Tropical storm-force winds could disrupt Wyoming travel

Tropical storm-strength winds will cut across Wyoming on Monday evening and overnight into Tuesday morning, posing a hazard to some motorists.

On early Monday morning, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Cheyenne issued a high wind watch for wind-prone areas in Wyoming, including the cities of Federal, Whitaker, Bordeaux, Elk Mountain, Pumpkin Vine, Arlington, Buford, Vedauwoo and Horse Creek, as well as parts of the southern Laramie Range. The high wind watch included roads such as along Interstate 80 near Arlington and Interstate 25 near Bordeaux.

Hazards were mainly to transportation, the alert said.

“Strong cross winds will be hazardous to light weight or high profile vehicles, including campers and tractor trailers,” the alert said. “A High Wind Watch means there is the potential for a hazardous high wind event. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 MPH or gusts of 58 MPH or stronger may occur. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.”

Meteorologists forecasted that west winds would be between 25 and 35 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph possible.

Tropical storm-force winds are measured between 39 mph and 73 mph. Winds stronger than that are classified as a hurricane using the Saffir-Simpson wind scale. Although the winds in Wyoming are not related to a tropical storm in any manner, their speed could resemble a tropical storm.

The alert is in place from 6 p.m. local time on Monday through 6 a.m. Tuesday.

“In “High Wind” conditions, small branches break off trees and loose objects are blown about,” an NWS wind threat description said. “Isolated occurrences of wind damage to porches, carports, awnings, or pool enclosures. Isolated power outages may eve occur. Winds considered dangerous for high profile vehicles and for boaters on area lakes.”

NWS meteorologist Rob Cox told Newsweek that since there aren’t many trees in the area, the biggest concern is travel.

“You definitely can see trucks get blown over, or lightweight trailers,” he said. “They completely blow over.”

The biggest threat will be along the I-25 corridor. Cox suggested that motorists wait to travel until the winds subside.

The winds are caused by a departing disturbance that is moving out of the area, Cox said. Westerly winds are following the disturbance. Cox added that winds of this speed are typical in Wyoming.

“It is pretty common here in Wyoming, we probably see wind across these areas three to four months out of the year,” he said. “It’ll happen on a consistent basis from October to March.”

Wind-prone areas in Wyoming can see strong gusts of wind up to 90 days out of the year.