High Wind — Absaroka Mountains, Wyoming

2024-02-25 to 2024-02-26 · Absaroka Mountains, Wyoming

Event narrative

A prolonged period of high wind occurred along the Chief Joseph Highway. Wind was sustained above 50 mph for many areas, with numerous gusts over 80 mph. The maximum wind gust reported was 99 mph.

Wider weather episode

A Pacific trough moved across western and central Wyoming and brought heavy snow to northwestern Wyoming and high wind to much of the area. The heaviest snow fell in the Tetons where a maximum of 24 inches of new snow fell at the Grand Targhee Ski Resort. A foot of new snow fell at Old Faithful in Yellowstone Park. High wind was much more widespread. Wind gusts as high as 99 mph occurred along the Chief Joseph Highway in Park County. At Red Canyon along South Pass, a combination of snow and wind gusts as high as 97 mph led to the closure of Highway 28 over the pass. Wind gusts over 60 mph were also reported in the lower elevations of Park, Hot Springs, Fremont, Natrona and Sweetwater Counties. At the Natrona County airport, strong crosswinds flipped a small plane over. The occupants were not injured.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1162710. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.