A tight surface pressure gradient produced a brief period of strong gap winds through portions of the central and southern Laramie Range.
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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.
A tight surface pressure gradient produced a brief period of strong gap winds through portions of the central and southern Laramie Range.
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 Dec 17, 10:55 AM MST, 3 hours 16 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 1055 AM MST TUE DEC 17 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 410 AM MST TUE DEC 17 2013 WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN FORECAST CONCERN INTO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. CURRENTLY WINDS ARE BEHAVING NICELY WITH WIND SPEEDS MAINLY IN THE 25 TO 35 MPH RANGE WITH GUSTS 40 TO 50 MPH ACROSS THE WIND PRONE AREAS OF SOUTHEAST WYOMING. THIS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE THROUGH THIS MORNING WITH ISOLATED STRONGER GUSTS. NOT ANTICIPATING A NEED FOR HIGH WIND HIGHLIGHTS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON OF COURSE THE CURRENT EXPECTED WIND SPEEDS ARE WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR. MODELS DO INDICATE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN WIND SPEEDS TONIGHT WITH A MARGINAL GRADIENT NEEDED TO REACH HIGH WIND SPEEDS. MODELS SHOWING PRESSURE FALLS IN THE PLAINS WHICH SHOULD ACCELERATE WINDS SLIGHTLY AND THIS COULD BE ENOUGH TO PUSH BORDEAUX AND ARLINGTON PAST THE HIGH WIND THRESHOLD...ALTHOUGH THE MAIN THREAT IS AT BORDEAUX WHERE GAP FLOW MAY BE THE TIPPING POINT. OUTSIDE OF THE WIND PRONE AREAS...LOOK FOR BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS TODAY. WARM WESTERLY FLOW WILL REMAIN IN PLACE TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...PRODUCING MILD TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE AREA. HIGHS TODAY WILL EASILY RISE INTO THE 50S EAST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE WITH LOWER 60S INTO THE SOUTHERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE. THERE IS STILL SOME SNOW COVER IN THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE WHICH WILL HOLD DOWN TEMPERATURES A BIT TODAY...BUT BY THE END OF TODAY MOST OF THE SNOW SHOULD BE GONE. MODEL HAVE TRENDED SLIGHTLY WARMER OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS...SO WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE TEMPERATURES A FEW DEGREES WARMER THAN CURRENT FORECAST GIVEN DOWNSLOPE FLOW AND AMPLE SUNSHINE TODAY. TEMPERATURES ALOFT VERY WARM AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING TROUGH WEDNESDAY WHICH IS SUPPORTIVE OF NEAR RECORD TEMPERATURES INTO THE PLAINS...MAINLY INTO THE SOUTHERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE. OF COURSE INCREASING CLOUD COVER AND STANDING WAVE CLOUDS WILL INHIBIT MAXIMUM MIXING SO MAY NOT QUITE REACH RECORDS. BIG CHANGES WILL OCCUR FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON TO THURSDAY AFTERNOON. MUCH COLDER AIR WILL SPILL SOUTHWARD BEHIND A COLD FRONT WHICH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING. HIGH TEMPERATURES THURSDAY WILL BE 20 TO 30 DEGREES COLDER THAN WEDNESDAY WITH FALLING TEMPERATURES THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...WHILE INCREASING WINDS AND COLD AIR WILL PUSH WIND CHILLS INTO THE TEENS AND SINGLE DIGITS BY LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON. MODELS HAVE TRENDED HIGHER WITH QPF FORECASTS. THE LATEST SOLUTIONS INDICATING A MIDLEVEL BOUNDARY BEING THE FOCUS FOR PRECIPITATION. IT WILL BE COLD ENOUGH THAT PRECIPITATION WILL FALL AS SNOW WITH NO MORE THAN A VERY BRIEF PERIOD OF RAIN POSSIBLE DURING THE ONSET OF PRECIPITATION. AT THIS POINT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS LOOK TO BE MINIMAL WITH ONLY A FEW INCHES OF SNOW INTO THE PLAINS. .LONG TERM...(FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 330 AM MST TUE DEC 17 2013 UPPER TROF AXIS WILL PASS ACROSS THE CWA FRIDAY WITH SNOW SHOWERS DIMINISHING TO MAINLY OVER THE HIGHER MTNS. COLDER TEMPERATURES FOR FRIDAY AS SFC HIGH SHIFTS SLOWLY EAST OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST. COOL SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ALONG WITH A BIT UNSETTLED WEATHER AS NW FLOW ALOFT CONTINUES OVER THE REGION BRINGING PERIODIC MINOR SURGES OF MOISTURE WHICH WILL INTERACT OROGRAPHICALLY TO PRODUCE MTN SNOW SHOWERS. SOMEWHAT DRIER CONDITIONS MONDAY ALONG WITH A LITTLE WARMER TEMPERATURES AS UPPER FLOW BACKS A BIT AND LEE TROFFING DEVELOPS. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 1054 AM MST TUE DEC 17 2013 VFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH MAINLY MID AND HIGH CIRRUS MOVING OVERHEAD FROM THE NORTHWEST. WINDS WILL REMAIN GUSTY ACROSS SOUTHEAST WYOMING WITH 25 TO 35 KTS EXPECTED AT AREA TERMINALS THIS AFTERNOON...AND AGAIN WEDNESDAY MORNING. LIGHTER WINDS WILL PERSIST AT THE NEBRASKA SITES. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 410 AM MST TUE DEC 17 2013 DRY WITH GUSTY WEST WINDS TODAY AND WEDNESDAY ALONG WITH WARM TEMPERATURES. BIG CHANGES WILL OCCUR BETWEEN WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WITH TEMPERATURES 20 TO 30 DEGREES COLDER ALONG WITH BREEZY NORTH WINDS. SNOW IS POSSIBLE ACROSS MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA THURSDAY. && .CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WY...NONE. NE...NONE. && SHORT TERM...LIEBL LONG TERM...RE AVIATION...RJM FIRE WEATHER...LIEBL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 425 AM MST TUE DEC 17 2013 NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-WYZ101>105-107>109-111>115-118- 119-181200- DAWES-BOX BUTTE-SCOTTS BLUFF-BANNER-MORRILL-KIMBALL-CHEYENNE- NORTH SIOUX-SOUTH SIOUX-CONVERSE COUNTY LOWER ELEVATIONS- NIOBRARA COUNTY-NORTH LARAMIE RANGE- FERRIS/SEMINOE/SHIRLEY MOUNTAINS-SHIRLEY BASIN-EAST PLATTE COUNTY- GOSHEN COUNTY-CENTRAL CARBON COUNTY-SOUTHWEST CARBON COUNTY- SIERRA MADRE RANGE-UPPER NORTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN-SNOWY RANGE- LARAMIE VALLEY-CENTRAL LARAMIE COUNTY-EAST LARAMIE COUNTY- 425 AM MST TUE DEC 17 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE...EAST CENTRAL WYOMING...SOUTH CENTRAL WYOMING AND SOUTHEAST WYOMING. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A COLD FRONT WILL PASS ACROSS EARLY THURSDAY WITH SOME MAINLY LIGHT SNOW EXPECTED THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT. && THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGIC...AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT... HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHEYENNE WYZ106-110-116-117-181200- CENTRAL LARAMIE RANGE AND SOUTHWEST PLATTE COUNTY- NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS-SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE- SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE FOOTHILLS- 425 AM MST TUE DEC 17 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL WYOMING... SOUTH CENTRAL WYOMING AND SOUTHEAST WYOMING. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT GUSTY WEST OR SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL OCCUR AGAIN TODAY IN WIND-PRONE AREAS. SOME GUSTS AROUND 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A COLD FRONT WILL PASS ACROSS EARLY THURSDAY WITH SOME MAINLY LIGHT SNOW EXPECTED THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT. && THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGIC...AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT... HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHEYENNE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 852 AM MST TUE DEC 17 2013 WYZ106-110-171800- CENTRAL LARAMIE RANGE AND SOUTHWEST PLATTE COUNTY- NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BORDEAUX...ARLINGTON...ELK MOUNTAIN 852 AM MST TUE DEC 17 2013 ...WINDY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TODAY... SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS OF AROUND 50 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE WIND PRONE AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 25. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 CORRIDOR NEAR ARLINGTON AND ALONG INTERSTATE 25 NEAR THE BORDEAUX EXIT. MOTORISTS IN HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRAILERS WILL EXPERIENCE THE GREATEST DIFFICULTIES WHILE TRAVELING TODAY. THE WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ADVISES NO LIGHT TRAILER TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 80 NEAR ARLINGTON DUE TO WIND SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. THESE WINDS MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL OR A BLOW OVER TO HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES TRAVELING EMPTY OR WITH A LIGHT LOAD. DRIVERS OF SUCH VEHICLES ARE ADVISED TO DELAY TRAVEL. RJM
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 1159 AM MST TUE DEC 17 2013 WYZ106-110-172100- CENTRAL LARAMIE RANGE AND SOUTHWEST PLATTE COUNTY- NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BORDEAUX...ARLINGTON...ELK MOUNTAIN 1159 AM MST TUE DEC 17 2013 ...WINDY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TODAY FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST WYOMING... SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS OF AROUND 55 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE WIND PRONE AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 25. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 CORRIDOR NEAR ARLINGTON AND ALONG INTERSTATE 25 NEAR THE BORDEAUX EXIT. MOTORISTS IN HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRAILERS WILL EXPERIENCE THE GREATEST DIFFICULTIES WHILE TRAVELING TODAY. THE WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ADVISES NO LIGHT TRAILER TRAFFIC DUE TO WIND SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. THESE WINDS MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL OR A BLOW OVER TO HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES TRAVELING EMPTY OR WITH A LIGHT LOAD. DRIVERS OF SUCH VEHICLES ARE ADVISED TO DELAY TRAVEL. RJM
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The WYDOT sensor at Bordeaux measured wind gusts of 63 mph.
The UPR sensor at Buford measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 59 mph at 17/2345 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Bordeaux measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 63 mph at 18/1206 MST.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, December 2013
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: 493173, 493172, 493174.