High cloud base showers produced a local microburst that downed 4 trees near Jenny Lake. One tree was 20 inches in diameter.
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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.
The episode as NWS RIW wrote it up.
High cloud base showers produced a local microburst that downed 4 trees near Jenny Lake. One tree was 20 inches in diameter.
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 May 14, 12:51 PM MST, 2 hours 39 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 151 PM MDT Sat May 14 2022 .SHORT TERM...This afternoon through Sunday night Issued at 1110 AM MDT Sat May 14 2022 A zonal flow pattern will be in place today, with a 110 kt jet over the northern half of the Cowboy State. This will lead to west to northwest winds, with gusts of 30 to 40 mph, to occur over much of the CWA this afternoon. Higher gusts close to 50 mph will occur on the east slopes of the mountains and across the Wind Corridor. These winds will gradually subside this evening, as the winds aloft turn more northwesterly as a result of a building ridge over the PACNW. A bit of moisture in the flow, combined with orographic lift, will be enough to squeeze out scattered mountain snow showers for the northern mountains, including Yellowstone. Snow accumulations will generally be limited to only a few inches at the highest elevations. Some of this orographic lift, combined with afternoon heating, will also help initiate showers over far eastern portions of the Bighorn Basin toward the Bighorns. A few lightning strikes will be possible over these areas this afternoon, as CAPE values will be very modest at 200 J/kg. The rest of the forecast area is expected to remain dry, with elevated fire weather conditions in place. The aforementioned ridge will quickly strengthen and build over the Northern Rockies during the day Sunday. This will lead to warmer and drier conditions across the CWA. Winds will also be lighter, with gusts in the afternoon of 20 to 25 mph expected across the south and the Wind Corridor. Overall, a Chamber of Commerce day with mostly sunny skies to enjoy on the weekend. Elevated fire weather conditions will continue across the south, as RH values drop into the middle and upper teens. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday) Issued at 150 PM MDT Sat May 14 2022 High pressure on Sunday will give way Monday morning to an approaching shortwave trough moving from central Idaho into Montana. As the wave moves across southern MT and northern WY during the afternoon, scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms should break out from early afternoon through midnight, mainly across the northern half of the CWA. Temperatures will cool somewhat compared to Sunday and winds will increase across southern WY. A weak stationary boundary is expected to set up along the continental divide as northerly flow pushes south into central WY. As the zonal flow returns on Tuesday, isolated afternoon convection is likely on the lee sides of the central and northern mountains, with a better chance ENE from the Uintas across southern Sweetwater County. Although the flow remains zonal on Wednesday, temperatures will warm once again along with drying in the boundary layer for heightened fire weather conditions across southern and parts of central WY. Winds will increase quite a bit as well with gusts 40 to 50 mph possible. The strong flow is a result of a major system approaching from the northwest. Medium-range models are now in fairly decent agreement with this major system as a broad area of moisture slowly drops southward from western MT into northern WY. Showers should develop over northwest WY before sunrise Thursday and continue moving south through the day. Rain will turn to snow as 700mb temps drop below 0C before noon Thursday. As the surface low over SE WY moves into eastern Colorado, pressure will rise from north to south and gusty northerly flow will bring cooler air along a sharp boundary. By Thursday evening, the entire CWA has a very good chance of precipitation with moderate snow accumulations in the northern mountains. The 500mb low center is currently forecast to drop through western WY Friday morning with -10C 700mb temps for a chilly morning and a chance of snow showers at both higher and lower elevations. Models are currently placing the higher precipitation amounts from around the Bighorns into central WY for over 0.50" accumulation. Moist northwest flow follows the rest of the day with showers across northern into central WY and brisk westerly flow across SW WY. The pattern is likely to remain into Saturday for a cool wet mid-May weekend. && .AVIATION...For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday Issued at 1110 AM MDT Sat May 14 2022 Moist, westerly flow has brought rain/snow showers to western WY this morning, and they will continue through the afternoon. VFR/MVFR conditions expected in this area through about 15/02Z with partially obscured mountains. Gusty west-southwest have returned today as well, with gusts 25-35 kt at most TAF sites. As a weak wave moves through southern MT later today, KCOD/KWRL/KBYG will once again have a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms through about 15/04Z. The Bighorn Mountains will be partially obscured from 14/22Z through 15/06Z. As the west-southwest winds decrease across southern and central WY this evening, gusty north winds will push into northern WY along with the weak convective activity. High pressure then settles in Sunday morning for clearing skies from south to north. Winds Sunday will be much lighter than the past few days, with gusts only up to 20 kt. Clouds will increase again over northwest WY Sunday evening, ahead of a weather system moving into western MT. Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for the latest information on icing and turbulence forecasts. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued AT 1110 AM MDT Sat May 14 2022 West to northwest winds, with gusts of 30 to 40 mph, will occur across much of the forecast area this afternoon. The Bighorn Basin and northern portions of zone 281 will be the least affected by this activity. Elevated fire weather conditions will occur across the central and southern zones, coinciding with the winds, with RH values in the lower to middle 20s. Mountain snow showers will occur over the northern mountains today, with accumulating snow in the highest elevations. A few strikes of lightning could occur, especially along eastern portions of the Bighorn Basin toward the west slopes of the Bighorns. Dry conditions and lighter winds will be in place Sunday. Elevated fire weather conditions will continue across the south, as RH values drop into the upper teens and winds gust between 20 and 25 mph. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && SHORT TERM...LaVoie LONG TERM...McDonald AVIATION...McDonald FIRE WEATHER...LaVoie
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Riverton WY 409 AM MDT Sat May 14 2022 WYZ001>020-022>030-151015- 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- 409 AM MDT Sat May 14 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Western and Central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Scattered light snow showers are likely this morning across the western and northwestern mountain ranges. Isolated thunderstorms are possible for the northern third of the state during the afternoon and evening hours. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Monday through Wednesday...Isolated afternoon thunderstorms are possible each day for the first half of the work week. Thursday and Friday...More numerous thunderstorms and strong winds are possible as the next larger weather system moves through late in the week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to standard operating procedures.
The Pocatello radar (KSFX), 175 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:29 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Time of event is based on observations sites in the region, and the time of discovery of trees down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, May 2022
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: 1025953.