Multiple days of high winds across southeast Wyoming occurred from the 24th through the 26th with strong winds moving over eastern plains by the 26th. Observed wind gusts for wind-prone locations along Interstate 25 and 80 exceeded 80 mph at times.
Every event with a place to put it; 19 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.
Multiple days of high winds across southeast Wyoming occurred from the 24th through the 26th with strong winds moving over eastern plains by the 26th. Observed wind gusts for wind-prone locations along Interstate 25 and 80 exceeded 80 mph at times.
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 23, 4:49 PM MST, 3 hours 16 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
449 PM MST Fri Feb 23 2024
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Long duration, widespread high wind event possible starting
Friday night and continuing through much of the weekend into
Monday.
- Colder temperatures and increasing chances for snow will
develop Monday night and Tuesday, with notable accumulations
most likely in the higher elevations.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Issued at 154 PM MST Fri Feb 23 2024
Prolonged and widespread high wind event looks on track
beginning late tonight, first across the wind prone areas then
expanding across much of the region heading into the weekend.
The High Wind Watches that were in affect for the wind prone
areas and the I-80 summit have been upgraded to High Wind
Warnings this afternoon. Looking like a high confidence these
areas will begin to see wind gusts exceed 58 mph by the late
afternoon hours and get stronger throughout the evening. This
first initial surge in winds should primarily be confined to the
warned areas with general breeziness occurring across much of
SE Wyoming. The next period for high winds will be arriving on
Saturday afternoon and this will be the first period where
elevated to strong winds will impact areas across Carbon County
and portions of the I-25 corridor. High Wind Watches have been
hoisted across these regions to account for this round of winds
and the next, and potentially stronger round of winds progged to
impact these areas Sunday into Monday.
The setup Sunday night through Monday looks like a classic
widespread high wind/mountain wave event. Stronger westerly
700mb flow develops with a pocket of 70-75kt winds along the
Laramie range with widespread 50-60kt winds encompassing much of
SE Wyoming. Good pressure and CAG-CPR gradients are in place
with large downward omega values depicted underneath the belt of
the strongest winds. Very good possibility that any High Wind
Watches will be upgraded to High Wind Warnings with maybe even
an expansion of highlights east into the Nebraska Panhandle.
Outside of the wind forecast the region will see dry and mild
conditions with well above normal temperatures throughout the
weekend.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 154 PM MST Fri Feb 23 2024
The extended forecast will feature wind, snow, and more wind as the
synoptic set-up next week lends itself to a breezier period.
Coming out of the short term where High Wind Watches/Warnings are in
effect over the weekend, a continuation of these products could be
needed into Monday evening. With the CWA sandwiched between an
incoming trough to the northwest and a ridge to the south, the 250
mb jet will essentially be funneled over southern Wyoming. This will
lead to the continued high wind threat into Monday. MSLP gradients
will begin to weaken over the area, but 700 mb height gradients will
remain fairly steep throughout the day. Winds aloft are strong, with
at least 60 kts, if not more over much of the eastern half of the
CWA. There is also plenty of strong subsidence over the area to
bring these winds down to the surface. Lastly, a strong mountain
wave signal is also evident in the omega field and 500 mb heights.
During this time, the best bet for high winds looks to be the
Laramie Range and points eastward, up to the Nebraska border. Wind
gusts of over 65 MPH could be possible. High winds will ease Monday
night as the next storm system moves in.
As mentioned, the next storm system will arrive Monday night,
bringing colder temperatures and potentially accumulating snow. This
system is progressive and will likely be out of the area by Tuesday
evening, not allowing much time for any snow accumulation. However,
there is great lift with the front and pretty good QPF to get some
accumulation. Currently, areas west of the Laramie Range have the
better chance at seeing accumulation. The mountains in particular
could see 12 to 18 inches of fresh powder out of this fast moving
storm. Temperatures behind this strong front will plummet. Tuesday's
high temperatures will be 20 to 25 degrees colder compared to
Monday. Temperatures will be below average for this time of year
with highs in the 20s and 30s. Luckily, temperatures rebound back to
above average by the end of the work week as a ridge builds in.
The wind returns yet again on Wednesday once the storm system
clears out. Looking at all the classic wind signatures including
steepening MSLP and height gradients, strong 700 mb winds,
strong subsidence, and a decent mountain wave signal.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 447 PM MST Fri Feb 23 2024
Strong northwest flow aloft will prevail. Skies will remain
clear. Winds will gust to 38 knots for the Wyoming terminals,
and gust to 30 knots for the Nebraska terminals until 01Z, and
to 28 knots after 16Z Saturday.
&&
.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...High Wind Watch from Saturday afternoon through late Sunday
night for WYZ101-104-105-107>109-118-119.
High Wind Warning from 8 PM this evening to 5 AM MST Monday
for WYZ106-110-116.
High Wind Watch from late tonight through late Sunday night
for WYZ117.
NE...None.
&&
SHORT TERM...AW
LONG TERM...SF
AVIATION...RUBINHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 315 AM MST Fri Feb 23 2024 NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-WYZ101>105-107>109-111>115-118- 119-241015- 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- Central Laramie County-East Laramie County- 315 AM MST Fri Feb 23 2024 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of panhandle Nebraska...east central Wyoming...south central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Gusty winds possible later this evening, but skies remain mostly clear with ample sunshine. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY Gusty winds remain possible through most of the weekend and into the early portions of next week. Precipitation chances return Monday as winds decrease briefly ahead of a cold front. Winds return behind the cold front. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation will not be needed. WYZ106-110-116-117-241015- Central Laramie Range and Southwest Platte County- North Snowy Range Foothills-South Laramie Range- South Laramie Range Foothills- 315 AM MST Fri Feb 23 2024 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Very gusty winds possible late this evening into the overnight hours. Mostly clear skies with ample sunshine. High Wind Watches in effect this evening through the early morning hours Monday. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY High winds remain possible through most of the weekend. Precipitation chances return Monday as winds decrease ahead of a cold front. Behind the front, winds increase once more. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation will not be needed.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
750 PM MST Fri Feb 23 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0742 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 E Arlington 41.59N 106.18W
02/23/2024 M63 MPH Carbon WY Mesonet
Mesonet station WY23 1.6 E Arlington
(WYDOT).
&&
BMWThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
19 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous UPR and WYDOT mesonet stations reported high winds with gusts 60 to 80 mph. UPR mesonet station SHERWS (UR535) measured maximum wind gust 2 miles west-northwest of Buford at 9:08 AM MST on 2/25.
WYDOT mesonet station Bordeaux (KBRX) along Interstate 25 measured maximum wind gust 9 miles south of Wheatland at 3:02 AM MST on 2/25.
Numerous UPR and WYDOT mesonet stations reported high winds with gusts 60 to 80 mph. UPR mesonet station EMKAYW (UP226) measured maximum wind gust 14 miles west-southwest of Cheyenne at 12:55 AM MST on 2/25.
Cheyenne Airport ASOS station (KCYS) reported maximum wind gust at 3:03 PM MST on 2/24.
WYDOT mesonet station Gun Barrel (KGUN) along US Highway 85 reported maximum wind gust 7 miles south-southwest of Meriden at 2:30 PM MST on 2/24.
WYDOT mesonet station Quealy Dome (WY26) along Interstate 80 measured maximum wind gust 14 miles northeast of Centennial at 8:30 AM MST on 2/25. WYDOT mesonet station along Interstate 80 at Herrick Lane (WY27) also reported gusts up to 64 mph.
Numerous WYDOT mesonet stations along Interstate 80 between Rawlins and Laramie reported high winds with gusts 60 to 70 mph. WYDOT mesonet station Arlington East (WY23) measured maximum wind gust 2 miles east-southeast of Arlington at 10:44 AM MST on 2/25.
Nearby sensors across the central to northern Laramie Range gusted over 80 mph. RAWS mesonet station Dodge Creek (DODW4) reported 70 mph wind gusts 11 miles south-southeast of Garrett.
WYDOT mesonet station Coleman (WY1) along Interstate 25 measured maximum wind gust 13 miles south of Glendo at 12:14 PM MST on 2/26.
WYDOT mesonet station Shirley Rim (WY44) along Wyoming Highway 487 located 2 miles northwest of Shirley Basin reported sustained winds over 40 mph for over an hour. The maximum observed wind gust was 57 mph during this period.
RAWS mesonet station Camp Creek (CAMW4) located near Muddy Gap reported maximum wind gust at 8:50 PM MST on 2/25.
Douglas Airport ASOS station (KDGW) measured maximum wind gust at 12:29 PM MST on 2/26.
WYDOT mesonet station Bear Creek (WY40) along Interstate 25 measured maximum wind gust 8 miles south of Chugwater at 12:52 AM MST on 2/26. Cheyenne Airport ASOS station (KCYS) also reported wind gusts up to 63 mph during the late morning on 2/26.
WYDOT mesonet station Bordeaux (KBRX) along Interstate 25 measured maximum wind gust 9 miles south of Wheatland at 11:26 AM MST on 2/26.
Numerous WYDOT mesonet stations along Interstate 80 between Rawlins and Laramie reported high winds with gusts around 60 mph. WYDOT mesonet station Cooper Cove (WY24) measured maximum wind gust 7 miles east-southeast of Arlington at 2:04 PM MST on 2/26.
Numerous UPR and WYDOT mesonet stations reported high winds with gusts around 60 mph. UPR mesonet station EMKAYW (UP226) measured maximum wind gust 14 miles west-southwest of Cheyenne at 10:29 AM MST on 2/26.
Torrington Airport ASOS station (KTOR) measured maximum wind gust at 10:03 AM MST on 2/26.
WYDOT mesonet station Gun Barrel (KGUN) along US Highway 85 reported maximum wind gust 7 miles south-southwest of Meriden at 10:06 AM MST on 2/26.
Numerous UPR and WYDOT mesonet stations reported high winds with gusts 60 to 70 mph. WYDOT mesonet station Buford East (WY37) along Interstate 80 measured maximum wind gust 1 mile east-southeast of Buford at 2:36 PM MST on 2/26.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, February 2024
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: 1154920, 1154914, 1154921, 1157120, 1157121, 1154918, 1154917, 1154911, 1154915, 1154913, 1154912, 1154909, 1157126, 1157122, 1157123, 1157125, 1154916, 1157127, 1157124.