High Wind Watches Cover Albany County; Arlington, Elk Mountain Face 75 mph Gusts

Arlington and Elk Mountain are bracing for winds gusting as high as 75 mph this evening after the National Weather Service in Cheyenne extended High Wind Watches into portions of Albany County. The warnings for those two communities are in effect through Wednesday as strong winds sweep across southeast Wyoming.

NWS Cheyenne issued the watches and warnings for Albany County on February 24, 2026, citing the potential for hazardous gusts that will arrive beginning this evening. The agency’s forecast specifically names Arlington and Elk Mountain as locations where the strongest gusts are expected, a clear signal that the eastern and higher-elevation pockets of the county face the greatest risk.

Residents are being urged to prepare for potential impacts from the high winds. The advisory language from the National Weather Service identifies possible disruption to routine travel and local services during the warning period through Wednesday, and recommends that people in Arlington, Elk Mountain, and other affected portions of Albany County take steps now to secure loose outdoor items.

The extension of High Wind Watches into portions of Albany County places pressure on local emergency management and public works operations in Laramie and smaller towns to monitor conditions closely. With NWS Cheyenne flagging southeast Wyoming for elevated wind, county officials responsible for road maintenance and municipal services will need to assess whether additional staffing or pre-positioning of crews is necessary as the winds arrive this evening and persist into Wednesday.

For motorists on routes through Albany County, the timing matters: the strongest gusts are forecast to begin in the evening, according to the NWS notice issued February 24, 2026. That schedule concentrates the highest-risk window during hours when visibility and travel patterns can already be reduced, increasing the potential for wind-related travel disruptions in and around Arlington and Elk Mountain.

NWS Cheyenne’s watches and warnings remain the controlling guidance for the event that is unfolding across southeast Wyoming. Those in Albany County, especially residents and businesses in Arlington and Elk Mountain, should treat the warnings through Wednesday as active forecasts and prepare accordingly as the first gusts arrive this evening.