High Wind — Absaroka Mountains, Wyoming

2021-12-04 · Absaroka Mountains, Wyoming

Event narrative

Winds were sustained over 50 mph along the Chief Joseph Highway for several hours. The maximum wind gust reported was 76 mph.

Wider weather episode

A cold front moving across Wyoming mixed strong mid-level winds to the surface and brought high wind to much of western and central Wyoming. The highest wind was at Clark where a maximum gust of 95 mph was reported. An 80 mph wind gust was reported at the Wind River RAWS site along the east slope of the Wind River Mountains. The strong wind led to the closure of South Pass over the southern end of the Wind River Mountains for a time due to blowing snow. Wind gusts exceeding 58 mph were also reported in Johnson, Natrona, Big Horn and Sweetwater counties.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 995037. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.