Thunderstorms developed over the Absaroka Mountains during the mid-afternoon hours and tracked northeast across the Big Horn Basin. The lower atmosphere over the basin favored strong outflow wind as temperature-dew point spreads were more than 50F.
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The episode as NWS RIW wrote it up.
Thunderstorms developed over the Absaroka Mountains during the mid-afternoon hours and tracked northeast across the Big Horn Basin. The lower atmosphere over the basin favored strong outflow wind as temperature-dew point spreads were more than 50F. One storm generated a wind gust to 60 mph at the South Big Horn County Airport near Greybull.
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 Riverton, WY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 9, 1:15 PM MST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 215 PM MDT THU JUN 9 2016 .Short Term...Tonight through Friday The shortwave that tracked northeast across northwest Wyoming this morning generated weak convection in the Big Horn Basin after sunrise. More stable air in the wake of this system has slowed the development of convection over western Wyoming this afternoon. Daytime heating and 250mb jet 70-80kt jet streak will aid development, but suspect convection will not be as widespread as earlier forecast. Surface dew points have been decreasing as the atmosphere becomes more fully mixed early this afternoon. SREF and SPC Day 1 still depict best chance for strong storms to be across the far north, mainly north of a line from Cody to Buffalo. Main axis of instability will confine most convection to an area north and west of a line from Afton to Buffalo. Convection will wane by sunset, and drier air will push in from the west overnight. Less convection expected Friday, with much of the activity confined to the northwest and far north. 700mb temperatures will rise to +16C to +18C Friday with corresponding surface temps climbing into the 90s in the eastern lower elevations. These Friday temperatures will approach or reach records for the date. Some locations in the eastern Big Horn Basin will approach triple digit heat. Expect that gusty southwest wind Friday afternoon will only serve to boost temperatures another degree or two, and make it feel more hot, dry, and dusty. .Long Term...Friday Night through Thursday Models in good agreement in bringing the next shortwave into southwest Wyoming by Saturday morning. Looks like it could be an earlier convective show west of the Divide, before eventually spreading east during the afternoon. QPF of one- to two-tenths looks reasonable west of the Divide. Any convection will be diurnally driven and should wane with the setting sun leaving a quiet overnight period heading into Sunday. Cooler air will push into the west, but still expect well above normal temperatures across the east, although cooler than Friday. On Sunday, a trough over the west is expected to split with the northern energy sliding east across Montana/southern Canada, and the southern energy trying to close off across central/southern California. The southern energy is expected to shift east/northeast into the central/southern Rockies Monday. As this system jumps the Divide models are showing it becoming a compact upper low across central/western Nebraska Tuesday. Isolated to scattered, mainly diurnal convection is expected Sunday and Monday with the northern stream Sunday and then for the southern stream on Monday along with a quasi-stationary baroclinic zone. Best convection appears to be along and east of the Divide Sunday, particularly across Johnson and Natrona counties where dew points around 50F and more unstable air will reside. Expect that convection will be more widespread Monday with the southern stream. It will be substantially cooler and more seasonal both days, particularly Monday. On Tuesday, convection will be limited and confined to the far east close to the upper low across Nebraska. Models in agreement in showing ridging across the central Rockies Tuesday through Thursday ahead of a trough over the West Coast. Some energy ahead of this system could impact the northern Intermountain West/northern Rockies Thursday, but RIW forecast area should be southeast of this energy and within a more dry southwest flow. Thus, will have a mainly dry forecast Tuesday through Thursday. Temperatures will again climb to above seasonal normals as the ridge builds. Suspect that there could be some breezy conditions by Thursday as southwest flow strengthens ahead of the next trough in the Pacific Northwest. && .Aviation.../00Z Issuance/ Showers and thunderstorms are re-igniting across northwest Wyoming this afternoon and evening. Most storms will fire north and west of a line from KAFO to KBYG. Potentially some MVFR visibilities within this region which would include KJAC and KCOD. However, really believe that KCOD holds the better chance as development over the Tetons is slow to regenerate. Will make final adjustments to VCTS and TEMPO groups for terminals as we approach 00Z issuance. KCPR, KPNA, and KBPI are the candidates least likely to see convection. May hazard across the basins would be gusty wind to 40kts. Convection will diminish with the setting sun and expect VFR at all terminals after 03Z/Friday. Near-record to record heat expected Friday. Convection will be limited to northwest Wyoming with no terminals impacted. Southwest surface wind 15-25kts will be common in the corridor from KRKS to KCPR by 16Z-19Z/Friday. Expect similar winds to develop at most other terminals between 19Z and 22Z/Friday. && .Fire Weather... The main story will be the heat which will approach or reach record highs on Friday. Temperatures will be 10 to nearly 20 degrees above normal Friday and conditions will be generally dry. Expect some gusty southwest wind, especially across the central and southern zones, and a well-mixed atmosphere will lead to excellent smoke dispersal. Relative humidities in the teens will be widespread along and east of the Divide. The next weather system will approach Saturday with cooler air working into zones west of the Divide. To the east, temperatures will be cooler but still well above normal, and breezy southwest winds will remain. Again, expect excellent smoke dispersal. The best chance for showers and thunderstorms will be in areas along and west of the Divide. A weather disturbance will reach southwest Wyoming Saturday morning, so these showers and storms are likely to begin in the morning hours, a little earlier than usual. These showers and storms will spread farther north and to the east of the Divide during the afternoon. && .RIW Watches/Warnings/Advisories...None. && SHORT TERM...CNJ LONG TERM...WM/CNJ AVIATION...CNJ FIRE WEATHER...CNJ
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY 249 AM MDT THU JUN 9 2016 WYZ001>020-022>030-101200- YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK-ABSAROKA MOUNTAINS-CODY FOOTHILLS- NORTH BIG HORN BASIN-SOUTHWEST BIG HORN BASIN- SOUTHEAST BIG HORN BASIN-OWL CREEK AND BRIDGER MOUNTAINS- BIGHORN MOUNTAINS WEST-BIGHORN MOUNTAINS SOUTHEAST- NORTHEAST JOHNSON COUNTY-SOUTHEAST JOHNSON COUNTY- TETON AND GROS VENTRE MOUNTAINS-JACKSON HOLE- WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS WEST-WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS EAST- UPPER WIND RIVER BASIN-WIND RIVER BASIN-LANDER FOOTHILLS- GREEN MOUNTAINS AND RATTLESNAKE RANGE- NATRONA COUNTY LOWER ELEVATIONS-CASPER MOUNTAIN-STAR VALLEY- SALT RIVER AND WYOMING RANGES-UPPER GREEN RIVER BASIN FOOTHILLS- UPPER GREEN RIVER BASIN-SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY- ROCK SPRINGS AND GREEN RIVER-FLAMING GORGE-EAST SWEETWATER COUNTY- 249 AM MDT THU JUN 9 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL WYOMING. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WARM MOUNTAIN TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE RAPID SNOWMELT ABOVE 9000 FEET WITH CORRESPONDING RISES IN RIVERS AND STREAMS...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE WIND RIVER RANGE AND THE WIND RIVER BASIN. ISOLATED TO LOCALLY SCATTERED MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS. SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY HAVE GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE NORTH OF A CODY TO KAYCEE LINE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY SATURDAY...SCATTERED MOUNTAIN THUNDERSTORMS WITH A FEW STORMS MOVING ACROSS THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. SUNDAY...ISOLATED TO SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS. SOME STORMS MAY BE STRONG. MONDAY...ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...WITH THE STRONGEST ACTIVITY EXPECTED OVER JOHNSON COUNTY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT HAIL SIZE, WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH, AND ANY RIVER FLOODING. THANK YOU. TEAM RIVERTON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY 230 PM MDT THU JUN 9 2016 WYZ002-003-007-015-016-092130- ABSAROKA MOUNTAINS-CODY FOOTHILLS-OWL CREEK AND BRIDGER MOUNTAINS- WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS EAST-UPPER WIND RIVER BASIN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CODY...MEETEETSE...DUBOIS 230 PM MDT THU JUN 9 2016 ...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON... A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THE IMPACTED AREA THIS AFTERNOON. BRIEF GUSTY WIND TO 35 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH SMALL HAIL AND PERIODS OF BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL. ADDITIONAL SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS TODAY. BRANHAM
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
310 PM MDT THU JUN 9 2016
WYZ004-092145-
NORTH BIG HORN BASIN-
310 PM MDT THU JUN 9 2016
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
AT 309 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
GARLAND...WHICH IS NEAR POWELL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
SMALL HAIL UP TO A HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL
BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
BYRON AND DEAVER AROUND 325 PM MDT.
COWLEY AROUND 335 PM MDT.
LOVELL AROUND 340 PM MDT.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE POWELL VALLEY
HOSPITAL...LOVELL NORTH BIG HORN HOSPITAL DISTRICT...PARK COUNTY
FAIRGROUNDS...SOUTHSIDE ELEMENTARY...PARKSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL...
NORTHWEST COLLEGE...COWLEY NORTH BIG HORN COUNTY AIRPORT...FOSTER
GULCH GOLF COURSE...LOVELL BRANCH LIBRARY AND WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
LAT...LON 4469 10811 4463 10869 4478 10882 4500 10854
4500 10836
TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 240DEG 28KT 4475 10867
BRANHAMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY 342 PM MDT THU JUN 9 2016 WYZ003>006-092230- SOUTHWEST BIG HORN BASIN-CODY FOOTHILLS-NORTH BIG HORN BASIN-SOUTHEAST BIG HORN BASIN- 342 PM MDT THU JUN 9 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN WASHAKIE...NORTH CENTRAL HOT SPRINGS AND SOUTHWESTERN BIG HORN COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM MDT... AT 342 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR GOOSEBERRY CREEK...WHICH IS 14 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MEETEETSE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... MANDERSON AROUND 430 PM MDT. OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE BADLANDS OVERLOOK. LAT...LON 4393 10864 4409 10876 4452 10818 4418 10790 TIME...MOT...LOC 2142Z 241DEG 31KT 4405 10861 MEUNIER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY 400 PM MDT THU JUN 9 2016 WYZ004-008-092245- NORTH BIG HORN BASIN-BIGHORN MOUNTAINS WEST- 400 PM MDT THU JUN 9 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN BIG HORN COUNTY UNTIL 445 PM MDT... AT 359 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR OTTO...WHICH IS 7 MILES WEST OF BASIN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... BASIN AROUND 410 PM MDT. GREYBULL AROUND 420 PM MDT. SHELL AROUND 440 PM MDT. SHELL CANYON AROUND 445 PM MDT. OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE BIG HORN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. 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 4417 10824 4433 10846 4480 10789 4443 10753 TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 230DEG 28KT 4439 10820 MEUNIER
The Billings radar (KBLX), 154 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:03 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The ASOS at the South Big Horn County Airport just north of Greybull measured a wind gust to 60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, June 2016
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: 630241.