The passage of a potent Pacific cold front in concert with a favorable jet stream position, strong mid-level winds, and a tightening pressure gradient led to widespread high wind east of the Continental Divide. Some foothill locations experienced the strong wind over an extended period spreading across two days. The strongest winds were in the wind prone areas near Clark where a wind gust of 103 mph was recorded on Thursday, February 18. In northern Johnson County, damage was reported in and around the town of Buffalo where wind gusts of 71 to 81 mph were recorded. The damage consisted of three downed light poles, roof damage of varying degrees, and trees toppled. A semitruck was overturned by high winds along Outer Drive on the south side of Casper around 0745MST on Friday. Strong wind on the west side of Cody blew down at least one billboard later that afternoon. Wind gusts near or above hurricane force were also recorded outside of Casper and in the Absaroka Range. The strong westerly flow also brought heavy snow to the Tetons. Snowfall of 15 inches was reported at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Winter Storm in TETON & GROS VENTRE MOUNTAINS, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 05:00:00 to 19-FEB-16 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall at the Raymer Plot at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort totaled 15 inches.

High Wind in ROCK SPRINGS & GREEN RIVER, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 14:15:00 to 18-FEB-16 14:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet sensor just east of Rock Springs recorded a peak gust of 58 mph.

High Wind in WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS EAST, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 05:15:00 to 18-FEB-16 06:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 46.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The Red Canyon sensor on Wyoming Highway 28 registered sustained wind over 50 mph between 0515 and 0630MST.

High Wind in CODY FOOTHILLS, WYOMING
From 19-FEB-16 15:17:00 to 19-FEB-16 21:48:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 82.00 MG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The wind sensor west of Clark topped out at 94 mph. Strong wind on the west side of Cody toppled at least one billboard.

High Wind in BIGHORN MOUNTAINS SOUTHEAST, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 20:47:00 to 19-FEB-16 00:47:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 77.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

A peak wind gust of 89 mph was measured at the School House RAWS.

High Wind in NORTHEAST JOHNSON COUNTY, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 10:51:00 to 19-FEB-16 05:36:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Very strong wind gusts occurred across northern Johnson County. Some of these included 81 mph along I-90 north of Buffalo and 71 mph at the airport in Buffalo. Three light poles, several trees, and a baseball field backstop were blown down by the wind in Buffalo. There were numerous reports of shingle and roof damage around town.

High Wind in SOUTHWEST BIG HORN BASIN, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 20:20:00 to 18-FEB-16 22:35:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Peak gusts of 63 and 60 mph were measured at the fire station in Thermopolis.

High Wind in NATRONA COUNTY LOWER ELEVATIONS, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 04:16:00 to 19-FEB-16 19:46:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 69.00 MG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Many locations across Natrona County reported wind gusts over 58 mph. Some of the highest gusts included 79 mph along Outer Drive south of Casper, 73 mph at Twenty Mile Hill, and 66 mph at the airport west of Casper. On Outer Drive, a semitruck was overturned by the wind around 0745MST.

High Wind in ABSAROKA MOUNTAINS, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 18:25:00 to 19-FEB-16 00:50:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 82.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Several wind gusts of hurricane force were recorded along the Chief Joseph Highway. The maximum gust was 94 mph.

High Wind in CODY FOOTHILLS, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 12:45:00 to 19-FEB-16 02:15:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 90.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The peak wind gust west of Clark was clocked at 103 mph.  A sensor south of Clark along State Highway 120 reached a peak of 78 mph.

High Wind in LANDER FOOTHILLS, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 06:29:00 to 18-FEB-16 06:29:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust of 59 mph was recorded along the North Folk of the Popo Agie River.

High Wind in EAST SWEETWATER COUNTY, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 12:09:00 to 18-FEB-16 15:44:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Many locations had wind gusts over 58 mph as a cold front moved through. The strongest of the gusts was 62 mph at the Rock Springs-Sweetwater County airport and a mesonet site near Continental Divide.

High Wind in UPPER GREEN RIVER BASIN, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 11:22:00 to 18-FEB-16 11:53:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

There were two wind gusts over 58 mph at the Big Piney-Marbleton airport, including a maximum of 61 mph.

High Wind in SOUTHEAST JOHNSON COUNTY, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 18:41:00 to 19-FEB-16 01:51:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 73.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind gusts routinely topped 58 mph with a peak early morning gust of 84 mph at the WYDOT I-25 Divide wind sensor.

High Wind in GREEN MOUNTAINS & RATTLESNAKE RANGE, WYOMING
From 18-FEB-16 01:10:00 to 19-FEB-16 15:10:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

Several wind gusts over 58 mph were recorded with peak gusts of 73 mph at the Fales Rock RAWS and 69 mph at the Camp Creek RAWS. A wind gust of 59 mph was recorded at Beaver Rim.