Wyoming Hasn’t Seen Snow Like This Since 1886
Campbell County Wyoming, ranchers put up with 15 days of sub zero temperatures. Brutal for them, but they are strong enough to take it, as they have been for generations.
The winter of 1886–1887 was extreme and just as harsh for most of the United States. The Western United States and its cattle industry was hardest hit. Areas along the front and northern ranges were hardest hit.
The snow began in early November, and were reported as some of the worst in memory. The cold killed humans and animals alike. There are reports of people getting lost near their houses and froze to death very near their front doors. 3.7 inches in downtown San Francisco setting an all-time record on February 5, 1887.
Some livestock was not discovered until the spring thaw. What cattle remained were in poor health, emaciated and suffering from frostbite.
We know that Earth's temperatures changes in long term cycles. From this time of cold came warming, mild winters, back to cold and snowy during the 1940's. Them warm again in the 1960's. During the 1970's there was the concern that we might be heading for another ice age. back to warming again in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Are we in another cooling trend? Climate scientist think so.