An extended period of localized high winds occurred near the Bordeaux gap area along Interstate 25 on the 27th. Additionally, the Elk Mountain area along Interstate 80 recorded a brief period of high winds early on the 26th.
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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.
An extended period of localized high winds occurred near the Bordeaux gap area along Interstate 25 on the 27th. Additionally, the Elk Mountain area along Interstate 80 recorded a brief period of high winds early on the 26th.
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 Feb 26, 4:23 AM MST, 41 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 423 AM MST Sat Feb 26 2022 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Monday) Issued at 255 AM MST Sat Feb 26 2022 Current observations across the area early this morning show a continuation of very cold temperatures across western Nebraska and most of southeast Wyoming. Temperature readings in the single digits, above and below zero, are common with a few areas in the more sheltered valleys near 10 below zero. The "warm" spot appears to be the lee-side of the Laramie Range due to localized downslope winds with readings in the low to mid teens. The upper level shortwave responsible for the continuation of the colder than normal weather is forecast to push across southeast Wyoming this morning and eject east into the plains. Once this trough exits the area, most of the colder air aloft will push east with it, allowing for ridging aloft and slowly rising temperatures. Primary forecast concern this weekend and into Monday is the potential for locally strong winds across the Wind Prone areas of southeast Wyoming. However, confidence is relatively low at this time with maybe low-moderate confidence late Sunday night and early Monday as the NBM 4.1 peak gust probability seems to be hinting at. Models show strong near-surface low level pressure gradients with 800-850 height gradients around 60-70 meters at times, peaking between 6z to 15z in the early morning hours each day. However, 700mb flow is pretty weak with winds of maybe 30 to 35 knots until late Sunday night. Models show a weak Pacific shortwave quickly moving across Wyoming Sunday night, resulting in peak 700mb winds approaching 45 knots by early Monday morning. 700mb and 500mb subsidence is relatively weak to maybe moderate late Sunday night. With this pattern in mind, in-house models are not impressive showing a relative peak between 11 PM Saturday and 11 am Sunday for Bordeaux, and several smaller peaks for Arlington early Sunday and early Monday morning (both below 60% prob). Overall, this is a tricky forecast because we are slowly easing out of gap wind season; although it can still occur in late February and early March. Current winds across the Arlington and Bordeaux regions show a few peak gusts of 53 mph to 45 mph respectively. Will hold off on any wind headlines early this morning and for late tonight/early Sunday morning UNLESS winds come up quickly over the next few hours. Sunday night/early Monday appears to have the most potential to hit High Wind criteria for several hours but will hold off on any High Wind Watches for now. Other than locally gusty winds across southeast Wyoming, a quiet and warmer weather pattern is expected to begin for most of the region Sunday and Monday. All models show a fast moving high amplitude ridge axis pushing across Wyoming and the four corners region on Sunday. After a very cold week, high temperatures are expected to rebound into the 40s and 50s both Sunday and Monday afternoon. The only exception will be the colder interior valleys of south central Wyoming near and south of Saratoga and Rawlins, where high temperatures will struggle to climb into the 30s with lows possibly remaining below zero due to the stubborn valley temperature inversion. .LONG TERM...(Monday night through Friday) Issued at 257 AM MST Sat Feb 26 2022 Nothing remarkable to speak of in the long term. The weather looks fairly quiet for the work week, with high winds possible in the wind prone areas Monday night into Tuesday, well above-average temperatures for the mid-week, and our next precipitation chance by the end of the week. Pressure gradients tighten Monday night along and west of the Laramie Range with 850 mb CAG-CPR height gradients ranging from 70 to 80 m. This will potentially cause high winds in the wind prone areas, including ARL, BRX, and the south Laramie Range, and gusty winds in adjacent areas. A 4 to 5 mb gradient, good subsidence, and 50 kt 750 mb winds exist over the Laramie Range Monday night which will likely contribute to the high wind threat. Pressure gradients begin to ease Tuesday, weakening the winds. Mid-week temperatures skyrocket as an upper-level ridge sits over the western half of the United States. For the most part, 700 mb temperatures remain above 0C Tuesday through Thursday. Upped temperatures on Tuesday as its likely downslope winds will keep areas east of the Laramie Range fairly mild overnight Monday. Downslope winds could continue into the day Tuesday, along with sunny skies making for a much warmer than average March 1st. Warm temperatures continue into Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures begin to cool off on Friday as the next shortwave system brings a chance of precipitation to the region. As of now, long range guidance does not suggest a very organized system. ECMWF shows a bit more precip over the region than the GFS. However, both show fairly light precipitation at this time. This system will likely evolve as we get closer in time to next weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Sunday morning) Issued at 422 AM MST Sat Feb 26 2022 VFR conditions will continue through the day Saturday. Wind gusts between 20 and 30 kts are possible at all terminals this afternoon. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 157 AM MST Sat Feb 26 2022 No fire weather concerns due to recent arctic airmass and snowfall across the northern Front Range. Temperatures are expected to trend warmer this weekend and into early/mid next week with daytime humidities lowering between 25-40 percent by mid week. && .CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WY...None. NE...None. && SHORT TERM...TJT LONG TERM...SF AVIATION...SF FIRE WEATHER...TJT
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 401 AM MST Sat Feb 26 2022 NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-WYZ101>105-107>109-111>119- 271115- Dawes County-Box Butte County-Scotts Bluff County-Banner County- Morrill County-Kimball County-Cheyenne County- Northern Sioux County-Southern Sioux County- 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-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- 401 AM MST Sat Feb 26 2022 This hazardous weather outlook is for the western Nebraska panhandle, southeast Wyoming, and east central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation will not be needed. WYZ106-110-271115- Central Laramie Range and Southwest Platte County- North Snowy Range Foothills- 401 AM MST Sat Feb 26 2022 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Very windy this morning with sustained west to southwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with occasional gusts around 55 mph. Winds should ease in the afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY Strong winds will be possible Sunday and Sunday night with gusts up to 60 mph in the wind prone corridors. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation will not be needed.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 312 AM MST Sat Feb 26 2022 WYZ110-261330- North Snowy Range Foothills- Including the cities of Arlington and Elk Mountain 312 AM MST Sat Feb 26 2022 ...Locally Strong Gusty Winds Early This Morning near Arlington... WYDOT wind sensors along Interstate 80 between Arlington and Elk Mountain show wind gusts of 50 to 57 MPH at 300 AM MST this morning. Isolated gusts up to 60 MPH are possible before sunrise between Mile Markers 240 and 270 along Interstate 80 this morning. Those traveling in light and high profile vehicles are urged to use caution. Be prepared for sudden strong wind gusts at times. tt
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
WYDOT mesonet station along Interstate 80 at County Road 402 (WY20) measured maximum wind gust 3 miles east-southeast of Elk Mountain.
WYDOT mesonet station Bordeaux (KBRX) along Interstate 25 measured maximum wind gust 9 miles south of Wheatland at 3:58 PM MST on the 27th. Interstate 25 between Cheyenne and Wheatland was closed to light, high-profile vehicles for over 12 hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, February 2022
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: 1001081, 1001080.