High Wind in North Snowy Range Foothills, Wyoming

All reporting observation sites across the northern Snowy Range Foothills measured persistent wind gusts over 58 MPH in a long duration wind event. Peak wind gust of 97 MPH was measured at Cooper Cove, northwest of Laramie.

A rare strong and damaging downslope wind event started in the early morning hours of March 12th and continued through March 13th. Intense mountain wave activity was also a contributing factor to widespread wind gusts between 80 to 110 MPH across southeast Wyoming. Numerous reports of tree damage, power outages, and property damage including flipped over sixteen-wheeler tractor trailer trucks were reported to WYDOT and the National Weather Service. Areas of blowing dust also resulted in lower visibility on area roadways, which added to the already difficult travel scenario.