Hail and Damaging Winds in Wyoming, July 17, 2018

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Wyoming, July 17, 2018
Start: 2018-07-17T15:20
End: 2018-07-17T18:14
Location: Wyoming

July 17, 2018 · NWS UNR · 8 events in 1 county or zone

A slow moving severe thunderstorm brought large hail and strong wind gusts to portions of southern 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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 slow moving severe thunderstorm brought large hail and strong wind gusts to portions of southern 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 17, 12:52 PM MST, 2 hours 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 17, 12:52 PM MST, 2 hours 28 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
152 PM MDT Tue Jul 17 2018

.DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Tuesday)
Issued at 152 PM MDT Tue Jul 17 2018

A complex series of shortwaves and vorticity maxima are gradually
shifting eastward through the northern Rockies and into the
northern High Plains this afternoon. The main impulse of interest
for our area is crossing the Bighorn Mountains, where isolated
thunderstorms have developed. Meanwhile, owing to upslope flow and
anomalously high moisture content, isolated thunderstorms are
ongoing over the Black Hills.

As the rather disorganized vort max moves eastward through MT/WY
this afternoon, should continue to see development of convection
near and east of the Bighorns. Given CAPE on the order of
1500-2500 J/kg, deep-layer bulk shear of 30-40 kt, and fairly
straight-line hodographs, think we could see a mix of supercells
and multicells across northeast WY. Through supercell splits,
merging outflows (aided by fairly high LCLs), and increased
forcing for ascent as the shortwave approaches, should see upscale
growth into an MCS as the afternoon goes on. Will also have to
monitor the potential for another discrete supercell or two this
afternoon over the northern/central Black Hills given localized
upslope flow and lengthened low-level hodographs. Primary threat
in supercells would be large hail, with straight-line winds
becoming the primary threat following upscale growth into an MCS.
Borderline 0-3 km bulk shear may limit eastward progression of the
MCS into SD overnight, but remaining convection could be
reinvigorated as LLJ kicks in after 00z. Flash flooding potential
will also be a concern this afternoon through early Wednesday,
which is addressed in more detail in the Hydrology section below.

The main shortwave shifts into central ND/SD by Wednesday afternoon,
which should spell the end of convection for our western zones as
subsidence overspreads the area. However, as north/northwestern
extent of unstable axis remains over the SD plains, paired with
plentiful deep-layer bulk shear, cannot rule out a few strong to
severe storms over this area tomorrow. Coverage should overall be
limited compared to this afternoon/evening.

Fairly high confidence forecast over the second half of the week,
with most guidance suggesting a building upper ridge over the
eastern Rockies/western High Plains as an elongated surface high
noses southward into the Northern Plains from Canada. This should
facilitate drier conditions through the remainder of the work
week, along with near-normal temperatures. Warmest day should be
Saturday as ridge axis settles overhead. Timing of the next trough
varies somewhat among model solutions, but generally suspect to
see its first impacts by late Saturday or early Sunday.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS Through 18Z Wednesday)
Issued At 1121 AM MDT Tue Jul 17 2018

TSRA with MVFR/local IFR conditions will develop late in the
afternoon across northeastern WY and the Black Hills, then spread
east onto the SD plains tonight. Strong to severe storms will be
possible. Additionally, heavy rainfall will be possible with any
storms. Storms will shift into central SD Wednesday morning.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 152 PM MDT Tue Jul 17 2018

Anomalously high PWATs and fairly slow storm movement late this
afternoon into the overnight will contribute to locally heavy
rainfall over portions of the area, increasing concerns for flash
flooding. The Flash Flood Watch has been expanded to include
Oglala Lakota County through the overnight period, with a mature
MCS expected to cross at least southern portions of the county
late tonight. The threat for heavy rainfall will diminish by
Wednesday morning as lingering showers and thunderstorms shift
southward and eastward.

&&

.UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...Flash Flood Watch until midnight MDT tonight for SDZ024-028.

     Flash Flood Watch from 5 PM MDT this afternoon through late
     tonight for SDZ012-025>027-029-030-041-042-072-074.

WY...Flash Flood Watch until midnight MDT tonight for WYZ054>058-071.

&&

DISCUSSION...Sherburn
AVIATION...Pojorlie
HYDROLOGY...Sherburn

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 17, 5:22 AM MST, 9 hours 58 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
622 AM MDT Tue Jul 17 2018

SDZ012-024>031-041-042-072>074-WYZ054>058-071-181300-
Butte-Northern Black Hills-Northern Foot Hills-Rapid City-
Southern Foot Hills-Central Black Hills-Southern Black Hills-
Custer Co Plains-Pennington Co Plains-Fall River-Oglala Lakota-
Sturgis/Piedmont Foot Hills-Southern Meade Co Plains-
Hermosa Foot Hills-Northern Campbell-Southern Campbell-
Western Crook-Wyoming Black Hills-Weston-Northeastern Crook-
622 AM MDT Tue Jul 17 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwestern
South Dakota...southwestern South Dakota...the Black Hills of
South Dakota...northeast Wyoming...and the Black Hills of
Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon through
tonight. Some severe storms are possible, with large hail and
damaging winds the primary threats. Locally heavy rainfall will
also be possible this afternoon and overnight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

Showers and thunderstorms will persist through Wednesday. Severe
thunderstorms are not anticipated at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed today.

&&

Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio for further updates...or check
our web site at weather.gov/rapidcity

SDZ001-002-013-014-032-043-044-046-047-049-181300-
Harding-Perkins-Northern Meade Co Plains-Ziebach-Haakon-Jackson-
Bennett-Mellette-Todd-Tripp-
622 AM MDT Tue Jul 17 2018 /722 AM CDT Tue Jul 17 2018/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western South
Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible tonight. Severe
thunderstorms are not anticipated at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

Showers and thunderstorms will persist on Wednesday. Strong to
severe thunderstorms will be possible across central portions of
South Dakota.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed today.

&&

Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio for further updates...or check
our web site at weather.gov/rapidcity

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 17, 2:34 PM MST, 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
334 PM MDT TUE JUL 17 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0330 PM     HAIL             3 ESE HILL CITY         43.92N 103.51W
07/17/2018  E0.88 INCH       PENNINGTON         SD   NWS EMPLOYEE

            NICKEL SIZED HAIL FOR THE LAST 15 MINUTES

&&

KDS

Local storm report, Jul 17, 2:43 PM MST, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
343 PM MDT TUE JUL 17 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0322 PM     HAIL             3 ENE HILL CITY         43.95N 103.52W
07/17/2018  M1.25 INCH       PENNINGTON         SD   PUBLIC

&&

KCLARK

Local storm report, Jul 17, 2:48 PM MST, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
348 PM MDT TUE JUL 17 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0347 PM     HAIL             2 W HAYWARD             43.87N 103.38W
07/17/2018  M1.00 INCH       PENNINGTON         SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

ARKI

Special weather statement, Jul 17, 2:55 PM MST, 25 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
355 PM MDT TUE JUL 17 2018

WYZ054-055-172245-
Northern Campbell WY-Southern Campbell WY-
355 PM MDT TUE JUL 17 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL CAMPBELL COUNTY
UNTIL 445 PM MDT...

At 355 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 19
miles south of Echeta, or 25 miles west of Gillette, moving east at 5
mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of west central
Campbell County.

This Includes Interstate 90 in Wyoming between Mile Markers 97 and
112.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 1100 PM MDT for
northeastern Wyoming.

LAT...LON 4431 10601 4435 10573 4399 10574 4405 10601
TIME...MOT...LOC 2155Z 269DEG 5KT 4419 10599

Foscato

Local storm report, Jul 17, 2:57 PM MST, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
357 PM MDT TUE JUL 17 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0355 PM     HAIL             2 W HAYWARD             43.87N 103.38W
07/17/2018  M1.75 INCH       PENNINGTON         SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GROUND COVERED IN HAIL.

&&

ARKI

Special weather statement, Jul 17, 2:58 PM MST, 22 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
358 PM MDT TUE JUL 17 2018

SDZ030-031-042-172245-
Custer Co Plains SD-Pennington Co Plains SD-Oglala Lakota SD-
358 PM MDT TUE JUL 17 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN CUSTER...
NORTHWESTERN OGLALA LAKOTA AND SOUTHERN PENNINGTON COUNTIES UNTIL 445
PM MDT...

At 357 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Red Shirt, or 30 miles northeast of Hot Springs, moving east at 10
mph.

Dime size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Red Shirt and Red Shirt Table Overlook.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 1100 PM MDT for
southwestern and west central South Dakota.

LAT...LON 4354 10308 4364 10315 4367 10313 4378 10278
      4352 10262
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 251DEG 9KT 4364 10293

Pojorlie

The radar

The Riverton/Lander radar (KRIW), 241 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:19 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Campbell

When: July 17, 3:20 PM MST
Where: Campbell County, 18.82 mi S of Echeta
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 44.180, -105.910

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: July 17, 3:25 PM MST
Where: Campbell County, 13.72 mi NNW of Savageton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.060, -105.870

Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph.

Hail, Campbell

When: July 17, 3:46 PM MST
Where: Campbell County, 13.07 mi NNE of Savageton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.030, -105.650

Hail, Campbell

When: July 17, 4:05 PM MST
Where: Campbell County, 10.27 mi NNE of Savageton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.000, -105.690

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: July 17, 4:05 PM MST
Where: Campbell County, 10.27 mi NNE of Savageton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.000, -105.690

Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: July 17, 4:29 PM MST
Where: Campbell County, 15.96 mi N of Wright
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.980, -105.460

Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph.

Hail, Campbell

When: July 17, 5:02 PM MST
Where: Campbell County, 18.45 mi NE of Wright
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.970, -105.280

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: July 17, 6:14 PM MST
Where: Campbell County, 31.03 mi ESE of Wright
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.610, -104.900

The spotter estimated wind gusts at 60 mph.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in Wyoming, July 2018

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: 762074, 762075, 762076, 762077, 762079, 762080, 762081, 762082.