Damaging Winds in Wyoming, July 5, 2012

Name: Damaging Winds in Wyoming, July 5, 2012
Start: 2012-07-05T15:51
End: 2012-07-05T16:10
Location: Wyoming

July 5, 2012 · NWS UNR · 3 events in 1 county or zone

A severe thunderstorm produced strong wind gusts and minor damage across portions of northern Campbell County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS UNR wrote it up.

A severe thunderstorm produced strong wind gusts and minor damage across portions of northern Campbell County.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Rapid City, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 5, 1:34 PM MST, 2 hours 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 5, 1:34 PM MST, 2 hours 17 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR WESTERN SD AND NORTHEASTERN WY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
234 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2012

.DISCUSSION...20Z SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS HIGH PRESSURE OVER EASTERN
NORTH DAKOTA AND MINNESOTA. LOW PRESSURE WAS CENTERED OVER CENTRAL
WYOMING WITH A TROUGH EXTENDING SOUTHWARD ACROSS EASTERN
COLORADO. WARM FRONT EXTENDS EASTWARD FROM THE LOW IN WYOMING
ACROSS NORTHERN NEBRASKA WITH STORMS DEVELOPING ALONG THE FRONT IN
NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. LATEST WV SAT IMAGE SHOWS A PLUME OF
ABUNDANT MID/HIGH LEVEL MOISTURE STREAMING NORTHWARD INTO THE
FORECAST AREA.

LATEST MODEL RUNS SHOW A SFC LOW DEVELOPING IN NORTHEASTERN
COLORADO LATE THIS AFTERNOON AS THE WYOMING LOW WEAKENS. THE LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL THEN MOVE NORTHEASTWARD INTO CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA
BY 12Z FRIDAY. THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WARM FRONT WILL PUSH
NORTHWARD TONIGHT AS THE LOW LEVEL JET INCREASES OVER WESTERN
SOUTH DAKOTA...WITH THE FRONT NEARING THE ND/SD BORDER BY 12Z
FRIDAY. LIFT ALONG AND NORTH OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL PROVIDE
THE FORCING FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT TONIGHT...WITH SOME SEVERE
STORMS POSSIBLE.

FRIDAY/SATURDAY...INITIAL SYSTEM MOVES NORTH WITH RESIDUAL
MOISTURE LEFT BEHIND OVER THE WEST. SURFACE HIGH SLIPS INTO THE
CWA FROM THE NORTHEAST WHICH WILL KEEP THINGS DRIER IN THE EAST THAN
PREVIOUS GUIDANCE. THEREFORE HAVE PUSHED THE POPS BACK TO THE
WEST...MAINLY OVER NORTHEASTERN WYOMING AND SOUTHWESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA.
TEMPERATURES WILL BE NOTICEABLY COOLER...BUT CLOSE TO GUIDANCE.

EXTENDED...THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES INTO
SUNDAY WITH THE MONSOONAL FLOW PATTERN STILL IN PLACE. FOR THE START
OF NEXT WEEK...THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDS BACK ACROSS THE GREAT
BASIN AREA...RESULTING IN NORTHWEST FLOW FOR THE CWA. A WEAK SHORT
WAVE MAY BRING A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON SHOWERS OVER THE BLACK
HILLS. FOR THE REST OF THE EXTENDED PERIOD...DRY CONDITIONS AND
ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES WILL RETURN.

&&

.AVIATION...18Z TAF UPDATE
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AS
AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. BY LATE
AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING...STRONG STORMS WILL BRING HEAVY RAIN
CREATING MVFR CONDITIONS AND LOCALIZED IFR CONDITIONS. BEST CHANCES
FOR STORMS WILL BE OVER NORTHEAST WYOMING...THE BLACK HILLS
AREA...AND NORTHWEST SOUTH DAKOTA.

&&

.UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...NONE.
WY...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...WFO UNR
LONG TERM....WFO UNR
AVIATION...WFO UNR

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 5, 3:06 AM MST, 12 hours 45 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
406 AM MDT THU JUL 5 2012

SDZ001-002-012>014-024>032-041>044-046-047-049-072>074-WYZ054>058-
071-061300-
BENNETT-BUTTE-CENTRAL BLACK HILLS-CUSTER CO PLAINS-FALL RIVER-HAAKON-
HARDING-HERMOSA FOOT HILLS-JACKSON-MELLETTE-NORTHEASTERN CROOK-
NORTHERN BLACK HILLS-NORTHERN CAMPBELL-NORTHERN FOOT HILLS-
NORTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS-PENNINGTON CO PLAINS-PERKINS-RAPID CITY-
SHANNON-SOUTHERN BLACK HILLS-SOUTHERN CAMPBELL-SOUTHERN FOOT HILLS-
SOUTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS-STURGIS/PIEDMONT FOOT HILLS-TODD-TRIPP-
WESTERN CROOK-WESTON-WYOMING BLACK HILLS-ZIEBACH-
406 AM MDT (506 AM CDT) THU JUL 5 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA AND
NORTHEASTERN WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING RATHER WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS TO THE
REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHEASTERN
WYOMING AND WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING.
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT.
HOWEVER...ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
EARLY THIS EVENING ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA...MAINLY
NEAR AND EAST OF THE BLACK HILLS.

LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN MAY OCCUR WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THERE WILL BE A DAILY CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MONDAY.
ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTH
DAKOTA FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 12:46 PM MST, 3 hours 5 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
146 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2012

SDZ012-024-025-052045-
BUTTE SD-NORTHERN BLACK HILLS SD-NORTHERN FOOT HILLS SD-
146 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING OVER NORTHWESTERN LAWRENCE AND
SOUTHWESTERN BUTTE COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM MDT...

AT 144 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN SPEARFISH...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF SPEARFISH
  DOWNTOWN BELLE FOURCHE...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 90 BETWEEN SOUTH DAKOTA MILE MARKERS 1 AND
11...

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

LAT...LON 4474 10399 4465 10367 4446 10392 4443 10401
      4449 10405
TIME...MOT...LOC 1946Z 205DEG 9KT 4454 10392

BUNKERS

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 1:24 PM MST, 2 hours 27 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
224 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2012

SDZ012-024-025-052115-
BUTTE SD-NORTHERN BLACK HILLS SD-NORTHERN FOOT HILLS SD-
224 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FOR NORTHWESTERN LAWRENCE AND SOUTHWESTERN
BUTTE COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM MDT...

AT 219 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN SPEARFISH AND ALSO JUST
SOUTHWEST OF BELLE FOURCHE RESERVOIR...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER ALONG WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN
ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  AREAS JUST NORTHWEST OF SPEARFISH...
  DOWNTOWN BELLE FOURCHE...
  BELLE FOURCHE RESERVOIR...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 90 BETWEEN SOUTH DAKOTA MILE MARKERS 2 AND
11...

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 4473 10398 4463 10370 4445 10392 4442 10402
      4446 10406
TIME...MOT...LOC 2023Z 207DEG 13KT 4453 10394

BUNKERS

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 2:23 PM MST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
323 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2012

SDZ012-025-WYZ057-071-052230-
BUTTE SD-NORTHEASTERN CROOK WY-NORTHERN FOOT HILLS SD-WYOMING BLACK
HILLS WY-
323 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FOR EASTERN CROOK...NORTHWESTERN
LAWRENCE AND SOUTHWESTERN BUTTE COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM MDT...

AT 318 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF BEULAH...OR 9 MILES
NORTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN SPEARFISH...MOVING NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...
ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  BEULAH...
  DOWNTOWN BELLE FOURCHE...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 90 BETWEEN SOUTH DAKOTA MILE MARKERS 1 AND
9...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 90 BETWEEN WYOMING MILE MARKERS 201 AND
207...

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 4479 10367 4448 10391 4446 10399 4447 10405
      4445 10406 4444 10414 4453 10420 4489 10408
TIME...MOT...LOC 2123Z 198DEG 16KT 4459 10398

BUNKERS

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 2:41 PM MST, 1 hour 10 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
341 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2012

SDZ044-052230-
BENNETT SD-
341 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM FOR CENTRAL BENNETT COUNTY UNTIL 430 PM MDT...

AT 339 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF MERRIMAN...OR 15 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF MARTIN...MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  MARTIN...
  LACREEK WILDLIFE REFUGE...
  TUTHILL...

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

LAT...LON 4336 10175 4335 10135 4299 10145 4298 10148
      4299 10173
TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 187DEG 28KT 4299 10159

BUNKERS

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 243 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:49 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: July 5, 3:51 PM MST
Where: Campbell County, 2.44 mi N of Echeta
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 44.465, -105.844

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: July 5, 4:05 PM MST
Where: Campbell County, 13.21 mi N of (Gcc)gillette Arpt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.540, -105.570

Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: July 5, 4:10 PM MST
Where: Campbell County, 8.39 mi W of Weston
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.640, -105.500

Strong winds knocked down a large tree limb and buckled a garage door, causing minor damage to a house.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Wyoming in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Wyoming, July 2012

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 401550, 381829, 381830.