WHP responds to 11 blow overs caused by gusty winds Tuesday

Extreme high winds caused 11 blow overs on interstates 80 and 25 near Cheyenne on Tuesday, April 17.

Two blow overs occurred on I-80 while the nine others happened on I-25 south of Cheyenne toward the Colorado border.

Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers responded to the blow overs starting around 1 p.m., which resulted in several crashes. There were no fatalities from the crashes.

Southeast Wyoming was experiencing a high wind event because of a cold front, the jet stream and a low and high pressure system in the region, said Mark Heuer, meteorologist with DayWeather. 

“Wyoming’s windy season is typically from November to March, but it’s not uncommon for us to have windy days around this time of the year,” Heuer said. “But as we continue into the spring and summer months, these wind events become less common.”

The Wyoming Department of Transportation issued several closures to light and high-profile vehicles on southeast Wyoming along I-80 and I-25 during the wind event. When those closures are in place, light and high-profile vehicles are prohibited from traveling because of the danger of being blown over.

Southeast Wyoming was also under a high wind warning during that time frame. Near Lone Tree west of Cheyenne on I-80, the highest recorded wind speed was 67 mph around 4:36 p.m., information from DayWeather showed. On Otto Road on I-80 also west of Cheyenne, the highest recorded wind speed was 68 mph around 1:19 p.m.

However, wind speeds were actually higher in several locations west of Cheyenne. Readings from two Union Pacific locations, which are several miles from I-80, had wind speeds at 88 and 85 mph.

Winds also exceeded 60 mph on I-25 near Cheyenne. At Wyo Hill, which is about 3 miles south of Cheyenne, the highest recorded wind speed was 68 mph at 2:10 p.m., information from DayWeather showed. At Cheyenne, the highest recorded speed was 62 mph around 1:30 p.m. Near Whitaker, which is about 14 miles north of Cheyenne, the highest recorded speed was 66 mph at 1:45 p.m. 

For the rest of today, Wyoming should get a break from wind, rain and snow. However, winds may pick up Thursday, April 18 in the eastern part of the state with gusts between 40 and 45 mph, DayWeather indicated. Cooler temperatures and precipitation are likely to return to parts of the state Friday into Saturday.

For additional information about this news release, contact Aimee Inama, senior Public Affairs specialist, at (307) 777-4013.