Hail in Wyoming, July 15, 2023

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
1153 AM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023

.SHORT TERM...(Today through Sunday night)
Issued at 300 AM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023

There are currently a few thunderstorms still hanging on to the
last bits of instability across portions of southeast Wyoming and
the Nebraska panhandle. These will likely continue over the next
few hours with 35 to 40 knots of shear and greater instability in
the area the storms are moving into. Small hail is possible with
wind gusts 30 to 40 mph and frequent lightning.

This afternoon, drier air continues to move in as the ridge axis
shifts eastward, limiting thunderstorm development. If any
thunderstorms develop, they will likely be near the I-80 corridor
and southward to the Colorado state line, where the best moisture
and instability is located. Temperatures are forecast to be a few
degrees warmer with highs in the upper 70s to 80s and lows in the
50s.

Sunday, the ridge axis shifts even further east, providing warmer
temperatures and drier conditions. Currently, no thunderstorm
chances are in the forecast due to limited instability and
dewpoints in the 20s to 30s.

.LONG TERM...(Monday through Friday)
Issued at 300 AM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023

Starting off Monday...upper ridge axis beginning to shift
east...moving into western Colorado into western and central
Wyoming...into central Montana. Our CWA in northwest flow.
Surface boundary looks to lay from maybe Kimball...northwest to
Douglas into central Montana. East of this boundary...layered
PWATS still quite high at 0.9 inch across the Panhandle into
Niobrara County. West of the boundary...it looks much drier with
layered PWATS down near .4 to .5 west of the Laramie Range. Ridge
axis overhead by 00Z Tuesday. Both GFS and ECMWF shows a dry
forecast for Monday...with 700mb temperatures climbing to +20C
over our western counties. Going to be pretty warm with these
700mb temperatures. Afternoon highs Monday range from the upper
90s across the Panhandle to the low to mid 90s across Carbon and
Albany Counties.

Upper ridge flattens for Tuesday as a strong low pressure system
moves through southern Canada to our north. This pattern usually
good for elevated winds. GFS showing 700mb winds 35-40kts Tuesday
morning...so went above forecast guidance on wins speeds.
Guidance also showing some return moisture from western Colorado
as ridge axis shifts east through the day. do have slight chance
to chance PoPs across Carbon and Albany Counties for Tuesday
afternoon.

Ridge axis begins to build back after the upper low tracks into
North Dakota and eventually Minnesota Wednesday. Ridge axis looks
to be west across Utah/Idaho and western Montana...placing the CWA
in northwest flow. Surface boundary sags southwest from South
Dakota. Gives us some relief from the really hot
temperatures...but does increase chances for showers and storms
once again Wednesday afternoon/evening.

Looks active for Thursday as low level southeast winds return to
the Panhandle and front range...pumping low level moisture into
the area. Layered PWATS thursday afternoon up near 1.25 inch
across the Panhandle and 1.0 inch in the southeast Wyoming plains.
Both the GFS and ECMWF showing fairly high PoPs across the
Panhandle to the Laramie Range...so confidence is good for fairly
widespread showers and thunderstorms Thursday afternoon/evening.

For Friday...the first day of Cheyenne Frontier Days...could be
dealing with afternoon and evening storms as high PWATS remain in
place. But there is good news...the upper ridge axis is
approaching from the west...so these higher PWATS are likely going
to be shunted east...at least temporarily.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon)
Issued at 1141 AM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023

VFR conditions likely through the forecast period for all
terminals. Main concerns over the next 12 hours include a chance
for isolated showers and thunderstorms to pulse across the region.
HiRes model guidance does indicate that most storms should stay as
VCTS and VCSH. Therefore kept most activity in the vicinity of
KCYS, KLAR, and KSNY. In addition to the thunderstorm activity,
some continued smoke will drift southward for areas in the
Nebraska Panhandle. Went ahead and extended smoke for KCDR and
KAIA where winds are more favorable.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 123 AM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023

Limited fire weather concerns in the upcoming week.
Afternoon relative humidity values are near to below critical
thresholds, and there is a chances for gusty winds in the
afternoons. However, good overnight humidity recovery will aid in
lessening fire weather concerns, especially along and east of the
Laramie Range.

&&

.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...None.
NE...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...LK
LONG TERM...GCC
AVIATION...MRD
FIRE WEATHER...LK

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
209 AM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023

NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-WYZ101>119-160815-
Dawes County-Box Butte County-Scotts Bluff County-Banner County-
Morrill County-Kimball County-Cheyenne County-
Northern Sioux County-Southern Sioux County-
Converse County Lower Elevations-Niobrara County-
North Laramie Range-Ferris/Seminoe/Shirley Mountains-
Shirley Basin-Central Laramie Range and Southwest Platte County-
East Platte County-Goshen 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-
Central Laramie County-East Laramie County-
209 AM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of panhandle
Nebraska...east central Wyoming...south central Wyoming and
southeast Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.Spotter information statement...

Spotter activation will not be needed.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
141 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023

WYZ117>119-152015-
Central Laramie County WY-South Laramie Range Foothills WY-
East Laramie County WY-
141 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of south central
Laramie County through 215 PM MDT...

At 140 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Frontier Park, or over Cheyenne, moving southeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Cheyenne, South Greeley, Ranchettes, Warren AFB, Frontier Park, North
Cheyenne, Warren Af Base, Fox Farm-College and South Greeley High.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 25 in Wyoming between mile markers 4 and 18.
 Interstate 80 in Wyoming between mile markers 356 and 372.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4118 10498 4127 10480 4101 10438 4100 10486
TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 321DEG 14KT 4116 10483

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

Dewey