A brief period of strong winds developed along Interstate 80 from the Summit east toward the Nebraska state line.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 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.
A brief period of strong winds developed along Interstate 80 from the Summit east toward the Nebraska state line.
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 8, 10:30 AM MST, 0 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 1030 AM MST Fri Dec 8 2017 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Sunday) Issued at 235 AM MST Fri Dec 8 2017 Not much change in the forecast in the short term. High pressure stationary over the west coast blocking any systems from the Pacific to move on shore. Am concerned with the winds. GFS 850/700mb winds quite strong across the eastern portion of the CWFA. Will see breezy conditions for the Panhandle over to the east slopes of the Laramie Range. GFS forecasting 40-45kt 850mb winds over the Panhandle this afternoon that could push us close to warning criteria. Decided to hold off on any wind headlines. Day shift will need to monitor wind speeds though through the day. Fire weather wise...think afternoon humidity will stay above critical levels with upper teens and low 20 percent today and Saturday. But Sunday may need a headline as humidity gets pretty low. .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Thursday) Issued at 235 AM MST Fri Dec 8 2017 Next week will feature above normal temperatures (normal highs this time of year are in the 30s) and continued dry conditions. Pattern will remain largely unchanged from the short-term period, with a highly amplified ridge of high pressure situated across the west coast, with a deep trough of low pressure across the Great Lakes and eastern U.S. Tuesday looks to be the warmest day as highs warm into the 40s west of the Laramie Range and 50s to near 60s on the eastern plains. Although high winds are not seen at this time, the typically breezy afternoons are expected with gusts in the 25-35 mph range. Even looking beyond this period, no significant cold snaps are seen on the horizon. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday afternoon) Issued at 1025 AM MST Fri Dec 8 2017 Latest surface analysis was showing a very tight pressure gradient between northern Colorado and the Nebraska panhandle. This gradient is expected to gradually weaken this afternoon. However, wind gusts will range from 35 to 45 kts over KCYS with 30 to 40 kt gusts possible over the southern Nebraska Panhandle. These wind speeds will diminish this evening as the upper level ridge continues to build over the region. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 245 AM MST Fri Dec 8 2017 High pressure over the west coast blocking any Pacific storm systems from moving into the area. Expect mostly sunny skies and breezy north to northwest winds each day. Slowly warming temperatures with afternoon humidity falling into the upper teens and low 20 percent range. Dry day Sunday for areas east of the Laramie Range could lead to elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions as afternoon humidity falls to the low to mid teens. && .CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WY...High Wind Warning until 5 PM MST this afternoon for WYZ116>119. NE...None. && SHORT TERM...GCC LONG TERM...CAH AVIATION...REC FIRE WEATHER...GCC
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 415 AM MST Fri Dec 8 2017 NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-WYZ101>119-091115- 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- 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- 415 AM MST Fri Dec 8 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of western Nebraska...east central Wyoming...south central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Strong northwest to north winds are expected today along and east of Interstate 25. Wind gusts to 50 mph are likely Friday which will cause an increased blow off and blowover risk especially on east to west facing roads and highways. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY Winds shift more westerly Sunday resulting in drier conditions east of the Laramie Range. Afternoon humidity may fall to critical levels Sunday afternoon leading to elevated and locally critical fire weather conditions. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation will not be needed today and tonight.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 810 AM MST Fri Dec 8 2017 WYZ116-081715- South Laramie Range- Including the cities of Buford, Pumpkin Vine, and Vedauwoo 810 AM MST Fri Dec 8 2017 ...STRONG WINDS OVER THE INTERSTATE 80 SUMMIT... Motorists traveling along Interstate 80 between Cheyenne and Laramie this morning will encounter west winds of 35 to 45 MPH with gusts to 55 MPH. Travel will be hazardous for light weight and high profile vehicles. Use caution. HAMMER
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The WYDOT sensor at Wyoming Hill measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher.
The WYDOT sensor at Interstate 80 mile marker 373 measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher.
The wind sensor at the Pine Bluffs Airport measured a peak gust of 58 mph.
The WYDOT sensor at Wildcat Trail measured sustained winds of 40 mph or higher, with a peak gust of 66 mph at 8/1205 MST.
The WYDOT sensor at Buford East measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
The UPR sensor at Buford West measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
The WYDOT sensor at Whitaker 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 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, December 2017
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: 732046, 732048, 732050, 732043, 732034, 732036, 732044.