Extremely low temperatures hit Hot Springs County

Due to extremely low temperatures last week, ice jams formed in the Bighorn River in Hot Springs State Park and other areas in the county.

According to information originally put out by the National Weather Service Riverton office, the lowest recorded temperature in Thermopolis was -36 degrees over the two day period of Dec. 21-22. However, Hot Springs County Emergency Management Coordinator,

Bill Gordon, said it was later updated to -48, observed in the Lucerne area.

With the gradual warm up earlier this week, hopefully the river channel can begin to clear and ice can make a slow retreat.

Gordon reported key responders were ready for the river ice. Residents handled the cold weather and the ice jams well and there were no reported incidents resulting from either.

The in town ice jams on the Bighorn River will continue to be monitored and WYDOT is monitoring the ice jam at the Black Mountain Road Bridge.