Hail, Goshen
- When
- May 23, 2:45 PM MST
- Where
- Goshen County, 3.6 mi NNW of Cottier
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 42.070, -104.280
Hail in Wyoming, May 23, 2020
Strong thunderstorms developed pre-squall line in far eastern Wyoming with up to penny size hail.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 CYS wrote it up.
Strong thunderstorms developed pre-squall line in far eastern Wyoming with up to penny size hail.
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 Cheyenne, WY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 23, 1:20 PM MST, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 23, 1:20 PM MST, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 220 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday night) Issued at 220 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020 Convection initiating over se Wy as an upper shortwave approaches the area from western Wy. Expect this activity to continue increasing over the plains through this evening, aided by a cool front which will pass across the CWA this evening. Some severe storms possible with the most likely area over far east Wy into the panhandle, where a severe tstm watch has been issued. Should see storm build into a line early this evening as they progress across the Panhandle. Activity should exit the panhandle later this evening with cooler air building in behind the front. Chilly temps out west tonight with mins falling close to 30 degrees. Sunday will be cooler with scattered showers as the main upper trough moves slowly across the area with even a little snow over the higher peaks through Sunday evening. Another cool night Sunday night as a surface high settles over Wyoming behind the departing upper trough. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday) Issued at 220 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020 A generally drier and warmer weather pattern expected over the CWA next week as an upper ridge builds over the western CONUS. A few weak shortwaves may ride through the ridge and across the region especially later in the week which will bring widely scattered showers and storms at that time. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon) Issued at 1134 AM MDT Sat May 23 2020 VFR anticipated at all terminals to start the next 6 hour period. Low clouds should dissipate over the northern Nebraska Panhandle the next 1-2 hours ahead of the developing TS/VCTS expected later this afternoon and evening. Fluctuations at terminals between MVFR and VFR can be expected when VCTS and TS occur. Looking at short term hi-res models for VCSH and associated convection to start near the 19Z- 20Z time, moving from southwest to northeast. Amendments may be necessary in the event that convection begins to bow out and form a cluster by afternoon and evening. Expect gusty winds 15-25 knots at times, with the NE Panhandle terminals experiencing up to 30 knot wind gusts by 0Z. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 220 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020 Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected to move across the plains into this evening before ending. A cold front will also move across the area this evening bringing cooler conditions tonight through Sunday. Scattered showers are still expected Sunday with some snow over the higher peaks. Drier conditions are then expected to set in beginning Monday with temperatures warming. && .CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WY...None. NE...None. && SHORT TERM...RE LONG TERM...RE AVIATION...BW FIRE WEATHER...RE
Hazardous weather outlook, May 23, 2:19 AM MST, 12 hours 26 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 319 AM MDT Sat May 23 2020 NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-WYZ101-102-107-108-118-119- 240930- Dawes-Box Butte-Scotts Bluff County-Banner County-Morrill- Kimball County-Cheyenne-North Sioux-South Sioux- Converse County Lower Elevations-Niobrara County- East Platte County-Goshen County-Central Laramie County- East Laramie County- 319 AM MDT Sat May 23 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for the western Nebraska Panhandle...east central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Scattered thunderstorms will develop along and ahead of a surface front moving into southeast Wyoming this afternoon. Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible, especially along and east of a line from Douglas to Cheyenne. The primary hazards will be hail up to the size of ping pong balls and damaging wind gusts of 60 mph or higher. Heavy rainfall may lead to localized minor flooding. The thunderstorms will weaken later this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY Isolated afternoon and early evening thunderstorms will be possible Sunday and again late next week. Severe weather is not expected. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation may be required between 1 PM this afternoon and 9 PM this evening. WYZ103>106-109>117-240930- North Laramie Range-Ferris/Seminoe/Shirley Mountains- Shirley Basin-Central Laramie Range and Southwest Platte County- Central Carbon County-North Snowy Range Foothills- Southwest Carbon County-Sierra Madre Range- Upper North Platte River Basin-Snowy Range-Laramie Valley- South Laramie Range-South Laramie Range Foothills- 319 AM MDT Sat May 23 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Widely scattered thunderstorms will develop along and west of the Laramie Range this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY Snow showers will develop over the higher elevations Sunday through Monday morning. A couple inches of snow is likely above 8500 feet. Isolated afternoon and early evening thunderstorms will be possible late next week. Severe weather is not expected. .Spotter information statement... Spotter activation will not be required.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 23, 12:57 PM MST, 1 hour 48 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 157 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020 WYZ118-119-232030- Central Laramie County WY-East Laramie County WY- 157 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL LARAMIE COUNTY UNTIL 230 PM MDT... At 156 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Hillsdale, or 13 miles northeast of Cheyenne. This storm was nearly stationary. Penny size hail will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Hillsdale. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service office in Cheyenne. && LAT...LON 4118 10460 4130 10468 4145 10451 4123 10437 TIME...MOT...LOC 1956Z 232DEG 3KT 4126 10457 Hammer
Special weather statement, May 23, 1:22 PM MST, 1 hour 23 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 222 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020 WYZ108-232115- Goshen County WY- 222 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL GOSHEN COUNTY UNTIL 315 PM MDT... At 222 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles northwest of Meriden Rest Area, or 34 miles south of Torrington, moving northeast at 10 mph. Nickel size hail will be possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of south central Goshen County. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service office in Cheyenne. && A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM MDT for southeastern Wyoming. LAT...LON 4157 10437 4157 10454 4176 10446 4169 10413 TIME...MOT...LOC 2022Z 208DEG 10KT 4161 10443 Hammer
Special weather statement, May 23, 1:52 PM MST, 53 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 252 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020 WYZ107-108-232130- East Platte County WY-Goshen County WY- 252 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN GOSHEN AND EAST CENTRAL PLATTE COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM MDT... At 252 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9 miles southeast of Slater, or 23 miles southeast of Wheatland, moving northeast at 10 mph. Nickel size hail will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Yoder, Veteran and Slater. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service office in Cheyenne. && A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM MDT for southeastern Wyoming. LAT...LON 4174 10457 4182 10476 4206 10467 4194 10425 TIME...MOT...LOC 2052Z 204DEG 10KT 4181 10463 Hammer
Special weather statement, May 23, 1:57 PM MST, 48 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
257 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020
WYZ118-119-232145-
Central Laramie County WY-East Laramie County WY-
257 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN LARAMIE COUNTY UNTIL
345 PM MDT...
At 257 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles south of Gun Barrel, or 26 miles northeast of Cheyenne, moving
east at 15 mph.
Nickel size hail will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Albin and Gun Barrel.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Cheyenne.
&&
LAT...LON 4140 10447 4156 10423 4156 10413 4138 10406
4125 10406 4122 10441
TIME...MOT...LOC 2057Z 256DEG 12KT 4133 10435
HammerSpecial weather statement, May 23, 2:27 PM MST, 18 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
327 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020
WYZ108-232215-
Goshen County WY-
327 PM MDT Sat May 23 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL GOSHEN COUNTY UNTIL 415
PM MDT...
At 327 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Veteran, or 14 miles southwest of Torrington, moving northeast at 25
mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Torrington, Lingle, Yoder and Veteran.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Cheyenne.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM MDT for
southeastern Wyoming.
LAT...LON 4193 10461 4235 10444 4216 10407 4201 10406
4181 10434
TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 212DEG 20KT 4193 10439
HammerThe radar
The Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 111 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:45 UTC.
Event by event
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, May 23, 2020
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Illinois, May 23, 2020
- Flash Flood and Hail in Kentucky, May 23 to 25, 2020
- Tornado and Hail in Illinois, May 23, 2020
- Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, May 23, 2020
- Tornadoes and Hail in Illinois, May 23, 2020
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Nebraska, May 23 to 24, 2020
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Indiana, May 23, 2020
- Flood and Hail in Texas, May 23, 2020
- Damaging Winds in Louisiana, May 23, 2020
- Tornado and Flash Flood in Texas, May 23, 2020
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Ohio, May 23, 2020
More
Every storm in Wyoming in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, May 2020
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: 882906.