The transport of very strong winds aloft combined with a anomalously large pressure gradient produced high winds across much of southeast Wyoming. The high winds, which gusted up to 85 mph, caused property damage, power outages, and numerous blowovers of semis on Interstates 80 and 25.
Every event with a place to put it; 68 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.
The transport of very strong winds aloft combined with a anomalously large pressure gradient produced high winds across much of southeast Wyoming. The high winds, which gusted up to 85 mph, caused property damage, power outages, and numerous blowovers of semis on Interstates 80 and 25. WYDOT officials closed these interstates for several hours to clear the accidents, which closed both directions of travel. A Wyoming state trooper was struck and injured while seated in their patrol car by another high wind related crash.
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, 10:48 PM MST, 2 hours 52 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
1048 PM MST Sat Dec 17 2016
.UPDATE...
Issued at 930 PM MST Sat Dec 17 2016
Made minor adjustments downward with temperatures this evening as
we've already surpassed expected lows in a few locations across
the forecast area. So far, the coldest readings have been in
central Sioux County at -30F, Chadron at -22F, and Alliance and
Bill both falling to -21F. Gusty winds have been persistent this
evening around Arlington, with gusts hovering around 50 mph. Think
this will persist through the night with occasional spikes around
55 mph, making for remarkably unpleasant conditions out there.
Also, added in patchy fog for the North Platte river valley for
much of tonight having received a report of fog out in that area.
Could be dense in spots along the river, so use extra caution if
out and about in this area not only for reduced visibility, but
also for the likelihood that the fog will freeze to various surfaces,
making them very slick.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Monday)
Issued at 1236 PM MST Sat Dec 17 2016
Tonight...Cold temperatures continue this afternoon with locations
only seeing temperatures in the single digits above and below zero.
Next weak shortwave feature moves across Wyoming producing some
cloud cover though no snowfall. With current cold temperatures and
fresh snowpack, low temperatures tonight will be quite cold again,
especially across the Nebraska panhandle and north of a Douglas to
Torrington line. Looks like enough wind to produce wind chill
temperatures again from 20 below to 45 degrees below zero, so we
have issued wind chill advisories and warnings through mid morning
Sunday.
Sunday...Warming trend develops as the airmass moderates under
northwest flow aloft. Looks like enough sunshine to help boost
maximum temperatures into the teens to middle 20s at lower
elevations. The atmosphere will be too dry to support snowfall.
Sunday night...Low and mid level gradients begin to strengthen,
especially after midnight, and our local wind models suggest that
our wind prone locations may be approaching high wind criteria late
in the night. Not quite as cold with the airmass moderating and
decent low level winds...mixing.
Monday...Our local wind models suggest a possible high wind event
for our wind prone locations such as Arlington, Bordeaux and
Vedauwoo as the low and mid level gradients strengthen
significantly. Decent warming trend continues as the airmass
moderates and downslope west winds prevail due to a well pronounced
surface lee trough. Continued dry with limited low and mid level
moisture.
.LONG TERM...(Monday night through Saturday)
Issued at 230 PM MST Sat Dec 17 2016
Strong winds are going to be the main challenge in the long term.
Low pressure tracking through Montana Monday night with 700mb
winds on the GFS of 55-60kts across Carbon and Albany Counties.
Strong winds should be ongoing Monday night. GFS local high wind
guidance showing 850/700mb Craig to Casper height gradients above
70 meters each. They increase to near 80mtrs Tuesday into
Wednesday. So strong winds could be more widespread. For now, just
went with the wind prone areas, but we will probably need to
expand out if these gradients continue.
Next shortwave approaches from the west Wednesday afternoon and
tracks across northern Wyoming. In addition to strong winds, the
mountains out west could be getting some snow. Confined the snow
mainly to the mountains and adjacent slopes for now for the most
part. Does not look like a big snow event.
Some good news with the strong winds, temperatures will be on the
rise. 700mb temperatures rise up to -4C on the GFS and approach 0C
of the ECMWF Thursday. Compared to the -22 to -24C we are seeing
now, we should be looking at temperature well above freezing for
highs through the upcoming week after Monday.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Sunday night)
Issued at 1048 PM MST Sat Dec 17 2016
VFR conditions will continue as high pressure settles over the
area. Still thinking MVFR CIGS are a possibility at KRWL after 10z
tonight as low level moisture is progged to be high in this area.
Patchy fog was reported in the North Platte River valley
southeast of KBFF earlier, so added VCFG for the possibility the
fog could advect upstream later tonight. Very cold temperatures
will continue through Sunday morning, and breezy west-southwest winds
will continue along and west of the Laramie Range through Sunday.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1236 PM MST Sat Dec 17 2016
No concerns based on projected humidities.
&&
.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...Wind Chill Warning until 9 AM MST Sunday for WYZ101>105-108-
114>116.
High Wind Watch from late Sunday night through Monday afternoon
for WYZ106-110-116-117.
Wind Chill Advisory until 9 AM MST Sunday for WYZ106-107-109>113-
117>119.
NE...Wind Chill Warning until 9 AM MST Sunday for NEZ002-003-019>021-
054-055-095-096.
&&
UPDATE...RJM
SHORT TERM...RUBIN
LONG TERM...GCC
AVIATION...RJM
FIRE WEATHER...RUBINHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 721 PM MST SAT DEC 17 2016 WYZ101>119-190230- 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- 721 PM MST SAT DEC 17 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL WYOMING...SOUTH CENTRAL WYOMING AND SOUTHEAST WYOMING. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT WIND CHILL ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM SUNDAY MORNING. WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED TO DROP FROM 20 BELOW TO 45 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 50 MPH WILL OCCUR IN THE ARLINGTON AREA TONIGHT AS WELL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM MONDAY TO 5 PM MONDAY FOR WIND PRONE LOCATIONS SUCH AS ARLINGTON...BORDEAUX AND VEDAUWOO. WINDS WILL BE WEST AT 30 TO 45 MPH WITH POSSIBLE GUSTS TO 60 MPH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-190230- DAWES-BOX BUTTE-SCOTTS BLUFF-BANNER-MORRILL-KIMBALL-CHEYENNE- NORTH SIOUX-SOUTH SIOUX- 721 PM MST SAT DEC 17 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEBRASKA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT WIND CHILL WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT THROUGH 9 AM SUNDAY FOR WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES DROPPING BELOW 30 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
1125 PM MST SAT DEC 17 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW GERING 41.83N 103.67W
12/17/2016 E3.0 INCH SCOTTS BLUFF NE PUBLIC
&&
MJAMSKISpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 1137 PM MST Sat Dec 17 2016 WYZ110-181000- North Snowy Range Foothills- Including the cities of...Arlington...Elk Mountain 1137 PM MST Sat Dec 17 2016 Sustained west winds of 30 to 45 mph with gusts to around 55 mph will continue late tonight across the north Snowy Range foothills. This includes Interstate 80 between mile markers 240 to 285. 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.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
1245 AM MST SUN DEC 18 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1250 AM HIGH SUST WINDS 7 NW ELK MOUNTAIN 41.76N 106.51W
12/18/2016 M44 MPH CARBON WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
&&
MJAMSKIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
1247 AM MST SUN DEC 18 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1235 AM HIGH SUST WINDS 3 NW ARLINGTON 41.62N 106.25W
12/18/2016 M42 MPH CARBON WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
FOOTE CREEK WYDOT SENSOR.
&&
MJAMSKIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
111 AM MST SUN DEC 18 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0100 AM HIGH SUST WINDS 7 NW ELK MOUNTAIN 41.76N 106.51W
12/18/2016 M47 MPH CARBON WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
HALLECK RIDGE WYDOT SENSOR.
&&
MJAMSKIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
123 AM MST SUN DEC 18 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0111 AM HIGH SUST WINDS ARLINGTON 41.59N 106.21W
12/18/2016 M43 MPH CARBON WY DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
&&
MJAMSKIThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
68 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The WYDOT sensor at Arlington measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 65 mph at 18/0520 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Wagonhound measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 60 mph at 18/0455 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Arlington East measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 59 mph at 18/0610 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Cooper Cove measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 63 mph at 18/0620 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Strouss Hill measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 62 mph at 18/0615 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Foote Creek measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher.
The WYDOT sensor at Halleck Ridge measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 58 mph at 18/1205 MST.
A mesonet sensor at Wheatland measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 81 mph at 19/1535 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Bordeaux measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 78 mph at 19/1745 MST. There were three semi blowovers on the northbound lanes of Interstate 25 between mile posts 65 and 71.
The WYDOT sensor at Arlington measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 76 mph at 20/0235 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Halleck Ridge measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 59 mph at 19/0450 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Foote Creek measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 71 mph at 19/1635 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Coleman measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 65 mph at 19/1020 MST. There were four semi blowovers on the southbound lanes of Interstate 25 between mile posts 83 and 94.
The WYDOT sensor at Whitaker measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 59 mph at 19/1250 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Bear Creek measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 64 mph at 19/1255 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Dana Ridge measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher.
The WYDOT sensor Halleck Ridge measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 70 mph at 19/1835 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Wagonhound measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 67 mph at 19/1400 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Cooper Cove measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 75 mph at 19/1650 MST. There were several semi blowovers along the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 between mile posts 279 and 285. While investigating a previous wind-related crash, a Wyoming state trooper was struck while seated in their patrol car by a second wind-related crash. The crash occurred at 20/0756 MST on Interstate 80 near mile post 280. The trooper sustained non-life threatening injuries.
The WYDOT sensor at Elk Mountain measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 70 mph at 19/1415 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Summit East measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher.
The wind sensor at the Elk Mountain Airport measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 69 mph at 19/1615 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Quealy Dome measured peak wind gusts of 60 mph. Four semis were blown over on Interstate 80 between mile posts 290 and 293.
The UPR sensor at Dale Creek measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 72 mph at 19/1530 MST.
The wind sensor at the Cheyenne Airport measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 64 mph at 19/1553 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Interstate 80 mile post 249 measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 60 mph at 19/1420 MST.
The UPR sensor at Buford measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 83 mph at 19/2000 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Arlington East measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 65 mph at 19/1925 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Lone Tree measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 80 mph at 19/1910 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Vedauwoo measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 65 mph at 19/1620 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Deer Creek measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 71 mph at 19/1730 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Strouss Hill measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 78 mph at 19/1905 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Otto Road measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 75 mph at 19/1740 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Buford East measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 80 mph at 19/1955 MST.
The UPR sensor at Emkay measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 84 mph at 19/1700 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Herrick Lane measured peak wind gusts of 60 mph.
The WYDOT sensor at Interstate 80 mile post 353 measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 79 mph at 19/2015 MST.
The UPR sensor at Rock River measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 73 mph at 19/2025 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Hynds Lodge Road measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 72 mph at 19/2015 MST.
A RAWS sensor near Muddy Gap measured peak winds of 59 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 76 mph at 19/1750 MST.
The wind sensor at the Laramie Airport measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher.
The WYDOT sensor at Remount Road measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 65 mph at 19/1815 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Wildcat Trail measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 81 mph at 10/1845 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Pumpkin Vine measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 62 mph at 19/2105 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Wyoming Hill measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 69 mph at 19/1955 MST.
The wind sensor at the Laramie Airport measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 61 mph at 19/2155 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Bordeaux measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher.
The WYDOT sensor at Strouss Hill measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 73 mph at 20/0540 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Wagonhound measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher.
The WYDOT sensor at Arlington East measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 6 mph at 20/0605 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Buford East measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 69 mph at 20/0615 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Halleck Ridge measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 66 mph at 20/0605 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Foote Creek measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 62 mph at 20/0335 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Bordeaux measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 80 mph at 20/1110 MST.
The wind sensor at the Laramie Airport measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 67 mph at 20/0335 MST.
The UPR sensor at Rock River measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 68 mph at 20/1030 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Elk Mountain measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 62 mph at 20/0550 MST.
The wind sensor at the Elk Mountain Airport measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 61 mph at 20/0855 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Wildcat Trail measured peak wind gusts of 67 mph.
The WYDOT sensor at Interstate 80 mile post 353 measured peak wind gusts of 59 mph.
A RAWS sensor near Muddy Gap measured wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 78 mph at 20/1750 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Dana Ridge measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher.
The WYDOT sensor at Quealy Dome measured peak wind gusts of 59 mph. A semi was blown over near Interstate 80 mile post 292.
A mesonet sensor at Wheatland measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 67 mph at 20/1410 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Interstate 80 mile post 249 measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 58 mph at 20/0845 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Deer Creek measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 61 mph at 20/1020 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Walcott Junction measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher.
The WYDOT sensor at Herrick Lane measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, December 2016
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: 667981, 667986, 667977, 667982, 667985, 667983, 667984, 670305, 670313, 670314, 670324, 670322, 670309, 671200, 671202, 670316, 670325, 670331, 670315, 670318, 671192, 670320, 671177, 671184, 671204, 670327, 671183, 670311, 671189, 671193, 670287, 670329, 671199, 671181, 671196, 671172, 671197, 671179, 671185, 670294, and more.