees F range.

Driving down to the studio in historic downtown Laramie was no problem for in the Jeep with 4 wheel drive, however we did have to to push a few cars out of their parking spaces who had gotten stuck in the deep snow that was inescapable.  There was even a cross country skier who was cruising around the snow filled streets this morning making the most of the fresh powder.

The sun was shining on the icicles on the house all day but nothing seemed to melt even a drop.  When it’s this cold out after a big snow there is a kind of peaceful silence that washes over.  It’s the kind of cold that makes the snow crunch and your nose freeze shut if your breathe in too fast.

When cold bluebird days like these come it’s good to take a moment to be thankful for the harsh beauty of winters in Wyoming that make the summertime all that much sweeter.  Plus, any day that the wind isn’t blowing is a good day to spend outside in Wyoming!