Wyoming, 2017

High Wind in Wyoming, October 20, 2017

October 20, 2017 · NWS RIW · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Strong winds developed ahead of a cold front moving across Wyoming. The strongest winds occurred in the Lee of the Absarokas.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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  • Hail
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  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS RIW wrote it up.

Strong winds developed ahead of a cold front moving across Wyoming. The strongest winds occurred in the Lee of the Absarokas. Wind gusts of hurricane force occurred near Clark and along the Chief Joseph Highway. In the higher elevations of the Green and Rattlesnake Range, Camp Creek had a prolonged period of high winds.

What forecasters said that day

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 Riverton, WY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 20, 1:36 PM MST, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 20, 1:36 PM MST, 1 hour 33 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 20, 1:41 PM MST, 1 hour 28 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 20, 1:33 PM MST, 1 hour 36 minutes before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Cody Foothills

When
October 20, 3:09 PM MST to 4:38 PM MST
Where
Cody Foothills forecast zone
Measured
67 kt (77 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.521, -109.588 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind sensor 5 miles west-northwest of Clark recorded several wind gusts over 58 mph, including a maximum of 77 mph.

High Wind, Green Mountains & Rattlesnake Range

When
October 20, 3:30 PM MST to 11:50 PM MST
Where
Green Mountains & Rattlesnake Range forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by
RAWS
Coordinates
42.554, -108.102 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The RAWS site at Camp Creek recorded several wind gusts past 58 mph, including a maximum of 69 mph.

High Wind, Absaroka Mountains

When
October 20, 5:55 PM MST to 6:25 PM MST
Where
Absaroka Mountains forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
43.760, -108.887 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The weather station along the Chief Joseph highway recorded a maximum wind gust of 76 mph.

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wyoming in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, October 2017

Sources

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 721836, 721834, 721835.