High Wind in Central Laramie County, Wyoming

Long duration damaging high wind event for central Laramie County, including all of Cheyenne. Numerous reports of downed/uprooted trees, widespread power outages which impacted the city of Cheyenne and surrounding areas, damaged fences, personal property damage. A few reports of very large trees uprooted around the older parts of the city, including 29th and Carey, near the Cheyenne Public Library. Numerous reports and webcam images of flipped over semi trucks with minor injuries near the junction of Interstate 25 and Interstate 80. Peak gust of 109 MPH measured at the Bear Creek WYDOT site. Cheyenne Airport ASOS measured a peak gust of 92 MPH.

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.