High Wind — Southwest Big Horn Basin, Wyoming

2017-06-12 · Southwest Big Horn Basin, Wyoming

Event narrative

A pair of weather stations in Thermopolis reported wind gusts of 62 mph.

Wider weather episode

A combination of an abnormally strong upper level low, strong jet dynamics and an approaching cold front produced one of the biggest severe weather outbreaks across western and central Wyoming in many years. A total of 4 tornadoes were confirmed, including an EF2 tornado which was the strongest tornado that occurred in the NWS Riverton county warning area since 2001 which completely destroyed a trailer and threw it's base over 200 yards. There were also multiple reports of large hail, especially in Johnson County where hail up to tennis ball size was reported. In the dry slot across central and southern Wyoming, strong mid level winds mixed to the surface. The strongest winds were in the Lander foothills where wind gusts up to 76 mph occurred. Many trees were uprooted with some damage to outbuildings. Wind gusts 58 mph or over were also reported in Sweetwater County.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 697940. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.