High Wind — Northeast Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming

2021-11-16 · Northeast Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming

Event narrative

Winds gusted to 78 mph. Key Impacts: Multiple trees down and power lines down resulting in power outages.

Wider weather episode

A period of very strong winds occurred for several days across the Billings Forecast Area. The strongest winds with accompanied damage occurred during the late evening of the 15th through the early afternoon hours on the 16th. A very strong jet stream overhead, along with rapid pressure rises behind a cold front, resulted in very strong, damaging winds. In addition, a mountain wave formed overnight over the Bighorn Mountains. This caused the strong jet stream winds aloft to be brought to the surface in an accelerated motion on the eastern side of the mountains. Story, Wyoming was hit the hardest as wind gusts to 96 mph were reported across that area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 987513. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.