Wyoming, 2020High Wind in Wyoming, October 13 to 14, 2020
October 13 to 14, 2020 · NWS RIW · 8 events in 8 counties and zones
A cold front dropped across Wyoming. The combination of a tight pressure gradient and strong mid level winds mixing to the surface brought high winds to many areas.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 8
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.
A cold front dropped across Wyoming. The combination of a tight pressure gradient and strong mid level winds mixing to the surface brought high winds to many areas. The highest gusts were in the higher elevations where hurricane force gusts were reported in the Absarokas, Wind River Range and the Green Mountains. In the lower elevations, gusts over 58 mph were reported in portions of Johnson, Natrona, Fremont, Sweetwater and Sublette Counties, with the highest gusts including 65 mph at Hiland, Wyoming and 67 mph east of Wamsutter, Wyoming, along Interstate 80.
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 13, 4:49 PM MST, 2 hours 47 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Oct 13, 4:49 PM MST, 2 hours 47 minutes before
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</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 13, 12:58 PM MST, 6 hours 38 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Oct 13, 5:38 PM MST, 1 hour 58 minutes before
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</html>High Wind, Natrona County Lower Elevations
- When
- October 13, 7:36 PM MST to October 14, 1:56 PM MST
- Where
- Natrona County Lower Elevations forecast zone
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 42.962, -106.798 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
There were numerous reports of high winds in Natrona County, Wyoming. Some notable gusts included 65 mph at Hiland, Wyoming and 62 mph along Hat Six Road.
High Wind, Green Mountains & Rattlesnake Range
- When
- October 13, 7:50 PM MST to October 14, 8:50 AM MST
- Where
- Green Mountains & Rattlesnake Range forecast zone
- Measured
- 72 kt (83 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
- Coordinates
- 42.554, -108.102 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Camp Creek RAWS recorded a maximum wind gust of 83 mph.
High Wind, Wind River Mountains East
- When
- October 13, 8:01 PM MST to 11:01 PM MST
- Where
- Wind River Mountains East forecast zone
- Measured
- 73 kt (84 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
- Coordinates
- 42.904, -109.273 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Wind River RAWS site had a maximum wind gust of 84 mph.
High Wind, Absaroka Mountains
- When
- October 14, 6:28 AM MST to 8:46 AM MST
- Where
- Absaroka Mountains forecast zone
- Measured
- 68 kt (78 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 43.760, -108.887 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The wind sensor along the Chief Joseph Highway had sustained winds over 50 mph for two hours with a maximum wind gust of 78 mph.
High Wind, Upper Green River Basin
- When
- October 14, 8:34 AM MST
- Where
- Upper Green River Basin forecast zone
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 42.433, -109.520 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A 58 mph wind gust was reported at the airport at Big Piney, Wyoming.
High Wind, East Sweetwater County
- When
- October 14, 11:18 AM MST to 2:38 PM MST
- Where
- East Sweetwater County forecast zone
- Measured
- 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 41.660, -108.879 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
There were numerous high wind gusts along Interstate 80. Some notable gusts included 67 mph at Continental Divide and 62 mph at Bitter Creek.
High Wind, Wind River Basin
- When
- October 14, 11:40 AM MST to 12:12 PM MST
- Where
- Wind River Basin forecast zone
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 43.041, -108.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A wind gust of 59 mph was reported at the Riverton, Wyoming airport.
High Wind, Northeast Johnson County
- When
- October 14, 12:22 PM MST to 12:58 PM MST
- Where
- Northeast Johnson County forecast zone
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 44.039, -106.585 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The WYDOT weather sensor at Indian Creek along Interstate 90 recorded a maximum wind gust of 64 mph.
- 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.
- Strong Wind in Washington, October 13 to 14, 20201 death · $1.0 million · 2 events
- Dust Storm and High Wind in Washington, October 13, 20201 death · 1 injured · $120,000 · 52 kt wind · 5 events
- High Wind in Montana, October 13 to 14, 2020$20,000 · 65 kt wind · 3 events
- High Wind in Wyoming, October 13 to 14, 202072 kt wind · 11 events
- High Wind in Montana, October 13 to 14, 202053 kt wind · 4 events
- Drought in Texas, October 13 to 31, 20203 events
- High Wind in Washington, October 13, 202065 kt wind · 3 events
- Hail in Michigan, October 13, 20200.88 in hail · 3 events
- Drought in Hawaii, October 13 to 31, 20202 events
- Flooding in Puerto Rico, October 13, 20202 events
- Drought in Kansas, October 13 to 31, 20201 event
- High Wind in Idaho, October 13, 202056 kt wind · 1 event
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 922592, 922591, 922589, 922588, 922596, 922594, 922595, 922590.