A tight pressure gradient and very strong winds aloft brought an extended period of high winds to portions of northwest and central Wyoming. The strongest winds were in the favored areas of the eastern foothills of the Absaroka Range. The winds were strong enough to topple 13 high voltage transmission power poles west of Meeteetse Thursday night, February 5. The resulting power outage affected about 2,100 people. Muddy ground conditions prevented crews from getting equipment to where the towers fell, so some customers were without power until early Monday, February 9.
The strong winds continued on Friday, February 6. A mesonet anemometer five miles west-northwest of Clark had sustained winds of hurricane force for over an hour with a maximum wind gust of 114 mph. At least one home was damaged by the wind. Other strong wind gusts included 94 mph on Chief Joseph Pass, 82 mph at Fales Rock RAWS in southwest Natrona County, 78 mph at Red Canyon and Grass Creek Divide, and 74 mph in the North Fork Canyon along the east slopes of the Wind River Range.

High Wind in CODY FOOTHILLS, WYOMING
From 05-FEB-15 15:51:00 to 05-FEB-15 20:37:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 84.00 MG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind gusts to near 100 mph toppled power poles and caused power outages in rural areas around Meeteetse.

High Wind in SOUTHEAST JOHNSON COUNTY, WYOMING
From 07-FEB-15 09:51:00 to 07-FEB-15 18:31:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The wind sensor on Interstate 25 north of Kaycee measured several wind gusts past 58 mph including a maximum of 68 mph.

High Wind in OWL CREEK & BRIDGER MOUNTAINS, WYOMING
From 07-FEB-15 10:42:00 to 07-FEB-15 10:42:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 66.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust of 76 mph was recorded at Grass Creek Divide RAWS.

High Wind in GREEN MOUNTAINS & RATTLESNAKE RANGE, WYOMING
From 07-FEB-15 07:50:00 to 07-FEB-15 19:10:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 71.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

Strong winds occurred in portions of the Green and Rattlesnake ranges. The highest wind gust recorded was 82 mph at Fales Rock RAWS. Gusts to 65 mph were recorded at Beaver Rim and Camp Creek RAWS.

High Wind in ABSAROKA MOUNTAINS, WYOMING
From 05-FEB-15 13:30:00 to 06-FEB-15 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 75.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The peak wind on Chief Joseph Pass was clocked at 86 mph.

High Wind in NATRONA COUNTY LOWER ELEVATIONS, WYOMING
From 07-FEB-15 07:06:00 to 07-FEB-15 16:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The wind sensor at Outer Drive near Casper had a wind gust to 72 mph. Other strong wind gusts included 62 mph at Hiland, and 59 mph at the Casper-Natrona County International Airport.

High Wind in WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS EAST, WYOMING
From 07-FEB-15 08:20:00 to 07-FEB-15 08:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 68.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 78 mph wind gust was recorded at Red Canyon.

High Wind in LANDER FOOTHILLS, WYOMING
From 07-FEB-15 07:46:00 to 07-FEB-15 10:41:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust of 74 mph was recorded at a ranch along the North Fork of the Popo Agie River. The ASOS at the Lander Airport had a wind gust of 59 mph.

High Wind in NORTHEAST JOHNSON COUNTY, WYOMING
From 07-FEB-15 12:20:00 to 07-FEB-15 15:46:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The weather sensor at Piney Creek had a wind gust of 65 mph. The ASOS at the Buffalo Airport had a wind gust to 58 mph.

High Wind in ABSAROKA MOUNTAINS, WYOMING
From 06-FEB-15 17:55:00 to 07-FEB-15 00:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 82.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A sensor on Chief Joseph Pass registered a wind gust to 94 mph.

High Wind in CODY FOOTHILLS, WYOMING
From 06-FEB-15 20:24:00 to 07-FEB-15 13:25:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 99.00 MG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Sustained hurricane force winds with several gusts in excess of 100 mph occurred west-northwest of Clark. The wind caused damage to at least one home.