A fast-moving Pacific cold front brought high wind to the prone portions of central Wyoming. The highest wind speed reported was 70 mph along the south side of Casper.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 RIW wrote it up.
A fast-moving Pacific cold front brought high wind to the prone portions of central Wyoming. The highest wind speed reported was 70 mph along the south side of Casper. Wind gusts of 58 mph were also reported in Johnson, Sweetwater, and Fremont counties. The high wind resulted in difficult travel conditions, including some roads being closed to high-profile vehicles for a time.
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 Jan 3, 5:29 PM MST, 7 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 529 PM MST Mon Jan 3 2022 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday night) Issued at 318 PM MST Mon Jan 3 2022 The ridge of high pressure that has brought relatively benign weather to the area this past weekend will move to the east this evening, allowing the first in a series of shortwave troughs to slide through the area riding a very strong northwesterly jet stream. An active period of winter weather begins late this evening. High-resolution models continue to show a first round of fairly intense snow showers starting in the western Wyoming mountain ranges between 8pm and midnight. A quick 2 to 4 inches overnight is likely for valleys, with 5 to 8 inches for the passes and higher terrain. Winter Weather Advisories cover the period with the highest snowfall rates and accumulations. Mid-level flow will be west-southwesterly during this first wave, so west and southwest aspects will be favored for the best orographics, and totals there could be slightly higher. Winds will increase notably overnight, especially in the terrain and for basins east of the Divide. Portions of the High Wind Watches covering Tuesday have been upgraded to High Wind Warnings, as gusts 50 to 65 mph are likely. The strong winds persist through the day, with late morning through mid-afternoon looking to have the highest gusts. Snow tapers off after sunrise (around 8 AM) Tuesday, but isolated terrain-locked showers are likely to continue throughout the day. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 318 PM MST Mon Jan 3 2022 A second weather system moves into the region after sunset on Tuesday, bringing a return of snow and wind. This shortwave is slightly stronger, with a more robust inflow of Pacific moisture. A new set of Winter Storm Watches cover the areas that have higher confidence of seeing significant snow and wind with this second weather system. In additional to another hearty round of snow for the west, basins east of the Divide are likely to see accumulations of 1 to 4 inches by Wednesday evening. The pressure gradient on Wednesday is tightest over southern Wyoming, and during the daytime hours the I-80 corridor could be quite nasty, with wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph and enough snow blowing around to reduce visibility significantly. High Wind Watches remain in effect here. Cold air pushes in from the north for locations east of the Divide, causing Wednesday and Thursday to be much colder. The bulk of the mesoscale frontal forcing will move out of the region late Wednesday night; however, continued moist upslope orographic flow will lead to more western mountain snow. The ECMWF model shows a brief break between the second and third round of moisture, but the GFS is more continuous with western mountain snowfall. For now, have focused forecasting and messaging efforts on the first two systems, but for those in western Wyoming, know that snow is likely to persist into the weekend. Have stuck with model consensus guidance Thursday onward. After a moisture-starved trough moves through on Saturday, the pattern may finally change and become more quiet as a fairly high-amplitude ridge builds over the western CONUS. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Wednesday) Issued at 515 PM Mon Jan 3 2022 East of the Divide...KCOD/KCPR/KLND/KRIW/KWRL Terminals VFR conditions will occur through the period. Gusty wind will be common at KCOD and KCPR tonight and Tuesday. Areas of LLWS will occur along the east slopes of the mountains. West of the Divide...KBPI/KJAC/KPNA/KRKS Terminals VFR conditions will occur this evening. Then snow will develop after 07Z and increase in coverage by 12Z. MVFR to IFR conditions are expected by 10Z, through at least 18Z, then gradual improving conditions through 00Z Wed. Gusty wind will occur at KRKS after 11Z through 00Z Wed. Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for the latest information on icing and turbulence forecasts. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued AT 318 PM MST Mon Jan 3 2022 An active period of winter weather begins this evening, lasting through much of the week. Three main weather systems impact the region, with this first wave bringing snow to western Wyoming, and wind to southern and central portions of the state. Several inches of low elevations are likely in the west, while daytime wind gusts in southern Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Natrona county will likely be in the 50 to 65 mph range Tuesday and Wednesday. Snow becomes scattered in nature Tuesday afternoon, but Tuesday night into Wednesday brings a quick return of widespread snow and wind, with basins east of the Divide this time seeing a good opportunity for light snow. Wednesday and Thursday will be cold east of the Divide, as strong and gusty north winds usher in arctic air. Western mountain snow continues for the second half of the week. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Watch from late Tuesday night through Wednesday evening for WYZ027>030. High Wind Warning from 2 AM to 5 PM MST Tuesday for WYZ019-020. Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 11 AM MST Tuesday for WYZ001-012>014-023>025. Winter Storm Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening for WYZ012-013-023>025. && SHORT TERM...VandenBoogart LONG TERM...VandenBoogart AVIATION...Swanson/AR FIRE WEATHER...VandenBoogart
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Riverton WY 349 PM MST Mon Jan 3 2022 WYZ001>020-022>030-042300- Yellowstone National Park-Absaroka Mountains-Cody Foothills- North Big Horn Basin-Southwest Big Horn Basin- Southeast Big Horn Basin-Owl Creek and Bridger Mountains- Bighorn Mountains West-Bighorn Mountains Southeast- Northeast Johnson County-Southeast Johnson County- Teton and Gros Ventre Mountains-Jackson Hole- Wind River Mountains West-Wind River Mountains East- Upper Wind River Basin-Wind River Basin-Lander Foothills- Green Mountains and Rattlesnake Range- Natrona County Lower Elevations-Casper Mountain-Star Valley- Salt River and Wyoming Ranges-Upper Green River Basin Foothills- Upper Green River Basin-South Lincoln County- Rock Springs and Green River-Flaming Gorge-East Sweetwater County- 349 PM MST Mon Jan 3 2022 ...Winter Weather Headlines are in effect for western Wyoming Tonight through Wednesday Evening... ...High Wind Headlines are in effect for central Wyoming Tonight through Tuesday Evening and for southern Wyoming Wednesday... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Western and Central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Several inches of snow are expected to begin for western mountains and valleys tonight. Snow showers could be intense with high snowfall rates and low visibility. Please see the Winter Weather Advisories for details. Strong westerly winds will likely gust 50 to 65 mph from the Green Mountains through Natrona County tonight. Please see the High Wind Warnings for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Tuesday...Snow continuing over the far west, tapering off in the afternoon. A chance of light snow in northern Wyoming Tuesday. Strong winds continue in central Wyoming. Tuesday Night into Wednesday...Significant snow possible over the west with accumulating snow potential east of the Divide Wednesday. High winds possible across southern Lincoln and Sweetwater Counties. Thursday and Friday...Significant snow is likely at times over the western portion of the state. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report snowfall amounts.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Riverton WY 223 PM MST Mon Jan 3 2022 WYZ003-040900- Cody Foothills- Including the cities of Clark, Cody, and Meeteetse 223 PM MST Mon Jan 3 2022 ...Strong Winds Today and Tonight... This is a special weather statement from the National Weather Service Office in Riverton. * WHAT...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 to 50 mph. Occasional gusts to 60 mph are possible in the vicinity of Clark. * WHERE...Cody Foothills, especially in the vicinity of Clark. * WHEN...Through Tonight. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Be prepared for sudden wind gusts on area roads. Lightweight and high profile vehicles will be at risk to blow over. WYZ019-020-040900- Green Mountains and Rattlesnake Range- Natrona County Lower Elevations- Including the cities of Jeffrey City and Casper 223 PM MST Mon Jan 3 2022 ...Strong Winds Today and Tonight... This is a special weather statement from the National Weather Service Office in Riverton. * WHAT...West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 to 55 mph. Gusts of 60 to 65 mph will be possible across higher peaks in the mountains and along Outer Drive (Wyoming Boulevard) on the south side of Casper. * WHERE...Green Mountain and Rattlesnake Ranges and lower elevations of Natrona County, particularly the Beaver Rim to Casper corridor. * WHEN...Through Tonight. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Be prepared for sudden wind gusts on area roads. Lightweight and high profile vehicles will be at risk to blow over.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
High wind was reported along the south side of Casper. Wind gusts of 70 and 68 mph were reported along Wyoming Boulevard and Hat Six Road, respectively.
High wind occurred across much of northern Johnson County. The peak reported wind gust was 69 mph at the Johnson County Airport.
The ASOS at Hunt Field in Lander recorded a wind gust of 58 mph.
The wind sensor at Red Canyon along Wyoming Highway 28 reported maximum wind gusts of 80 mph.
A maximum wind gust of 63 mph was reported by the ASOS at Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport. A separate 63 mph wind gust was reported at the Snow Springs RAWS site southeast of Rock Springs.
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, January 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: 1003423, 1003428, 1003432, 1003430, 1003425.