High Wind Watch This Weekend

A strong cold front is expected to move through Wyoming over the weekend, bringing with it the possibility of snow and very strong wind. The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Watch in effect from Saturday night through Sunday evening, for much of southeastern Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle.

"A High Wind Watch means there is the potential for a hazardous high wind event. Sustained winds of at least 40 mph...or gusts of 58 mph or stronger may occur. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts."

The Weather Service says the wind could create significant travel and road impacts from Sidney to Elk Mountain on I-80 and from the Wyoming/Colorado state line to Chugwater on I-25.

Heavey, blowing snow is expected for Snowy, Sierra Madre Ranges and foothills Saturday through Monday, as well.

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
248 PM MDT Fri Oct 18 2019

...STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE NEAR ARLINGTON AND ELK MOUNTAIN
THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

...WIDESPREAD STRONG WINDS LIKELY ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHEAST WYOMING
AND THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE FROM LATE SATURDAY NIGHT
THROUGH SUNDAY...

NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-WYZ115>119-191200-
/O.EXT.KCYS.HW.A.0024.191020T0500Z-191021T0000Z/
Dawes-Box Butte-Scotts Bluff-Banner-Morrill-Kimball-Cheyenne-
North Sioux-South Sioux-Laramie Valley-South Laramie Range-
South Laramie Range Foothills-Central Laramie County-
East Laramie County-
Including the cities of Chadron, Chadron St Park, Alliance,
Scottsbluff, Gering, Harrisburg, Angora, Bridgeport, Bayard,
Redington, Kimball, Brownson, Sidney, Harrison, Agate, Bosler,
Laramie, Buford, Pumpkin Vine, Vedauwoo, Whitaker, Federal,
Horse Creek, Cheyenne, and Pine Bluffs
248 PM MDT Fri Oct 18 2019

...HIGH WIND WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH
SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

* TIMING...11 PM Saturday until 6 PM MDT Sunday. The strongest
  winds will occur across Carbon County during the overnight
  hours, with the peak occurring between 9 AM and 5 PM MDT across
  the rest of the area.

* WINDS...Northwest 35 to 45 MPH with gusts 65 to 70 MPH.

* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. There is a high risk for
  blow overs to light weight and high profile vehicles,
  including camping trailers.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A High Wind Watch means there is the potential for a hazardous
high wind event. Sustained winds of at least 40 mph...or gusts of
58 mph or stronger may occur. Continue to monitor the latest
forecasts.