Thunderstorms occurred across portions of western and central Wyoming on the afternoon of August 2nd. With large dew point depressions present, there were numerous reports of wind gusts of 58 mph or greater in Hot Springs, Washakie, and Sweetwater Counties.
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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.
Thunderstorms occurred across portions of western and central Wyoming on the afternoon of August 2nd. With large dew point depressions present, there were numerous reports of wind gusts of 58 mph or greater in Hot Springs, Washakie, and Sweetwater Counties. The highest wind gust reported was 71 mph to the east of Worland. In Hot Springs State Park near Thermopolis, law enforcement reported many tree branches downed.
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 Aug 2, 12:05 PM MST, 1 hour 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 105 PM MDT Sat Aug 2 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Scattered showers and thunderstorms will move southwest to northeast across the area through the afternoon. Strong wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph will be possible with this activity. - Elevated to near critical fire weather conditions will continue across southern Wyoming through the weekend. - Precipitation chances will be lower on Sunday, mainly limited to northern areas. - Warmer and drier conditions are expected through much of next week, with temperatures returning to the upper 80s and mid 90s for most. Combined with gusty winds, this will lead to increased fire weather conditions during this period. && .UPDATE... Issued at 103 PM MDT Sat Aug 2 2025 Another round of showers and thunderstorms is kicking off early this afternoon as a disturbance rotates through the ridge. Coverage will be fairly widespread as convection moves from southwest to northeast across the area. However, like yesterday, the drier surface layer will keep much of the rain from reaching the ground. Accordingly, strong outflow wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph will again be the primary concern through the afternoon. This is backed up by the morning sounding at KRIW and recent mesoanalysis data showing widespread DCAPE values over 1000 J/kg. Showers and storms will taper off late this evening, leaving decreasing clouds and lighter wind overnight. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 214 AM MDT Sat Aug 2 2025 The ridge that has been sitting across the central US, which has given us a feed of monsoon moisture will be finally shifting west the next couple days. Today will be the last widespread moisture day, with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing across the state during the early afternoon. Coverage will be similar to the past couple days, with PW values still near where they should be this time of year. Some thunderstorms may again get strong, but these are getting more limited to the open areas along and downwind of the Bighorn Range. Fire weather concerns are somewhat elevated as humidity only reaches 15 to 20% and some wind gusts near 20 in the afternoon, but the very dry fuels across the state would still be very responsive to any activity, including lightning. Sunday will see the leading edge of drier desert air from the desert southwest feeding into the state. This will start to limit shower activity, with more shower activity not reaching the ground, especially across SW WY. Best shower and thunderstorm chances Sunday will be along and downwind of the Absarokas and Bighorn Ranges during peak heating hours. Drier air will also begin to increase the fire weather threat across SW WY Sunday afternoon, as humidity levels west of the divide tick downward to 10 to 15%, while more frequent wind gusts start to show up. By Monday the ridge will be settled on the Four Corners, shutting down the moisture and increasing the heat. A passing shortwave to the northwest may tap the last remnants of moisture for showers along the Absarokas, but there won't be much left to precipitate by this time. This will bring temperatures upwards, ranging form the upper 80s west of the divide, to the low to mid 90s east. Humidity levels will be 8 to 14% each afternoon, and wind gusts of 20 to 25 mph will be possible, so we may have to contend with an extended period of elevated to critical fire weather conditions. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1123 AM MDT Sat Aug 2 2025 The first in a series of shortwaves has been tracking across southwest Wyoming Saturday morning. Another approaches from the west later Saturday afternoon, with a final circulation set to trek eastward across the forecast area tonight. Enough mid-level moisture exists to generate scattered convection between mainly 20Z/Saturday and 02Z/Sunday as the second shortwave crosses the region during peak heating. PROB30 groups are the general rule and have tried to narrow these to the most likely three- to four-hour periods at each terminal Saturday afternoon. Moisture is mainly confined above 500mb as noted on the KRIW and KSLC morning soundings, therefore gusty outflow wind 30-40kts will be the primary aviation hazard. The last shortwave is likely to keep a few lingering light showers through the evening and perhaps into the early morning hours Sunday across the far north and southwest. Drier air arrives behind this final disturbance leading to a quiet Sunday morning. Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for the latest information on icing and turbulence forecasts. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && UPDATE...Myers DISCUSSION...Straub AVIATION...CNJ
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Riverton WY 1208 PM MDT Sat Aug 2 2025 WYZ001>020-022>030-031300- Yellowstone National Park-Absaroka Mountains-Cody Foothills- North Bighorn Basin-Southwest Bighorn Basin-Southeast Bighorn 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- 1208 PM MDT Sat Aug 2 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Western and Central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Another round of scattered showers and thunderstorms returns with gusty outflow wind 35 to 45 mph being the primary hazard. Coverage is greatest between 1 PM and 6 PM, especially along and east of the Continental Divide, before coverage and intensity decreases by 10 PM. Elevated fire weather conditions may be possible over portions of southern Wyoming through 8 PM, due to low relative humidity and gusty surface wind, including those from showers and storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Sunday and Monday...Daily chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorms. The best chances will be in central and northern Wyoming with lesser chances elsewhere. Low minimum relative humidity and breezy westerly wind persists across southern Wyoming. These conditions are expected to gradually spread north leading to elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions to start the week. Tuesday through Friday...The combination of gusty westerly wind, above normal temperatures, and low relative humidity will create elevated to perhaps critical fire weather conditions across portions of southwest and central Wyoming. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.
The Riverton/Lander radar (KRIW), 170 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:17 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A 63 mph wind gust was recorded at the Rock Springs airport from an outflow boundary.
Wind gusts as high as 60 mph were reported around Thermopolis. At Hot Springs State Park, large tree branches were downed.
Wind gusts as high as 71 mph occurred near and to the east of Worland.
A 59 mph wind gust was recorded at the Rock Springs airport.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, August 2025
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: 1286341, 1287425, 1287430, 1286342.