Campus Alert Archive
Wyoming

October Blizzard at 7,220 Feet: Hail Buries War Memorial Stadium's Field Before Wyoming's UNLV Kickoff

WYsevere stormadvisorymedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

A powerful pre-game hailstorm blanketed War Memorial Stadium) in Laramie, Wyoming, in white before the Wyoming Cowboys' October 4, 2025 home game against UNLV, delaying kickoff and requiring grounds crew to shovel the field before play could begin. Weather.com reported lightning accompanied the hail and a special weather statement was issued warning of hail and winds up to 55 mph; fans were directed to shelter in the concourses, Arena Auditorium, and Indoor Practice Facility.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
University of Wyoming
Public R1 · WY
~12,400 studentsUW Emergency Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTPA System
Approximate reconstruction418 chars
A severe weather statement has been issued for the Laramie area. Hail and lightning have been detected near War Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is being delayed. All fans in the seating bowl must evacuate immediately. Fans on the west side of the stadium should proceed to the Arena Auditorium. Fans on the east side should proceed to the Indoor Practice Facility or concourse areas. Do not remain in the open seating areas.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

War Memorial Stadium sits at an elevation of approximately 7,220 feet in Laramie, Wyoming -- one of the highest-elevation Division I football venues in the country and uniquely susceptible to intense October mountain weather; the NWS special weather statement for the area warned of hail and winds up to 55 mph.
The two designated shelter locations per Mountain West Conference protocol are: Arena Auditorium (west-side patrons) and the Indoor Practice Facility (east-side patrons); concourse areas also serve as shelter.
UPDATEPA System
Approximate reconstruction270 chars
Hail has covered the field and grounds crew are working to clear it. Lightning remains in the area. Continue to shelter in the Arena Auditorium, Indoor Practice Facility, or concourse areas. We will provide an update once the field is playable and lightning has cleared.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Video circulated widely on social media showing War Memorial Stadium's field and stands blanketed in hail -- described by multiple outlets as looking like a winter wonderland or 'October Christmas'; grounds crew used shovels to clear ice from the turf.
The Daily Caller headline called it a 'wild scene' as the hail in the stadium was heavy enough to require manual removal before play could safely resume.
ALL CLEARPA System
Approximate reconstruction172 chars
The field has been cleared and lightning has moved out of the area. Fans may return to their seats. We apologize for the delay. Kickoff will take place shortly. Go Cowboys!

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Mountain West Conference policy mirrors NCAA protocol: any lightning within 8 miles of War Memorial Stadium stops play, and an all-clear requires 30 consecutive minutes without a lightning strike within 8 miles.
Reconstruction; the exact PA wording is not documented in sources; isVerbatimConfirmed false.
Context

Background

War Memorial Stadium) in Laramie, Wyoming, at roughly 7,220 feet above sea level, is one of the highest-altitude major college football venues in the United States and is exposed to the full force of Rocky Mountain weather systems throughout the fall season. On October 4, 2025, a powerful pre-game hailstorm arrived just before kickoff against UNLV, burying the field and stands in what OutKick called a sight to behold. A National Weather Service special weather statement issued for the Laramie area warned of hail and winds up to 55 mph; lightning accompanied the storm. Weather.com documented the scene, showing the green artificial turf completely obscured by white hail and describing the delay to kickoff. Grounds crew were deployed with shovels to physically clear the ice from the playing surface -- an unusual step that drew widespread attention on social media. Per Mountain West Conference lightning policy, any lightning within 8 miles of War Memorial Stadium halts play, with a 30-minute lightning-free window required to resume. Fans were directed to the Arena Auditorium (west side) and Indoor Practice Facility (east side). The game was eventually completed after conditions improved.
Analysis

Key Findings

War Memorial Stadium at approximately 7,220 feet elevation is among the highest Division I football venues in the country and faces unique high-altitude weather risks
Hail covered the entire playing field, requiring grounds crew with shovels to physically clear the turf before play could begin -- an extreme and unusual weather-management step
Video of the hail-covered stadium spread widely on social media, briefly making Wyoming's weather situation a nationally recognized spectacle
Designated shelter: Arena Auditorium (west) and Indoor Practice Facility (east), per Mountain West and UW protocols
Outcome
Kickoff delayed; grounds crew shoveled ice from the field before play could begin. Game was eventually completed.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Hail Blankets University Of Wyoming's Field - Weather.com
    weather.com
  2. News
    Wyoming's Football Stadium Completely Conquered By Hail And Lightning In Wild Scene - The Daily Caller
    dailycaller.com
  3. News
    Wyoming's Football Field Covered In Hail For UNLV Matchup Is A Sight To Behold - OutKick
    outkick.com
  4. Official
    2025 Football Gameday Information - University of Wyoming Athletics
    gowyo.com
Tags
severe-stormlightninghailweather-delaystadiumwyomingwar-memorial-stadiumlaramiegame-dayfootballmountain-west
Added June 2026Updated June 2026Via ingestion