Winter Weather Update

Announcement Number: CN2023-12
Categories: General Announcements
Posted Date: February 27, 2023

To Our Customers,

An early March storm system will generate heavy snow, blizzard conditions, sub-zero temperatures, significant ice and freezing rain stretching from the Pacific Northwest to northern Utah and down through southern portions of California. Separate storm systems will impact Minnesota and Wisconsin — along with severe thunderstorms in the southern portion of our network.

Following is an operations update by region:

  • Pacific Northwest and Utah – Expect a general 1-3 inches of snowfall at the lower elevation cities, including Seattle and Portland, with the snow falling on the mornings of Monday and Tuesday. Heavy snow of 1-2 feet will fall across higher elevations of northern Utah.
  • Wyoming – Snowfall has tapered off, but high winds continue to create snow drifts. Interstate 80 remains closed between Laramie and Rawlins. Trains are moving through the area but delays for positioning crews and clearing snow drifts should be expected.
  • Minnesota & Wisconsin – Freezing rain will continue this morning across east-central Minnesota through central Wisconsin. The greatest ice impact will occur across portions of central Wisconsin. Freezing rain will diminish early Tuesday morning, with snow diminishing from west to east Tuesday night.
  • California & Nevada – Heavy snow of 1-3 feet will fall across the Oregon Cascades and regions in northern California above 2,000 feet, as well as throughout the Sierra Nevada and western foothills. Snow will diminish across the Cascades late Tuesday night, across northern California Wednesday morning and across the Sierra Nevada and much of Nevada by Wednesday evening.
  • Texas, Louisiana & Arkansas – Scattered severe thunderstorms will develop Thursday afternoon across east Texas and Oklahoma, spreading into Arkansas and Louisiana Thursday evening and western Mississippi overnight. The strongest storms may produce isolated tornadoes, wind gusts up to 65 mph and local flash flooding. Storms will weaken early Friday morning.

We will continue to mitigate impacts to our operations over the coming days and adhere to our winter action protocols to respond quickly and safely to any service disruptions. Customers with shipments moving through the impacted states should anticipate delays between 24 to 48 hours. For customers with rail-served facilities located in the affected area, please continue to clear all walkways and switches of snow and ice prior to the crew arriving. To get more winter weather preparedness tips, visit Winter Weather Action Plan for Rail Shippers.

If you have any questions, please contact Customer Care & Support at 800-272-8777 or your Union Pacific representative.