High Wind — Absaroka Mountains, Wyoming

2021-11-15 · Absaroka Mountains, Wyoming

Event narrative

High wind blew for several hours along Wyoming Highway 296 over Chief Joseph Pass. A maximum wind gust of 88 mph was recorded shortly after 2200MST.

Wider weather episode

A combination of a cold front, a potent jet, and strong winds being mixed to the surface brought high winds to much of northern and central Wyoming. The highest wind speeds were near the foothills of the Absaroka Range, where wind gusts as high as 120 mph occurred to the west of Clark. These intense gusts downed a power line, which was responsible for igniting a wildfire in the Line Creek drainage north of Clark. The wildfire spread quickly and destroyed several structures and caused one death. Wind gusts to around 90 mph were reported in northern Johnson County downing power lines that sparked several small grass fires. Wind gusts over 58 mph were also reported in Fremont and Hot Springs counties.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 991832. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.