High winds impacted much of Northern Wyoming. However, it was spotty if the high winds made it down to the surface, with a few counties not seeing gusts at or above 58 mph.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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 BYZ wrote it up.
High winds impacted much of Northern Wyoming. However, it was spotty if the high winds made it down to the surface, with a few counties not seeing gusts at or above 58 mph.
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 Billings, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 16, 5:52 PM MST, 5 hours 8 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Billings MT
552 PM MST Mon Feb 16 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- High confidence in mountain waves along the Absaroka/Beartooth
and Bighorn/Pryor foothills. Wind gusts 50-75 mph are expected
early Tuesday morning through mid day.
- Cold front brings strong northwest winds and falling
temperatures Tuesday. Gusts of 50-65 mph likely across the
plains.
- Take care not to start fires as the potential for grass fires to
spread will be elevated Tuesday!
- Light rain/snow showers Tuesday into Tuesday night, with a few
inches of mountain snow.
- A period of lower elevation snow and much colder temperatures
Wednesday and Thursday; expect 1 to 3 inches of accumulation and
potentially difficult travel conditions.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Today through Sunday...
Ahead of a disturbance moving through tonight into tomorrow,
strong winds associated with mountain waves will be the biggest
concern. Strong southwest winds 45-55 kts at 700mb (~mountain top)
along with a tight pressure gradient along the mountains will
allow for these winds to push down to the surface. The potential
for strong winds begins around 2-3 am MST for the Bighorns as the
stronger 700 winds nudge in from the south. Up to a 60-70% chance
exists for gusts to 70 mph along the Bighorn foothills. Late
morning, this potential shifts to the Absaroka/ Beartooth
foothills. Chances for at least 70 mph are around 70-80% along the
MT/WY border. The remainder of these foothills have about a
30-60% chance for gusts to at least 70 mph. Mountain waves have
the potential to down trees and power lines as well as break
windows. Use caution and avoid being near these as through the
morning and afternoon hours if possible. Additionally, avoid any
recreation in high country as whiteout conditions will create very
hazardous conditions with the combination of strong winds up to
80 mph and blowing snow. As the frontal passage moves through,
strong winds in the low levels and a tight pressure gradient will
create strong wind gusts across the plains. Winds are expected to
be in the 50-65 mph range from the late morning through early
evening hours. Make sure to tie down any loose outdoor items.
Other weather concerns during this time also include heightened
grass fire weather. The potential for fires to spread is high,
mainly along the foothills of the Bighorns and Pryors given low
humidities and strong winds. Avoid any kind of burning during
this time. Additionally, as light precipitation move through
(mainly across eastern MT) late Tuesday afternoon, precip will
transition from rain to snow. The combination of strong winds and
snow will create up to a 40% chance for visibilities below half a
mile for Fallon county. This will only last a few hours as precip
is expected to move through fairly quick with accumulations of
less than an inch expected. Snow accumulations across the plains
will be light. As a result of these high winds, high wind warnings
and advisories have been put out across the region. Please take
care to read the specifics pertaining to your area.
Wednesday into Thursday, another disturbance will bring increased
chances of precipitation. With cooler air in place, there are
moderate to high chances for at least two inches of snow. An
additional weak wave looks to move through Friday, but little
moisture is associated with it. Ensembles have ridging building
back in for the weekend.
High temperatures will be in the 40s and 50s Tuesday, teens to
low 30s Wednesday and Thursday, 20s to 30s Friday and Saturday,
warming back into the 40s by Sunday. TS
.AVIATION...
00Z TAF Discussion...
VFR conditions will persist across lower elevations through
Tuesday. A push of moisture from the south will bring snow to the
Beartooth Mountains late tonight into Tuesday, resulting in
obscurations of the high terrain. Scattered light rain/snow
showers are expected at lower elevations tomorrow.
Strong winds: By mid evening will see southwest winds increase
along the western foothills gap wind areas (KLVM/K6S0 30-40kts),
becoming strong overnight (50-60kts). Mountain wave activity is
expected to develop overnight along the northern and eastern
Beartooth foothills and and the eastern foothills of the Pryor and
Bighorn mountains including the KSHR vicinity. Occasional S-SW
wind gusts 40-50kts are possible from 08-17z. A cold front will
bring strong (gusts 35-50kts) NW winds across lower elevations
Tuesday afternoon and evening.
JKL
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...
Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
-----------------------------------------------------------
BIL 037/054 018/027 009/024 009/033 013/036 014/042 024/056
12/W 22/S 74/S 12/J 11/B 00/B 01/B
LVM 033/045 020/028 010/028 011/032 015/037 016/044 026/052
26/J 25/S 73/S 22/J 21/B 10/B 12/W
HDN 032/056 016/029 009/024 006/034 011/036 012/045 019/056
13/W 31/B 85/S 22/J 21/B 10/B 01/B
MLS 033/053 016/024 006/016 002/026 007/026 004/034 014/047
05/W 30/U 44/S 11/B 11/B 00/B 00/B
4BQ 038/059 019/031 009/018 003/029 009/031 009/039 020/053
06/W 30/U 66/S 11/B 11/B 00/U 00/B
BHK 033/055 015/028 002/014 000/023 005/025 003/032 013/043
05/W 61/Q 35/S 12/J 11/B 00/U 00/B
SHR 030/054 015/033 005/021 002/031 007/034 009/043 019/056
14/W 33/S 96/S 22/J 21/B 00/B 00/B
&&
.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...High Wind Warning in effect from 8 AM to 8 PM MST Tuesday FOR
ZONES 29>32-34-36-37-42-57-58-63-141-170-172-173-228-235.
High Wind Warning in effect from 2 PM Tuesday to 2 AM MST
Wednesday FOR ZONE 33.
High Wind Warning in effect from 11 PM this evening to 8 PM
MST Tuesday FOR ZONES 56-138-139-169-171.
Wind Advisory in effect from 8 AM to 8 PM MST Tuesday FOR
ZONES 65-66.
High Wind Warning in effect from 5 AM to 8 PM MST Tuesday FOR
ZONE 67.
WY...High Wind Warning in effect from 11 PM this evening to 8 PM
MST Tuesday FOR ZONES 198-199.
&&
weather.gov/billingsThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Pompey Creek gusted to 62 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, February 2026
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: 1321506.