Wyoming’s underappreciated snow fences, and the physics explaining their remarkable effectiveness

Ron Tabler

Tabler & Associates

Consultants in Snow and Wind Engineering

Niwot, Colorado

Ron’s unique collection of photographs and data provides irrefutable evidence of the effectiveness of properly designed snow fence systems in preventing snowdrifts and improving safety on Wyoming’s highways. The fading memory of government institutions arising from attrition of experienced personnel, and the failure to document the importance of seemingly mundane practices such as snow fencing, pose a real threat to the future safety of the traveling public.

Dr. Tabler’s research on blowing and drifting snow, spanning more than 40 years, explains why snow fences can be so effective in improving visibility and road surface conditions.