Alert archive / Nebraska / High Wind Watches in 2020

High Wind Watch 1, NWS Cheyenne, WY

January 2, 20206 counties in Wyoming; 7 counties in Nebraska

NWS Cheyenne, WY issued this high wind watch at Jan 2, 2020, 3:52 AM MST for 6 counties in Wyoming; 7 counties in Nebraska. It took effect at Jan 3, 2020, 5:00 AM MST. It was in force for 22 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Jan 2, 2020, 3:52 AM MST (10:52 UTC)
In effect from: Jan 3, 2020, 5:00 AM MST
Expired: Jan 4, 2020, 2:30 AM MST
In force: 22 hr
Issued by: NWS Cheyenne, WY

Counties Banner County, NE, Box Butte County, NE, Cheyenne County, NE, Kimball County, NE, Morrill County, NE, Scotts Bluff County, NE, Sioux County, NE, Albany County, WY, Carbon County, WY, Converse County, WY, Goshen County, WY, Laramie County, WY, Platte County, WY

The radar

The Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 88 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:51 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this high wind watch went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Cheyenne, WY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this high wind watch went out at Jan 1, 10:38 PM MST, 5 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 1, 10:38 PM MST, 5 hours 14 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
1038 PM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday night)
Issued at 245 PM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

Forecast challenges deal with strong winds today and again Friday.
Heavy mountain snow and wintry conditions out west also a
challenge through Thursday.

Currently...Leeside trough remains over the eastern plains of
southeast WYoming this afternoon with a very tight surface
gradient to the west of this trough. Winds have remained strong
over the Laramie Range and points west. Current Craig to Casper
850/700mb height gradients have peaked this morning and are slowly
easing. Forecast for 73/59mtrs respectively by 21Z this afternoon.

For today...Kept the High Wind Warnings going through the evening
hours this evening as Craig to Casper stay above 60mtrs until 06Z
this evening. Went ahead and extended the High Wind Warnings to
06Z tonight Vs the 03Z end time previous.

Concern continues for WY 109 and 110 (Rawlins and Arlington). Snow
has seemed to scatter out for a time this afternoon for now.
Looking at IR imagery though...another upper shortwave is
approaching from the west. NAM...GFS and SREF guidance showing
widespread precip blossoming again later this afternoon towards
00Z. Since we have already hit blizzard conditions in these two
zones this morning and with the chance of seeing more snow and
strong winds this afternoon and evening...decided to keep the
Blizzard Warnings going for now and see what happens with this
next round of snow. It has been impactful as WYDOT has Interstate
80 closed west of Laramie to Rawlins.

As for the Snowy and Sierra Madre Ranges...SNOTELS are already
indicating warning levels have been met with some impressive This
snow is persistent into Thursday and Thursday night. Decided to
extend the Winter Storm Warnings another 12 hours to try to cover
the entire snow event.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday through Wednesday)
Issued at 245 PM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

Still looks like periods of strong winds will be the primary
event that will affect the CWA from time to time this period,
especially through Monday. Not a lot of pcpn seen with the best
chance being with a shortwave that will pass across late Sunday
into Monday. Temperatures generally close to seasonal averages
through the period.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Thursday night)
Issued at 1036 PM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

Strong winds have decreased at area terminals this evening with
the exception being KRWL still gusting near 30 kts. BLSN and
scattered snow showers could impact KRWL and KLAR into Thursday
morning. Latest HRRR and NAM NEST model runs depict light snow
west of the Laramie Range through 11z, though coverage is quite
limited. MVFR conditions could briefly return to KRWL with any
snow showers, but confidence is not high enough to include in the
latest TAFs. Lowered ceilings associated with a shortwave passing
to the north can be expected Thursday midday for NE Panhandle
terminals with KCDR the most likely to see restricting conditions
if at all.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 245 PM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

Strong winds event ongoing this afternoon will continue to ease
through the afternoon into the evening hours. Fairly nice weather
Thursday as we transition between low pressure systems. Expect
much lighter winds and dry weather outside the Snowy and Sierra
Madre Ranges. Winds begin to increase again Friday late afternoon
which will persist and expand in coverage Saturday as a low
pressure system tracks across northern Wyoming and southern
Montana. Widespread strong winds for most areas expected over the
weekend. These strong winds expected to stay with us through next
week with potential for high wind headlines each day.

&&

.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...Winter Storm Warning until 5 AM MST Friday for WYZ112-114.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 11 PM MST this evening for
     WYZ109>111-113.

NE...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...GCC
LONG TERM...RE
AVIATION...MB
FIRE WEATHER...GCC

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 1, 11:48 PM MST, 4 hours 4 minutes before

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The office that day

Everything else NWS Cheyenne, WY issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jan 2, 1:46 PM MST	Blizzard Warning	CYS	Albany, Carbon	30 hr
Jan 2, 2:01 PM MST	High Wind Warning	CYS	Albany, Carbon, Converse, Goshen, Laramie, Platte	60 hr

Nearby

High Wind Watches in Nebraska, 2020 High Wind Watches in Wyoming, 2020 Every high wind watch in 2020

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.