Minor high wind event was measured by various sensors along Interstate 80 in portions of the wind prone areas of southeast Wyoming. Max wind gusts of 60 mph were measured across the South Laramie Range while a Wyoming Department of Transportation sensor at Arlington measured sustained winds over 40 mph.
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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.
Minor high wind event was measured by various sensors along Interstate 80 in portions of the wind prone areas of southeast Wyoming. Max wind gusts of 60 mph were measured across the South Laramie Range while a Wyoming Department of Transportation sensor at Arlington measured sustained winds over 40 mph.
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 Jan 8, 3:57 AM MST, 4 hours 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 357 AM MST Wed Jan 8 2020 .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 304 AM MST Wed Jan 8 2020 Morning observations from around the area show that the strong winds that have plagued the area over much of the day yesterday have subsided temporarily. The wind prone gap areas have continued to gust into the 30s and 40s but otherwise conditions have calmed as area gradients have weakened enough. This will not be long lived however, as WV imagery shows a shortwave trough developing to the west. Jet energy and surface cyclogenesis, associated with this trough, will tighten pressure gradients once again this afternoon and evening. A few questions linger about how widespread this event is expected to be. Have opted to cancel and upgrade the High Wind Watch across the gap areas and cover the foothills and adjacent plains with an SPS as wind gusts may be slightly weaker there. Temperatures today should be significantly warmer than the past few days, as mid level Warm advection and downslope warming bump highs into the 50s. Winds should remain gusty through Thursday morning behind a fast moving Pacific front. Winds will die quickly mid morning Thursday and temperatures will begin to cool in response to cold advection and the lack of compressional warming. Some precipitation will be possible with the shortwave trough through the next 24 hours. The mountains should see several inches of snow through Thursday morning thanks to banded showers along the Pacific front. It is not out of the question a few snow showers make it east of the laramie range, but confidence is low. .LONG TERM...(Thursday evening through Tuesday) Issued at 304 AM MST Wed Jan 8 2020 A more substantial trough will begin develop late Thursday and early Friday as jet energy from the Pacific northwest swings down to the south and east. A brief period of high winds will be possible Friday afternoon but the fast moving nature of the wave should keep that threat minimal. The upper flow will split with a southern stream shortwave becoming dominate by Friday afternoon. This will bring an area of diffuse low pressure across the front range along with the chance for some widespread but light precipitation. Northerly winds behind the low and front will drive orographic snow showers overnight through Saturday morning. Accumulations should be light but this system will usher in a much colder airmass through next week. Daytime highs will plummet well below normal by Monday and continuing through the extended. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday morning) Issued at 354 AM MST Wed Jan 8 2020 Locally dense fog occurring at KCDR this morning is expected to break up shortly after sunrise as winds turn more southwesterly. VFR conditions elsewhere across southeast Wyoming and Nebraska Panhandle. Gusty winds at KCYS...KLAR and KRWL through the next 24 hours. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 304 AM MST Wed Jan 8 2020 Cool temperatures and the chance for precipitation will mean little substantial fire weather threat over the next few days. && .CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WY...High Wind Warning until 5 AM MST Thursday for WYZ106-110. NE...None. && SHORT TERM...AL LONG TERM...AL AVIATION...GCC FIRE WEATHER...AL
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 413 AM MST Wed Jan 8 2020 NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-WYZ101>105-107>109-111-113- 115>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-East Platte County- Goshen County-Central Carbon County-Southwest Carbon County- Upper North Platte River Basin-Laramie Valley-South Laramie Range- South Laramie Range Foothills-Central Laramie County- East Laramie County- 413 AM MST Wed Jan 8 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of western Nebraska...east central Wyoming...south central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Gusty winds are expected this afternoon and evening but widespread hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation will not be needed. WYZ106-110-091115- Central Laramie Range and Southwest Platte County- North Snowy Range Foothills- 413 AM MST Wed Jan 8 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 5 AM MST THURSDAY Gusty winds are likely with strong crosswinds along Interstates 25 and 80 this afternoon and evening. Use caution if you are traveling. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation will not be needed. WYZ112-114-091115- Sierra Madre Range-Snowy Range- 413 AM MST Wed Jan 8 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Mountain snow will be possible through Today and tomorrow. Accumulations of 4 to 8 inches about 8,000 feet will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation will not be needed.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 241 AM MST Wed Jan 8 2020 NEZ020-054-WYZ107-108-116>119-090800- Banner-Kimball-East Platte County-Goshen County- South Laramie Range-South Laramie Range Foothills- Central Laramie County-East Laramie County- Including the cities of Harrisburg, Kimball, Wheatland, Guernsey, Torrington, Buford, Pumpkin Vine, Vedauwoo, Whitaker, Federal, Horse Creek, Cheyenne, and Pine Bluffs 241 AM MST Wed Jan 8 2020 STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS TO 55 MPH POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... The high Wind Watch that was in effect for portions of eastern Wyoming has been cancelled. Strong wind gusts will still be possible this afternoon and evening ahead of a strong cold front and Pacific storm system. West winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 55 mph will be possible across portions of eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska. Winds will increase late this morning, peak this afternoon and evening, before relaxing late this evening and early Thursday morning. Use caution if you are driving as strong crosswinds may develop on north south routes. Secure loose outdoor items as they may be blown about. For additional info please see the latest High Wind Warning. Lyons
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Sustained wind speeds at Arlington WYDOT site averaged 40 mph from 8/2316 through 9/0044. Peak wind gusts of 56 mph at 9/0032. GCC.
Wyoming Department of Transportation sensor along Interstate 80 at Lone Tree and the Union Pacific Railroad sensor UP203 at Buford both measured the reported wind gust speed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, January 2020
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: 865113, 867853.