Strong winds in the upper levels of the atmosphere and a tight surface pressure gradient generated gusty westerly winds over south central and southeast Wyoming.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS CYS wrote it up.
Strong winds in the upper levels of the atmosphere and a tight surface pressure gradient generated gusty westerly winds over south central and southeast Wyoming.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Mar 22, 9:09 AM MST, 12 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
1009 AM MDT TUE MAR 22 2011
.UPDATE...GRIDDED FORECASTS UPDATED FOR TODAY FOR MINOR ADJUSTMENTS
TO DEWPOINTS...CLOUD COVER AND PRECIPITATION COVERAGE BASED ON
TRENDS AND 12Z NAM AND GFS MODEL OUTPUT. RUBIN
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 345 AM MDT TUE MAR 22 2011/
SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...CURRENT WATER VAPOR
LOOP SHOWS A PACIFIC UPPER LEVEL TROUGH PUSHING NORTHEAST ACROSS
THE STATE OF WYOMING WITH A COLD FRONT ALOFT PUSHING ACROSS
SOUTHEAST WYOMING AND WESTERN NEBRASKA. AS A RESULT...WINDS HAVE
SHIFTED INTO THE WEST AND NORTHWEST WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH
ALREADY REPORTED AT SEVERAL SITES INCLUDING KCYS. FOG/MOIST
STRATUS LAYER IS STARTING TO MIX WITH THE DRIER AIR ALOFT ACROSS
WESTERN NEBRASKA AS THE WINDS HAVE RECENTLY SHIFTED INTO THE
NORTHWEST AT SIDNEY...CHADRON...AND KIMBALL. THE HIGH WIND
HEADLINES FOR TODAY LOOK GOOD SO KEPT EVERYTHING AS IS...BUT MAY
NEED TO ADD THE EXTREME EASTERN WYOMING ZONES TO THE WARNING THIS
AFTERNOON WITH WINDS VERY CLOSE TO CRITERIA FROM FAR EASTERN
LARAMIE COUNTY NORTHWARD TO TORRINGTON. WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO
SEE SOME LOCATIONS ACROSS WESTERN NEBRASKA NEAR 60 MPH WIND GUSTS
AS WELL. OTHERWISE...NOT MUCH PRECIP EXPECTED WITH THIS SYSTEM DUE
TO DRY WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW AS IT REDEVELOPS OVER THE NORTHERN
GREAT PLAINS TODAY. THE BEST CHANCE FOR ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL WILL
BE THE SIERRA MADRE AND SNOWY RANGE ACROSS WYOMING WITH MAINLY A
RAIN/SNOW MIX IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF WYOMING AND RAIN SHOWERS
WELL NORTH OF I80 FROM DOUGLAS WYOMING TO ALLIANCE NEBRASKA INTO
THIS EVENING. HIGH TEMPS WILL BE COOLER AND CLOSER TO NORMAL
TODAY WITH VERY STRONG WINDS.
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY DIMINISH BY LATE THIS EVENING AND
INTO TONIGHT ALTHOUGH IT WILL STILL BE BREEZY AT TIMES THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AS 700MB WINDS REMAIN BETWEEN 20 TO 35 KTS. HIGH AND LOW
TEMPS WILL BE NEAR NORMAL OR MAYBE A FEW DEGS BELOW NORMAL. ALL
MODELS INDICATE AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE QUICKLY
BUILDING ALONG THE ROCKIES AND HIGH PLAINS ON WEDNESDAY AHEAD OF
THE NEXT PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM. WINDS WILL BECOME LIGHT AND SHIFT
INTO THE EAST OR NORTHEAST AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE DEVELOPS OVER
THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
A PROGRESSIVE QUASI-ZONAL MID/UPPER LEVEL PATTERN WILL PREVAIL
ACROSS THE LOWER 48 DURING THE MEDIUM RANGE FORECAST PERIOD.
GENERALLY TRENDED TOWARD THE 00Z ECMWF WHICH CLOSELY RESEMBLED THE
12Z ECMWF ENSEMBLE MEAN. SHORTWAVE TROUGH OVER THE GREAT BASIN
THURSDAY WILL EJECT EAST-NORTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA...WITH RAIN/SNOW
SHOWERS FOR ALL BUT THE SOUTHEAST THIRD OF THE CWA. TEMPERATURES
WILL RANGE FROM THE 30S/40S WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE TO THE 50S
EAST. PRECIP TAPERS OFF THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE TROUGH SHIFTS EAST
INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS...EXCEPT FOR LINGERING SNOW SHOWERS OVER
THE SNOWY/SIERRA MADRE RANGES. THE NEXT SHORTWAVE QUICKLY MOVES FROM
NORTHERN/CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ACROSS NEVADA...UTAH AND INTO COLORADO
FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT...WITH MORE RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS SPREADING
FROM WEST TO EAST. TEMPERATURES FRIDAY WILL BE SIMILAR TO THURSDAY.
THE PRECIPITATION WILL LINGER INTO SATURDAY AS TROUGH SLOWLY MOVES
EAST...THEN DIMINISHES SATURDAY NIGHT AS A SHORTWAVE RIDGE SHIFTS
OVER THE CWA. THE LAST IN A SERIES OF SHORTWAVES IS TRENDING SLOWER
AND FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS THE FOUR CORNERS REGION SUNDAY NIGHT AND
MONDAY WITH SCATTERED RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS FOR THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS.
AREAS EAST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE MAY SEE ISOLATED RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS.
TEMPERATURES THIS WEEKEND WILL COOL BELOW NORMAL IN THE WAKE OF A
COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE...THEN MODERATE TO NEAR NORMAL MONDAY AND
TUESDAY WITH THE RETURN TO A MORE ZONAL FLOW ALOFT. WINDS WILL ALSO
INCREASE...ESPECIALLY ON MONDAY AS A SHORTWAVE TRANSLATES QUICKLY
ACROSS THE NORTHERN ROCKIES/PLAINS.
AVIATION...12Z TAF ISSUANCE
IFR TO LIFR IN DRIZZLE...LOW CEILINGS AND FOG WILL PERSIST THROUGH
THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ACROSS MUCH OF THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE...WITH
VFR CONDITIONS ACROSS SOUTHEAST WYOMING. A COLD FRONT WILL MARCH
EAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING WITH A BRIEF PERIOD OF
VERY LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS OR SPRINKLES...FOLLOWED BY IMPROVING
CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES...AS WELL AS STRONG AND GUSTY WESTERLY
WINDS. GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 KT ARE EXPECTED...ESPECIALLY DURING THE
AFTERNOON BEFORE DECREASING DURING THE EVENING.
FIRE WEATHER...UPGRADED THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH TO A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR NE ZONE 313 ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST NE PANHANDLE FOR
TODAY. BELIEVE HUMIDITIES WILL BE MARGINAL...BUT WITH VERY WINDY
CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA TODAY AND MINIMAL PRECIP THE LAST FEW
MONTHS HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE STILL EXPECTED WITH
DRY FUELS. OTHERWISE...STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE REST
OF THE AREA WITH LOW DAYTIME RH ESPECIALLY ALONG AND EAST OF THE
LARAMIE RANGE. HOWEVER...DAYTIME RH/S ARE EXPECTED TO BE ABOVE 15
PERCENT WITH HIGHER FUEL MOISTURE.
HYDROLOGY...GLENDO AND GUERNSEY DAMS CONTINUE TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT
RELEASES OF WATER IN ANTICIPATION OF MOUNTAIN SNOW MELT LATER THIS
SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER. THE RELEASES OF WATER WILL CONTINUE TO
HAVE IMPACTS DOWNSTREAM ON THE NORTH PLATTE RIVER. IN FACT RIVER
LEVELS ALL ALONG THE NORTH PLATTE RIVER ARE AT OR NEAR ACTION
STAGE. THESE LEVELS WILL REMAIN STEADY UNTIL ADDITIONAL RELEASES
TAKE PLACE AT GUERNSEY RESERVOIR. THE NORTH PLATTE RIVER
DOWNSTREAM OF GUERNSEY RESERVOIR WILL REMAIN AT HIGH LEVELS FOR
THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. CURRENT RIVER FORECASTS SHOW THE NORTH
PLATTE RIVER NEAR MITCHELL TO INCREASE TO NEAR FLOOD STAGE BY
LATER TODAY OR WEDNESDAY.
&&
.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 PM TUESDAY FOR WYZ101-WYZ103-WYZ104-
WYZ105-WYZ106-WYZ107-WYZ109-WYZ110-WYZ115-WYZ116-WYZ117-
WYZ118.
NE...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM TUESDAY FOR NEZ002-NEZ003-NEZ019-NEZ020-
NEZ021-NEZ054-NEZ055-NEZ095-NEZ096.
RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 7 PM TUESDAY FOR NEZ019-NEZ020-NEZ021-
NEZ054-NEZ055.
&&
SHORT TERM/FIRE WEATHER...TJT
LONG TERM/AVIATION...JAMSKI
HYDROLOGY...TJTHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 533 AM MDT TUE MAR 22 2011 WYZ101>119-231115- CONVERSE COUNTY LOWER ELEVATIONS-NIOBRARA COUNTY- NORTH LARAMIE RANGE-FERRIS/SEMINOE/SHIRLEY MOUNTAINS- SHIRLEY BASIN-CENTRAL LARAMIE RANGE AND SOUTHWEST PLATTE COUNTY- EAST PLATTE COUNTY-GOSHEN COUNTY-CENTRAL CARBON COUNTY- NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS-SOUTHWEST CARBON COUNTY- SIERRA MADRE RANGE-UPPER NORTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN-SNOWY RANGE- LARAMIE VALLEY-SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE-SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE FOOTHILLS- CENTRAL LARAMIE COUNTY-EAST LARAMIE COUNTY- 533 AM MDT TUE MAR 22 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST WYOMING. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST WYOMING...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80. WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE THIS MORNING WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH EXPECTED BY THIS AFTERNOON. STRONGER WIND GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY DIMINISH BY LATE THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A SERIES OF PACIFIC STORM SYSTEMS WILL PUSH ACROSS WYOMING THROUGH THE WEEKEND...RESULTING IN A HIGHER CHANCE OF WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE AREA. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND EVEN IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT BUT ANY REPORTS OF STRONG WIND GUSTS ARE APPRECIATED. && THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGIC...AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT... HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHEYENNE NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-231115- DAWES-BOX BUTTE-SCOTTS BLUFF-BANNER-MORRILL-KIMBALL-CHEYENNE- NORTH SIOUX-SOUTH SIOUX- 533 AM MDT TUE MAR 22 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE THROUGH THIS EVENING. WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE THIS MORNING. SUSTAINED WINDS BETWEEN 25 TO 40 MPH AND GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED BY THIS AFTERNOON. LOCALLY STRONGER WIND GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE HIGHER RIDGES AND NEAR THE WYOMING BORDER. IN ADDITION...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING. LOW DAYTIME HUMIDITIES COMBINED WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A SERIES OF PACIFIC STORM SYSTEMS WILL PUSH ACROSS WYOMING AND WESTERN NEBRASKA THROUGH THE WEEKEND...RESULTING IN A HIGHER CHANCE OF WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE AREA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT BUT ANY REPORTS OF STRONG WIND GUSTS ARE APPRECIATED. && THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGIC...AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT... HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHEYENNE TT
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
959 AM MDT TUE MAR 22 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0953 AM NON-TSTM WND GST RAWLINS 41.78N 107.23W
03/22/2011 M51 MPH CARBON WY ASOS
SUSTAINED AT 44 MPH.
&&
BCHAPMANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
1008 AM MDT TUE MAR 22 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0952 AM NON-TSTM WND GST ESTERBROOK 42.41N 105.36W
03/22/2011 M50 MPH CONVERSE WY MESONET
0941 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 15 NNE CENTENNIAL 41.50N 106.00W
03/22/2011 M52 MPH ALBANY WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
ALSO AT 0946L
&&
BCHAPMANThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
WYDOT sensor at Coleman measured sustained winds of 40 mph or greater with a peak gust of 65 mph at 22/1026 MST.
WYDOT sensor at Bordeaux measured sustained winds of 40 mph or greater with a peak gust of 79 mph at 22/1245 MST.
WYDOT sensor at Quealy Dome measured sustained winds of 40 mph or greater with a peak gust of 60 mph at 22/1051 MST.
UPR sensor at Emkay measured sustained winds of 40 mph or greater with a peak gust of 80 mph at 22/1555 MST.
WYDOT sensor at Arlington measured sustained winds of 40 mph or greater with a peak gust of 63 mph at 22/1636 MST.
WYDOT sensor at Whitaker measured sustained winds of 40 mph or greater with a peak gust of 63 mph at 22/1340 MST.
ASOS at Cheyenne Regional Airport measured sustained winds of 40 mph or greater with a peak gust of 63 mph at 22/1545 MST.
RAWS sensor near Muddy Gap measured a gust of 58 mph.
UPR sensor at Lynch measured sustained winds of 40 mph or greater with a peak gust of 65 mph at 22/1615 MST.
WYDOT sensor at Arlington measured sustained winds of 40 mph or greater with a peak gust of 61 mph at 22/1841 MST.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, March 2011
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 283052, 283051, 283055, 283058, 283053, 283057, 283059, 283050, 283056, 283054.