Hail in Wyoming, May 23, 2025

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
533 PM MDT Fri May 23 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather Friday across
  portions of the Nebraska Panhandle. All threats are possible.

- Unsettled weather expected to continue this weekend through next
  week with daily chances for showers and thunderstorms.
  Temperatures will be near or slightly below average for late May.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 1130 AM MDT Fri May 23 2025

Low stratus is currently clearing out of the CWA after ample
moisture advection overnight. Observations from across the area show
dewpoints in the 50s across the Nebraska panhandle, 40s along the
Interstate 25 corridor, and 20s on the west side of the dryline that
is sitting over the Laramie Range. Models like the RAP show
dewpoints continuing to increase in the southern panhandle this
afternoon as southeasterly flow intensifies moisture advection from
the Gulf. A weak disturbance moving overhead will likely spark
convection along the dryline early this afternoon. Storms will push
eastward into Nebraska through the afternoon hours, moving into an
environment more favorable for severe storms.

Model soundings from across western Nebraska are rather aggressive
this afternoon. GFS soundings around Sidney show MUCAPE values in
excess of 2000 J/kg. Effective shear is greater than 40 kts with
steep mid-level lapse rates. These variables lend itself to a
significant hail threat, with hail larger than 2 inches in
diameter possible. Cannot rule out an isolated tornado as well
with effective shear values as high as they are with MLCAPE
values greater than 1500 J/kg. Most Hi-Res guidance also
suggests discrete cells this afternoon which also lends itself
to more of a large hail and isolated tornado threat. Cannot rule
out damaging wind gusts as well with DCAPE values greater than
900 J/kg with storm clusters possible. Most guidance shows a
relatively short window for convection this afternoon.
Initiation will likely be early this afternoon, with peak
intensity of storms expected late this afternoon. Severe storms
will push out of the CWA this evening, with a few lingering
storms possible overnight.

Weak moisture advection will continue overnight, leading to areas of
fog and low stratus Saturday morning, mainly east of the Laramie
Range. Moist southerly flow will continue throughout most of the day
in the mid-levels ahead of an approaching shortwave. This will
increase PWATs into the 90th percentile for NAEFS climatology.
Combined with the vorticity maxes aloft, widespread precipitation
will likely develop during the afternoon. Hi-Res guidance shows most
of the CWA seeing precipitation at some point during the
day/evening. The severe threat will be limited somewhat by a
cooler environment. Model soundings do still show modest
instability, especially around the Cheyenne area, which suggests
this may be where some of the stronger storms are. The clustery
nature of the storms tomorrow will lend itself more to a strong
wind threat, however hail cannot be ruled out. Showers and
storms could linger into the overnight hours, however coverage
of storms will be much lower.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 135 PM MDT Fri May 23 2025

Sunday...Expecting a cool day due to widespread cloud cover and
precipitation coverage, with high temperatures in the 50s east of I-
25, with 60s further west. With a deep, moist airmass in place, low
level upslope east winds and a passing shortwave trough aloft, we
anticipate widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms in the
afternoon and evening.

Monday...Somewhat similar pattern to Sunday, although the flow aloft
turns northwesterly with slightly less moisture available. Still
though, we expect scattered to numerous showers and scattered
thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.

Tuesday...Northwest flow aloft continues and with adequate low and
mid level moisture, we expect to see scattered late day showers and
thunderstorms, though with less areal coverage compared to Monday.
Warmer temperatures compared to Monday based on 700 mb temperatures.

Wednesday...Another comparable scenario to Tuesday, with north
northwest flow aloft and low level upslope winds, providing enough
shear and instability for scattered afternoon and evening showers
and thunderstorms. Slightly cooler than Tuesday based on 700 mb
temperature trends.

Thursday-Friday...The flow aloft turns northerly, with some drying
noted in the low and mid levels, thus we should see a decrease in
areal coverage of afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms,
though moisture looks plentiful enough for scattered coverage. With
700 mb temperatures from 7-9 Celsius, maximum temperatures will show
a warming trend.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 522 PM MDT Fri May 23 2025

Westerly flow aloft will continue while moist low level upslope
helps produce widespread low clouds overnight and Saturday over
and east of Interstate 25.

Wyoming TAFS...For Rawlins, scattered to broken clouds near
10000 feet will prevail. Winds will gust to 23 knots until 02Z.

For Laramie, ceilings will be near 10000 feet until 06Z, with
thunderstorms in the vicinity until 02Z, then ceilings will
lower to 1500 feet between 06Z and 15Z, then ceilings will be
near 4000 feet after 15Z Saturday. Winds will gust to 22 knots
until 06Z.

For Cheyenne, scattered to broken clouds near 10000 feet will
occur until 05Z, with thunderstorms in the vicinity until 02Z,
then ceilings will lower to 2000 feet after 05Z, and to 800 feet
after 07Z, with fog reducing visibilities to 1 mile, then
ceilings will improve to 2500 feet after 15Z Saturday. Winds
will gust to 22 knots until 02Z.

Nebraska TAFS...Ceilings will be near 5000 feet until 06Z, with
occasional thunderstorms at Alliance until 02Z, producing wind
gusts to 50 knots, visibilities near 2 miles and ceilings near
2500 feet, with thunderstorms in the vicinity at the other
terminals until 02Z, then ceilings will range from 800 to
1500 feet after 06Z, with fog reducing visibilities to 2 to
3 miles, then ceilings will improve to 2500 feet after
15Z Saturday. Winds will gust to 22 knots at Chadron, Alliance
and Sidney until 02Z.

&&

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

&&

SHORT TERM...SF
LONG TERM...RUBIN
AVIATION...RUBIN

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
140 PM MDT Fri May 23 2025

NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-WYZ101>119-241945-
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-
140 PM MDT Fri May 23 2025

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

- Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather Friday across
  portions of the Nebraska Panhandle. All threats are possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

- Unsettled weather expected to continue this weekend through next
  week with daily chances for showers and thunderstorms.
  Temperatures will be near or slightly below average for late May.

.Spotter information statement...

Spotters are encouraged to report severe weather to the NWS.

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
518 PM MDT Fri May 23 2025

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

0448 PM     Hail             11 NE Scottsbluff       41.98N 103.51W
05/23/2025  M1.25 Inch       Scotts Bluff       NE   Public

            Facebook image of 1.25in hail northeast of
            Lake Minatare.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
540 PM MDT Fri May 23 2025

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

0537 PM     Hail             Hemingford              42.32N 103.08W
05/23/2025  M1.75 Inch       Box Butte          NE   Trained Spotter

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
549 PM MDT Fri May 23 2025

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

0530 PM     Hail             Hemingford              42.32N 103.08W
05/23/2025  M1.50 Inch       Box Butte          NE   Public

            Facebook post and video of ping pong ball
            sized hail.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
602 PM MDT Fri May 23 2025

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

0553 PM     Hail             1 E Hemingford          42.32N 103.06W
05/23/2025  M1.25 Inch       Box Butte          NE   Public

            Facebook report with photo of quarter to
            half dollar sized hail.

&&

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
743 PM MDT Fri May 23 2025

WYZ107-108-240215-
East Platte County WY-Goshen County WY-
743 PM MDT Fri May 23 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL GOSHEN AND EAST
CENTRAL PLATTE COUNTIES THROUGH 815 PM MDT...

At 743 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site, or 13 miles northeast of
Wheatland, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
Guernsey, Fort Laramie, Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site, Fort
Laramie National Historic Site, Grayrocks Reservoir, Register Cliff
State Historic Site, and Guernsey State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4216 10498 4231 10492 4228 10450 4203 10455
TIME...MOT...LOC 0143Z 282DEG 30KT 4223 10486

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Mose

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
813 PM MDT Fri May 23 2025

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

0805 PM     Hail             8.5 SSE Guernsey        42.15N 104.68W
05/23/2025  M0.75 Inch       Platte             WY   Trained Spotter

&&