High Wind Warning Issued for Albany County, Gusts Could Reach 85 MPH

A gust of 87 mph once tore the roof off a building at the Albany County Fairgrounds. NWS Cheyenne issued a High Wind Warning Wednesday that puts conditions in that same range, with localized gusts up to 85 mph possible along I-80 and I-25 through April 3.

The I-80 Summit between Cheyenne and Laramie and the Bordeaux area along I-25 between Chugwater and Wheatland carry the highest exposure. NWS Cheyenne warned that "strong cross winds will be hazardous to light weight or high profile vehicles, including campers and tractor trailers" in these corridors. For Laramie residents heading east toward Cheyenne or south toward Denver, the risk runs the full length of a highway already considered one of the windiest in the country. The warning was upgraded from a High Wind Watch on Wednesday, meaning sustained winds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or stronger are now considered imminent. Prior High Wind Warnings in Central Laramie County have documented gusts between 60 and 70 mph, with the Laramie Range funneling the most severe conditions into the I-80 and I-25 corridors.

The timing compounds a critical fire situation across the region. Albany County's fire restrictions, formalized under resolution #2025-001, are in effect alongside bans covering more than half of Wyoming's counties. An official notice described the stakes directly: "A potentially severe to extreme fire situation exists throughout Albany County, created by a heavy fuel load and dry conditions that could create situations that over-extend the firefighting capability of local government." The Wyoming Game and Fish Department separately imposed a fire ban on all commission-owned lands in Albany, Goshen, Laramie, and Platte counties due to extreme drought. Relative humidity during comparable wind events in the region has dropped to 15%, accelerating the potential for rapid fire spread.

Laramie County, bordering Albany County to the east, is under severe drought conditions expected to worsen with no significant precipitation in the forecast. The mild 2024-25 winter left heavy fuel loads across southeastern Wyoming, and meteorologists warn that record heat is compressing the region's margin for error.

Albany County Fire Warden Chad Dinges is the contact for fire restriction questions through Albany County Emergency Management. Residents can track the warning via Albany County Alerts, NOAA Weather Radio, or mobile weather apps. NWS Cheyenne is reachable at 307-772-2468.