High winds have been rocking Fremont County this week.
At 10 a.m. Tuesday, retired meteorologist, Dave Lipson reported a 100-mph wind gust that was recorded west of Riverton.
Around the same time, sustained winds were traveling at 44 mph at the Riverton airport and 30 mph in Lander and Dubois.
The high winds entered the region with the jet stream, which “came right across Idaho into Wyoming” overnight, NWS meteorologist Jason Straub said.
The jet stream itself is about 20,000 feet above the ground, but Straub said it has been “squeezed” into place over Idaho and Wyoming due to high pressure, and on Tuesday morning it was traveling at about 185 mph, sending “a lot” of energy “mixing down to the surface” in Fremont County.
“A lot of areas are seeing some very strong winds today,” Straub said. “The valley here is extremely gusty.”
The wind started to “build up” on Monday, however, Straub said – a fact that Lander resident Ron Hansen could corroborate.
Hansen posted a photo Monday afternoon showing the wind had knocked down 20 sections of his fence on Upper North Fork Road.
Each fence section was 13 feet long and weighed 800 pounds, he said.
Hansen also lost a 10-foot stock tank, which traveled a quarter of a mile downwind despite having a foot of water in it.
“(I) found one of my trash cans too,” Hansen wrote. “Two are still missing in action and might be seen in Nebraska by now.”
Fremont County residents are invited to send their own wind photos and videos to [email protected].
Be safe
The NWS has issued a high wind warning that will be in place through 6 a.m. Wednesday for the Wind River Basin.
Officials warn that “damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines,” and “travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”
“People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches,” the warning states. “If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive.”
It almost goes without saying that it’s not a good day for a fire – even though there isn’t technically a red flag warning in place.
Fremont County Fire Protection District deputy chief Dan Oakley said fire warnings are only issued if high winds combine with low fuel moistures and warm temperatures – conditions that usually don’t emerge until later in the year.
But even without a red flag warning in place, Oakley said “the public as a whole has been good” during this week’s windstorm.
His agency did respond to several brush fires Monday, but Oakley said most of those involved controlled burns that had been ongoing for days – if not weeks – and “just got picked up with the high winds.”
He encouraged residents to notify authorities if they see smoke in the area during the storm.
“I understand it could be dust as well, (but) if they think they’re seeing smoke, notify dispatch,” Oakley said.