Strong winds returned to southeast Wyoming on 14 February 2023 and spilled out into adjacent lower areas.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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 CYS wrote it up.
Strong winds returned to southeast Wyoming on 14 February 2023 and spilled out into adjacent lower areas.
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 14, 3:36 AM MST, 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
336 AM MST Tue Feb 14 2023
.SHORT TERM...(Today through Thursday)
Issued at 335 AM MST Tue Feb 14 2023
Potent upper level trough was progressing east through the northern
Rocky Mountains and Great Basin overnight. Surface low pressure centers
were located over western SD and east-central CO. A strong cold front
extended from east-central ND through northwest WY. Snow was developing
along and behind the front. Some mid/high clouds were spreading east
ahead of the front. Westerly winds were gusting to near 45 MPH at some
of the I-80/I-25 wind corridors. Temperatures were in the 20s and 30s.
Forecast challenges through Wednesday will focus on strong winds,
temperatures/wind chills and snow accumulations.
The low level gradients will continue to strengthen early this morning
ahead of the cold front, with west to northwest 700-800mb flow increasing
to 55-60 kt by 15Z along the Laramie Range. Between 15z and 18Z, these
strong winds aloft spread onto the adjacent high plains of southeast
WY and southern NE Panhandle. 00Z in-house random forest guidance
indicates 40-60 percent probabilities for high winds at the I-25/I-80
wind corridors. Expect sustained west to northwest winds 35-45 MPH
with gusts between 60 and 70 MPH. High Wind Warnings remain in effect
beginning early this morning and continue until 6 PM this evening for
I-25 Wheatland to Cheyenne, and I-80 near Arlington and Summit east
to Sidney. Areas to the north of the I-80 corridor into the central
Panhandle and far eastern WY remain in a High Wind Watch where gusts
up to 60 MPH are possible, mainly along ridgetops. Northwest winds
will slowly diminish Tuesday night and Wednesday, but remain breezy.
Temperatures will not moderate much this morning before the front
arrives, with highs in the 30s and lower 40s east of the Laramie Range,
and teens and 20s to the west.
Snow will increase in coverage from north to south behind the front
this afternoon and evening. Total accumulations through Wednesday
afternoon will vary from 2-3" along the Pine Ridge, 3-6" over the
higher mountains, and 1-2" elsewhere. The gusty northwest winds will
contribute to occasional blowing/drifting snow and low visibility.
Will be issuing a Winter Weather Advisory for Converse County valid
from late this morning through late tonight due to the combination
of 2-4" of snow and blowing snow. The snow will taper off from north
to south Wednesday afternoon.
It will be noticeably colder Wednesday with 700mb temperatures around
-18C.
High temperatures will struggle to rise above 10 degrees west, with
teens to lower 20s elsewhere. It will be blustery with wind chill
temperatures in the single digits and teens below zero. Lows
Wednesday night will lower to the single digits and teens below
zero with wind chills as low as -25 degrees west of the Laramie
Range. Wind Chill Advisories may be required.
After chilly start to Thursday, a slow temperature moderation ensues
as 700mb temperatures gradually rebound to around -15C. The high
temperatures Thursday will remain in the teens west, with 20s and
lower 30s east. Sustained northwesterly winds of 20-25 MPH with gusts
to 30 MPH are forecast.
.LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Monday)
Issued at 335 AM MST Tue Feb 14 2023
Thursday night the ridge axis is positioned near the western Wyoming
state line, shifting east throughout the day Friday. Friday night
the ridge begins to flatten out, turning flow back to zonal until
Sunday. The ridging pattern keeps temperatures near to above normal
with no precipitation in the forecast and near daily marginal high
wind potential. Sunday a more complicated synoptic pattern develops
across the southeast Wyoming and the Nebraska panhandle region.
There is a strong low in Canada with a stationary low just off of
the coast of southern California and another low just off the coast
of Alaska. Due to the location of this low, increased moisture is
advected into southeast Wyoming and the Nebraska panhandle, in turn
increasing the precipitation/snowfall potential Sunday through
Tuesday. This complicated setup provides significant opportunity for
change in the forecast, especially with the global models showing a
variety of solutions in terms of timing and impacts.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Wednesday morning)
Issued at 335 AM MST Tue Feb 14 2023
VFR conditions with strong, gusty winds will persist until the cold
front approaches southeast Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle. Strong
winds will be the primary weather hazard ahead of the front, with the
winds picking up early this morning, peaking between 14Z and 22Z, then
decreasing and turning north/northwesterly after the front passes.
The front is forecast to reach KRWL and KCDR between 21Z and 00Z, then
KBFF and KAIA between 23Z and 02Z, then finally KLAR, KCYS, and KSNY
between 01Z and 04Z. Cigs will drop to MVFR, and potentially IFR, as
the front moves through. Snow showers are forecast to be generally
light to moderate, but brief periods of heavy snow are possible.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 335 AM MST Tue Feb 14 2023
A potent cold front will produce strong and gusty winds, colder temperatures
and widespread light to moderate snow during the next 24 hours. Fire
weather concerns will be low for the next few days due to the snowfall,
higher humidities and cold temperatures. Temperatures will slowly moderate
Thursday through the weekend, with breezy conditions and minimum humidities
lowering to 20 to 30 percent.
&&
.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...High Wind Watch from 5 AM MST early this morning through this
afternoon for WYZ108.
High Wind Warning from 5 AM early this morning to 6 PM MST this
evening for WYZ107-118-119.
High Wind Warning until 6 PM MST this evening for WYZ106-116-117.
High Wind Warning until 6 PM MST this evening for WYZ110.
Winter Weather Advisory from 11 AM to 5 AM MST Wednesday
for WYZ101.
NE...High Wind Watch from 5 AM MST early this morning through this
afternoon for NEZ019>021.
High Wind Warning from 5 AM early this morning to 6 PM MST this
evening for NEZ054-055.
&&
SHORT TERM...MAJ
LONG TERM...LK
AVIATION...LK
FIRE WEATHER...MAJHazardous Weather Outlook...CORRECTED National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 342 AM MST Tue Feb 14 2023 NEZ019>021-054-055-WYZ106>108-110-116>119-151045- Scotts Bluff County-Banner County-Morrill County-Kimball County- Cheyenne County-Central Laramie Range and Southwest Platte County- East Platte County-Goshen County-North Snowy Range Foothills- South Laramie Range-South Laramie Range Foothills- Central Laramie County-East Laramie County- 342 AM MST Tue Feb 14 2023 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Panhandle Nebraska...south central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Strong west to northwest winds will develop today as a potent cold front moves through the area. Gusts of 55 to 70 MPH are expected through late this afternoon. High Wind Watches and Warnings are in effect. Light snow will develop and increase in coverage behind the front this afternoon and evening. One to two inches of snow is expected. There will be some blowing and drifting snow making travel hazardous at times. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY Light snow will continue Wednesday morning then taper off during the afternoon. Wind chill temperatures will drop to 10 to 20 degrees below zero Wednesday night. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation will not be required. WYZ101-151045- Converse County Lower Elevations- 342 AM MST Tue Feb 14 2023 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of east central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A strong cold front will move through later this morning with snow becoming more widespread this afternoon and evening. Periods of light to moderate snow are expected with accumulations of 2 to 4 inches. Gusty winds up to 50 MPH will produce blowing and drifting snow. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from late this morning through late tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY Light snow will taper off Wednesday morning with little or no additional accumulation. Wind chill temperatures will drop to 10 to 20 degrees below zero Wednesday night. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation will not be required. NEZ002-003-095-096-WYZ102-151045- Dawes County-Box Butte County-Northern Sioux County- Southern Sioux County-Niobrara County- 342 AM MST Tue Feb 14 2023 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Panhandle Nebraska and east central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Light snow will develop and increase in coverage behind a cold front this afternoon and evening. One to three inches of snow is expected. There will be some blowing and drifting snow making travel hazardous at times. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY Light snow will continue Wednesday morning then taper off during the afternoon. Wind chill temperatures will drop to 10 degrees below zero Wednesday night. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation will not be required. WYZ103>105-109-111>115-151045- North Laramie Range-Ferris/Seminoe/Shirley Mountains- Shirley Basin-Central Carbon County-Southwest Carbon County- Sierra Madre Range-Upper North Platte River Basin-Snowy Range- Laramie Valley- 342 AM MST Tue Feb 14 2023 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A strong cold front will move through later this morning with snow becoming more widespread this afternoon and evening. Periods of light to moderate snow are expected with accumulations of 1 to 3 inches for the valleys and 3 to 6 inches over the mountains. Gusty winds up to 50 MPH will produce occasional blowing and drifting snow. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY Light snow will continue Wednesday morning then taper off during the afternoon. Wind chill temperatures will drop to 15 to 25 degrees below zero Wednesday night. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation will not be required. MAJ
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Union Pacific Railroad site SHERWS 2 west northwest of Buford reported peak wind gust. Several WYDOT sensors reported wind gusts in excess of 58 mph as well.
Union Pacific Railroad site EMKAY 14 miles west southwest of Cheyenne reported peak wind gust.
Quealy Dome WYDOT site on Interstate 80 reported peak wind gust.
Arlington WYDOT site on Interstate 80 reported peak wind gust. Cooper Cove WYDOT site also reported wind gusts in excess of 58 mph during this time.
Union Pacific Railroad sensor at LNDBRG, 6 miles south of Albin reported sustained winds.
Bear Creek WYDOT site reported this sustained high wind.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, February 2023
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: 1069532, 1069533, 1069531, 1069530, 1069535, 1069534.