Alert archive / Wyoming / Tornado Warnings in 2008
Tornado Warning 18, NWS Cheyenne, WY
NWS Cheyenne, WY issued this tornado warning at May 23, 2008, 4:05 PM MDT for Platte County, Wyoming. It was in force for 25 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- May 23, 2008, 4:05 PM MDT (22:05 UTC)
- Expired
- May 23, 2008, 4:30 PM MDT
- In force
- 25 min
- Issued by
- NWS Cheyenne, WY
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
County Platte County, WY
The radar
The Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 121 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:04 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 4:31 PM MDT | HAIL 1 | Guernsey, WY | SIZE RANGE FROM DIME TO QUARTER. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 7, 12:52 PM MST | Tornado Watch | SPC | 146 days |
| May 23, 12:41 PM MDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Rapid City, SD (KUNR), launched 12:00Z, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 259 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 480 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 58 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 180 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 300 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 WFUS55 KCYS 232205 TORCYS WYC031-232230- /O.NEW.KCYS.TO.W.0018.080523T2205Z-080523T2230Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 405 PM MDT FRI MAY 23 2008 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHEYENNE HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... EAST CENTRAL PLATTE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WYOMING... * UNTIL 430 PM MDT * AT 400 PM MDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GRAYROCKS RESERVOIR...OR 8 MILES EAST OF WHEATLAND... MOVING NORTH AT 36 MPH. * THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... GUERNSEY BY 420 PM... MOVE INTO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. ABANDON MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES. THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM ACT QUICKLY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN CHEYENNE AT 1-800-269-6220. LAT...LON 4237 10498 4239 10470 4204 10470 4204 10490 TIME...MOT...LOC 2205Z 175DEG 31KT 4211 10480 $$ RUBIN
2 follow-up statements
000
WWUS55 KCYS 232211
SVSCYS
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
412 PM MDT FRI MAY 23 2008
WYC031-232230-
/O.CON.KCYS.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-080523T2230Z/
PLATTE WY-
412 PM MDT FRI MAY 23 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM MDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL PLATTE COUNTY...
AT 409 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS
LOCATED NEAR GRAYROCKS RESERVOIR...OR 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF
WHEATLAND...MOVING NORTH AT 37 MPH.
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
GUERNSEY BY 425 PM...
HARTVILLE BY 430 PM...
IF YOU ARE NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IN AN INTERIOR
ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. PROTECT YOUR HEAD AND BODY FROM FLYING
DEBRIS.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM FRIDAY EVENING FOR
CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND SOUTHEASTERN WYOMING.
REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
CHEYENNE AT 1-800-269-6220.
LAT...LON 4234 10486 4233 10469 4230 10471 4223 10469
4222 10471 4218 10470 4211 10472 4213 10484
TIME...MOT...LOC 2212Z 184DEG 32KT 4217 10477
$$
RUBIN000
WWUS55 KCYS 232231
SVSCYS
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
431 PM MDT FRI MAY 23 2008
WYC031-232241-
/O.EXP.KCYS.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-080523T2230Z/
PLATTE WY-
431 PM MDT FRI MAY 23 2008
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL PLATTE COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN PLATTE
COUNTY UNTIL 515 PM MDT.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM FRIDAY EVENING FOR
CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND SOUTHEASTERN WYOMING.
REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
CHEYENNE AT 1-800-269-6220.
LAT...LON 4234 10486 4233 10469 4230 10471 4223 10469
4222 10471 4218 10470 4211 10472 4213 10484
TIME...MOT...LOC 2211Z 184DEG 32KT 4216 10477
$$
RUBINWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Cheyenne, WY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 23, 2:36 PM MDT, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 23, 2:36 PM MDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
236 PM MDT FRI MAY 23 2008
.SHORT TERM...UPPER JET WILL BE OVER THE NEB PANHANDLE THIS
EVENING. UPPER LOW WILL RETROGRADE OFF THE NORTHERN CA COAST
TONIGHT. MOIST SOUTHEAST FLOW WILL CONTINUE AT THE SURFACE WITH
SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT. THIS WILL RESULT IN LOW AND MID LEVEL WIND
SHEAR...BOTH DIRECTIONAL AND SPEED. A STRONG PIECE OF ENERGY WILL
MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...MAINLY EAST OF
THE LARAMIE RANGE. MODERATELY UNSTABLE AIRMASS COMBINED WITH THE
DYNAMICS WILL RESULT IN A CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
MUCH OF THE CWA THROUGH THIS EVENING. LARGE HAIL AND A FEW
TORNADOES WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS WITH THE STORMS. SW FLOW WILL
CONT ALOFT SAT BUT SHEAR PROFILES WILL NOT BE AS STRONG AS SURFACE
WINDS SHIFT TO THE SW. AIRMASS WILL BE MORE STABLE SAT AFTERNOON
AND EVENING...THEREFORE EXPECT ONLY GENERAL TYPE THUNDERSTORMS.
STRONG WINDS IN NEB PANHANDLE SHOULD DECREASE BY 9 PM THIS EVENING
AS GRADIENT BEGINS TO RELAX.
.LONG TERM...SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON MAY 30TH.
SUNDAY...RELATIVELY QUIESCENT DAY AS LOW AMPLITUDE SHORTWAVE RIDGING
PREVAILS ACROSS EASTERN WYOMING. LOW/MID LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE
WILL BE RELATIVELY DRY DUE TO WEST FLOW THUS ONLY 10-25 PERCENT OF
AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE EXPECTED...WITH NO
SEVERE STORMS ANTICIPATED DUE TO LIMITED SHEAR AND BUOYANCY.
MEMORIAL DAY...COLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL MOVE SOUTHWARD SUNDAY
NIGHT WITH MOIST UPSLOPE LOW LEVEL DAY TWO FLOW OCCURRING IN THE POST
COLD FRONTAL AIRMASS. LOW/MID LEVEL INSTABILITY AXIS WILL DEVELOP
ACROSS SOUTHEAST WYOMING AND WESTERN NEBRASKA IN LOW AND MID LEVEL
THETA-E RIDGE AXISES. WITH DECENT SHEAR AND BUOYANCY...MECHANICAL
LIFT FROM LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE AND SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVING ACROSS AT
PEAK HEATING...EXPECT SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS AFTERNOON AND EVENING
THUNDERSTORMS...MOST NUMEROUS ACROSS FAR SOUTHEAST WYOMING AND
SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA. HAVE ADDED MENTION OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS FAR SOUTHEAST WYOMING AND SOUTHWEST
NEBRASKA IN INSTABILITY AXIS.
TUESDAY...SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ONCE AGAIN...
MOST NUMEROUS EAST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE IN UPSLOPE FLOW REGIME.
EXPECT MORE LIMITED THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE DUE TO RISING HEIGHTS
ALOFT AND DECREASE ON LOW/MID LEVEL MOISTURE. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
LOOK LESS LIKELY.
WEDNESDAY...EVEN DRIER AS HEIGHTS ALOFT RISE WITH SHORTWAVE RIDGING
DEVELOPING ACROSS EASTERN WYOMING AND NEBRASKA. ONLY ISOLATED
AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ON TAP WITH LESS LOW/MID LEVEL
MOISTURE.
THURSDAY...DRY SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT PREVAILS. WITH WARM MID LEVEL
TEMPERATURES ACTING AS A CAPPING INVERSION ALONG WITH RELATIVELY DRY
LOW LEVELS...ONLY ISOLATED LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS
ON TAP.
FRIDAY...GFS HINTS AT MORE UNSETTLED PATTERN WITH TROUGHING ALOFT
ACROSS MONTANA AND WYOMING. FOR NOW...WILL STICK WITH STATUS QUO AND
KEEP MINIMAL AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FORECAST. RUBIN
&&
.AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE
TONIGHT AND SATURDAY...WHILE AREAS OF MVFR AND IFR WILL OCCUR THIS
AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY EAST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE DUE TO
THUNDERSTORMS AND LOW CLOUDS. GUSTY SURFACE WINDS WILL OCCUR IN
THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE THROUGH MID EVENING WITH SOUTHEAST WINDS OF
25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH.
&&
.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6 PM FRIDAY FOR WYZ061-WYZ063.
NE...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM FRIDAY FOR NEZ001-NEZ002-NEZ003-NEZ019-
NEZ020-NEZ021-NEZ054-NEZ055.
&&
SHORT TERM/AVIATION...KMD
LONG TERM....RUBINHazardous weather outlook, May 23, 10:20 AM MDT, 5 hours 45 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 1020 AM MDT FRI MAY 23 2008 NEZ001>003-019>021-054-055-WYZ059>070-241145- SIOUX-DAWES-BOX BUTTE-SCOTTS BLUFF-BANNER-MORRILL-KIMBALL- CHEYENNE-CONVERSE-NIOBRARA-SOUTHWEST CARBON-NORTH CARBON- SNOWY RANGE-NORTH LARAMIE RANGE-LARAMIE VALLEY-LARAMIE RANGE- PLATTE-GOSHEN-CHEYENNE FOOTHILLS-PINE BLUFFS- 1020 AM MDT FRI MAY 23 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE AND SOUTHEAST WYOMING. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL REDEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON. SOME THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE OVER THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE...WITH A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS EAST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE IN WYOMING. THE MAIN THREAT WITH THE STORMS WILL BE LARGE HAIL...WITH A TORNADO POSSIBLE IN THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE. A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF PLATTE COUNTY WYOMING THROUGH FRIDAY AS ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AND EXISTING HIGH WATER LEVELS WILL PRODUCE CONTINUED FLOODING OVER PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY. ANOTHER FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE LITTLE SNAKE RIVER IN FAR SOUTHWEST CARBON COUNTY THROUGH 300 PM MDT TODAY. THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF CARBON COUNTY THROUGH FRIDAY. THERE IS A CONCERN THAT ADDITIONAL SHOWERS DURING THAT TIME COULD CAUSE SOME RIVERS AND STREAMS ALREADY SWOLLEN WITH SNOW MELT RUNOFF TO FLOOD. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY AS DISTURBANCES MOVE THROUGH THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH TO THE WEST ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST WYOMING. && THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGIC...AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT... HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHEYENNE
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 23, 1:43 PM MDT, 2 hours 22 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
143 PM MDT FRI MAY 23 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0125 PM HAIL 5 NE CHEYENNE 41.20N 104.72W
05/23/2008 M0.88 INCH LARAMIE WY TRAINED SPOTTER
0127 PM HAIL 7 NE CHEYENNE 41.22N 104.70W
05/23/2008 M0.50 INCH LARAMIE WY TRAINED SPOTTER
0132 PM HAIL 3 SE CHEYENNE 41.11N 104.75W
05/23/2008 M0.88 INCH LARAMIE WY TRAINED SPOTTER
0133 PM HAIL 2 SE CHEYENNE 41.12N 104.76W
05/23/2008 E0.25 INCH LARAMIE WY PUBLIC
&&Local storm report, May 23, 2:12 PM MDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
212 PM MDT FRI MAY 23 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0133 PM HAIL 5 SE CHEYENNE 41.09N 104.72W
05/23/2008 M1.00 INCH LARAMIE WY TRAINED SPOTTER
0133 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 10 SE CHEYENNE 41.04N 104.66W
05/23/2008 LARAMIE WY TRAINED SPOTTER
SITED SOUTH OF ARCHER
0133 PM HAIL 11 SE CHEYENNE 41.03N 104.64W
05/23/2008 E1.25 INCH LARAMIE WY UTILITY COMPANY
AT WATER TREATMENT PLANT
0133 PM HAIL 5 SE CHEYENNE 41.09N 104.72W
05/23/2008 M1.00 INCH LARAMIE WY TRAINED SPOTTER
&&Local storm report, May 23, 2:16 PM MDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED TIME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
216 PM MDT FRI MAY 23 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0133 PM HAIL 5 SE CHEYENNE 41.09N 104.72W
05/23/2008 M1.00 INCH LARAMIE WY TRAINED SPOTTER
0159 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 10 SE CHEYENNE 41.04N 104.66W
05/23/2008 LARAMIE WY TRAINED SPOTTER
SITED SOUTH OF ARCHER
0209 PM HAIL 11 SE CHEYENNE 41.03N 104.64W
05/23/2008 E1.25 INCH LARAMIE WY UTILITY COMPANY
AT WATER TREATMENT PLANT
0210 PM HAIL 5 SE CHEYENNE 41.09N 104.72W
05/23/2008 M1.00 INCH LARAMIE WY TRAINED SPOTTER
&&Local storm report, May 23, 3:16 PM MDT, 49 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
316 PM MDT FRI MAY 23 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0314 PM TORNADO 12 NW CHEYENNE 41.27N 104.96W
05/23/2008 LARAMIE WY TRAINED SPOTTER
ON THE GROUND FOR ABOUT 5 MIN.
&&
BCHAPMANLocal storm report, May 23, 4:00 PM MDT, 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
400 PM MDT FRI MAY 23 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0358 PM HAIL 7 E WHEATLAND 42.05N 104.82W
05/23/2008 M1.00 INCH PLATTE WY TRAINED SPOTTER
SIZED FROM PEA TO QUARTER. ABOUT ONE INCH OF RAIN. GROUND
COVERED WITH HAIL
&&
BCHAPMANThe office that day
Everything else NWS Cheyenne, WY issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 7:58 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | CYS | Laramie | 32 min |
| May 22, 8:28 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | CYS | Laramie | 32 min |
| May 22, 9:06 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CYS | Goshen, Laramie | 39 min |
| May 22, 10:56 PM MDT | Areal Flood Warning | CYS | Platte | 18 hr |
| May 23, 1:28 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CYS | Laramie | 47 min |
| May 23, 2:00 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | CYS | Laramie | 45 min |
| May 23, 2:34 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CYS | Laramie | 26 min |
| May 23, 2:39 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CYS | Laramie | 37 min |
| May 23, 3:14 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | CYS | Laramie | 28 min |
| May 23, 3:22 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CYS | Platte | 53 min |
| May 23, 3:40 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | CYS | Laramie, Platte | 50 min |
| May 23, 4:23 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | CYS | Laramie | 52 min |
| May 23, 4:25 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CYS | Platte | 65 min |
| May 23, 4:30 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CYS | Platte | 45 min |
| May 23, 5:07 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CYS | Niobrara | 53 min |
| May 23, 5:10 PM MDT | Areal Flood Warning | CYS | Converse, Goshen, Niobrara, Platte | 2 hr |
| May 23, 5:21 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | CYS | Platte | 24 min |
| May 23, 5:40 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | CYS | Goshen | 19 min |
| May 23, 5:45 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CYS | Platte | 13 min |
| May 23, 5:53 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | CYS | Platte | 13 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Wyoming, 2008Every tornado warning in 2008Tornadoes in 2008
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.