It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – at least in parts of the north-central United States. Almost two weeks before summer officially ends, a September snowstorm hit parts of Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, and Nebraska on Thursday, setting early snowfall records in several areas.
The snowfall measured less than an inch in some areas to 18 inches in the Bighorn Mountains of northern Wyoming. The storm downed branches and trees and caused power outages in several areas, according to The Weather Channel .
While snow this early is rare, it didn’t seem to faze the locals, who are used to wild swings in the weather in the northern Rockies states. Deann Myer of Buffalo, Wyoming told ABC News , “I don’t mind; it is what it is. It’s going to be 80 next week. That’s what the weather says. Of course, that could change.”
A National Weather Service meteorologist said of the early snow, “It was pretty potent for this time of year.”
The north-central U.S. snow comes on the heels of a snow storm that blanketed Alberta, Canada starting on Wednesday, also causing power outages and downing trees.
One Calgary resident kept a sense of humor about the being trapped at home, posting this tweet showing “grumpy snowmen” in his yard.
September snow + bored = grumpy snowman army in my front yard. #yyc #abstorm #weather pic.twitter.com/YSNgL37lUu
— Jo Majko (@jpmwd) September 10, 2014
While other social media users in both Canada and the U.S. shared pictures of the beautiful scenery outside their windows:
Picture: #Canada : RT @clahanna : Pretty hard to complain about the Calgary #snow when you wake up to this view! pic.twitter.com/szX3navFsS — Johnny Kelly (@stormchaser4850) September 11, 2014
Rapid City SD – at my other motherinlaw’s house. Wow #snow @spann pic.twitter.com/9dKOaD5E6o
— Diana Shaw Knight (@DianaSK1208) September 12, 2014
And this tourist had a bit of a surprise on her vacation:
On Day 1 of our #southdakota vacation, it was 84º. Today, there is snow! pic.twitter.com/WxS2s7NQTQ
— Susie Rantz (@SusieRants) September 11, 2014
This video shows the snowfall near Buffalo, Wyoming, which received 7-8 inches of snow on the morning of September 11.
USA Today reported yesterday that the snowfall was caused by a southern dip in the jet stream this week, bringing cooler temperatures to much of the north and mid-west, as well as heavy rain to parts of the mid-west. A slow moving cold front is also causing strong storms with torrential rains across parts of the southeast.
A recent Inquisitr article reported that the 2014 Farmers’ Almanac has already predicted a repeat of last year’s extreme weather. Do you think the early snowfall is a portent of things to come this winter?
Photo from Rapid City, SD – courtesy of Chicago Weather Center
