A widespread weather event across the region with snowsqualls in Carbon County and several severe thunderstorm warnings and a tornado warning across western Nebraska.
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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 CYS wrote it up.
A widespread weather event across the region with snowsqualls in Carbon County and several severe thunderstorm warnings and a tornado warning across western Nebraska.
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 21, 1:12 PM MST, 52 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
212 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- There is a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe weather
this afternoon and evening over portions of the High Plains.
Isolated large hail and damaging winds are the primary
concerns.
- Friday will be cool and breezy with showers ending in the
morning hours. Expect freezing temperatures in Carbon and
Albany county Friday morning, with lows in the 30s elsewhere.
- A warming trend will carry through Memorial Day weekend, with
near record high temperatures possible by Monday.
- Isolated high-based showers and storms will be possible each
day over the long weekend but rainfall will be limited.
Rainfall potential will increase on Tuesday and Wednesday.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 210 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
A potent upper level trough is swinging across Wyoming this
afternoon, which will support active weather through early Friday
morning. ahead of the primary forcing, we have a dryline boundary
setup from roughly Cheyenne to Fort Laramie to the WY/NE/SD triple
point. Southerly winds east of the boundary are advecting in good
low-level moisture, while drier air and westerly flow dominates to
the west. The dryline is providing a focus for some pre-frontal
convection, with several storms already kicking up. The environment
ahead of these storms is favorable for isolated strong to severe
thunderstorms, with SBCAPE around 1000 to 1600 J/kg and 20-40 knots
of effective bulk shear. Vertical wind shear increases further
south, and the most favorable environment for storms is located in
the southern Nebraska panhandle. The overall hazards for today
remain unchanged, with strong, gusty winds and isolated large hail
the primary concerns. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out,
particularly in the southern panhandle. Expect multiple rounds of
showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Coverage will
greatly increase over the next few hours as forcing associated with
the approaching trough increases. Current thinking is that the
primary severe threat will be associated with the initial round of
dryline convection, whereas the strongly forced second round about
to move into Carbon county will have lower chances for severe, but
high coverage of rainfall and gusty winds. The window for discrete
storms (and the primary severe threat) should conclude around 8PM to
10PM. The progression of the strong forcing will move eastward
slowly, likely not reaching the edge of the forecast area until
around 10PM to midnight tonight. This will still have the potential
to produce locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Showers with
synoptically driven gusty northwest winds will continue behind the
main line, mainly north of the North Platte River Valley. This will
continue into Friday morning. Chadron will be the last area to dry
out, but expect rain to conclude by noon. This lingering shower
activity will be driven by a narrow TROWAL developing in the wake of
the potent upper level low tonight.
As the surface front moves through this evening, expect gusty
northwest winds to spread across the area. The probability for high
winds is low (20% or less), but we can expect to see fairly
widespread wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph, lasting into the day on
Friday. This front will enforce the chilly airmass over the area,
causing much of the area to fall back into the 30s again tonight.
Around Cheyenne, Douglas, and Lusk, look for lows around 32 to 35.
This may stress sensitive vegetation, but confidence in dropping
below freezing not high enough for a Freeze Warning (30 to 50%
probability). In addition, the gusty winds should limit frost
formation. Further west, particularly where snow cover lingers, cold
air advection will support higher probabilities of a freeze (70 to
90%). Winds will also be lighter, mainly in Carbon County, which
should improve radiative cooling. Therefore, confidence was high
enough to issue a Freeze Warning for the valleys of Carbon and
Albany county. Heading into Friday afternoon, high temperatures will
be similar or slightly cooler than today for most of the area.
Another weak vort-max will approach the area from the west Friday
afternoon, which will increase cloud cover over our western areas,
and also lead to a slight chance for a few showers mainly tied to
the higher terrain. This will linger into the evening hours, and
possibly creep eastward along the Colorado state line into the High
Plains overnight.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 210 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
After this trough pushes through into the Northern
Plains on Friday, A weak upper level ridge starts to build over the
Intermountain West. Southeast Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle
will largely be dry this weekend as there will be limited vorticity
and decent lift to play with. However, some diurnal afternoon
showers may be possible, but mostly confined to the southern half of
the forecast area Saturday and Sunday. By Monday the synoptic
pattern starts to shift as a progged Low pressure system starts to
push into Baja California with another northern system to pushes
into the Pacific Northwest. This will push us into a southwest
advecting in some moisture from the Pacific and some dry air from
the downsloping winds off the mountains near the surface. As these
two systems push into United States the southern system almost gets
absorbed by the northern system to form this deep trough to kick
start our wet pattern again on Tuesday most likely in the afternoon.
Thanks to our summer sun, the synoptic set up of this deep trough
will lead to decent destabilization of the atmosphere and produce
scattered thunderstorms for the afternoon and evening. The models
really start to diverge with the synoptic pattern after Wednesday
morning. The GFS has a tilted ridge working its way into the
Intermountain West possibly drying us out or we can go with the
Euro or Canadian that have systems of varying intensities keep
us rainy and stormy throughout the week. It will be interesting
to see how the models trend past our Tuesday trough.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1146 AM MDT Thu May 21 2026
Showers are moving across Southeast Wyoming but should affect
any of the terminals at this point. After 21z the thunderstorm
potential increases for Southeast Wyoming and then expected
around 00z for the Nebraska terminals. There is some severe
potential of temporary wind gusts up to 60 mph and hail sized up
to quarters. Although they dont look to affect any terminals
there is a slight potential for some land spouts and/or a brief
tornado near Kimball county, NE. The severe potential looks to
end around 02z for all areas. With this big upper level trough
moving through showers will probably continue intermittently
throughout the night and ending around 14z for all areas.
&&
.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM MDT Friday for
WYZ104-105-109>111-113-115-116.
NE...None.
&&
SHORT TERM...MN
LONG TERM...MM
AVIATION...MMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
1252 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
WYZ108-211930-
Goshen County WY-
1252 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL GOSHEN COUNTY
THROUGH 130 PM MDT...
At 1252 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Fort Laramie National Historic Site, or 20 miles northwest of
Torrington. This thunderstorm was nearly stationary.
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...
Fort Laramie and Fort Laramie National Historic Site.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4209 10446 4213 10464 4229 10461 4223 10435
TIME...MOT...LOC 1852Z 163DEG 0KT 4218 10455
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
MMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
129 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
WYZ108-212000-
Goshen County WY-
129 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL GOSHEN COUNTY THROUGH
200 PM MDT...
At 128 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Fort Laramie, or 17 miles northwest of Torrington, moving northeast
at 10 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...
Fort Laramie, Pine Ridge Estates, Fort Laramie National Historic
Site, and Hwy 85 At Dry Rawhide Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4210 10447 4219 10460 4240 10444 4225 10420
TIME...MOT...LOC 1928Z 225DEG 7KT 4219 10447
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
GoatleySpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
139 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
WYZ102-107-108-212015-
East Platte County WY-Goshen County WY-Niobrara County WY-
139 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN NIOBRARA...NORTHWESTERN
GOSHEN AND NORTHEASTERN PLATTE COUNTIES THROUGH 215 PM MDT...
At 139 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles south of Rawhide Buttes, or 23 miles south of Lusk, moving
northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size 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...
Rawhide Buttes and Jay Em.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4234 10455 4241 10471 4265 10456 4251 10424
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 218DEG 16KT 4244 10457
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
GoatleySpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
150 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
NEZ095-096-WYZ102-108-212030-
North Sioux NE-South Sioux NE-Goshen County WY-Niobrara County WY-
150 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL SIOUX...
SOUTHEASTERN NIOBRARA AND NORTHEASTERN GOSHEN COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM
MDT...
At 150 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles southeast of Prairie Center, or 23 miles north of Torrington,
moving northeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of west central Sioux,
southeastern Niobrara and northeastern Goshen Counties.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4231 10405 4236 10425 4264 10410 4252 10381
TIME...MOT...LOC 1950Z 208DEG 11KT 4240 10410
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
GoatleySpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
202 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
NEZ096-WYZ108-212045-
South Sioux NE-Goshen County WY-
202 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN SIOUX AND EAST
CENTRAL GOSHEN COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM MDT...
At 202 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northeast of Lingle, or 13 miles northwest of Torrington,
moving northeast at 10 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...
Hwy 85 At Dry Rawhide Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4215 10425 4221 10439 4237 10431 4231 10404
TIME...MOT...LOC 2002Z 208DEG 10KT 4224 10429
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
GoatleySpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
301 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
NEZ003-096-212145-
Box Butte NE-South Sioux NE-
301 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN BOX BUTTE AND
SOUTHERN SIOUX COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM MDT...
At 301 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles northeast of Morrill, or 18 miles northwest of Scottsbluff,
moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southwestern Box
Butte and southern Sioux Counties.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4201 10392 4224 10393 4235 10345 4202 10344
TIME...MOT...LOC 2101Z 257DEG 13KT 4211 10382
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
GoatleyThe Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 57 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:04 UTC.
2 tornado, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Report of a landspout reported by fire department. Boundary collision observed on radar at the time of the call.
A large dusty landspout was well documented north of Pine Bluffs. The tornado formed directly under the updraft base of a developing thunderstorm after a boundary collision. Images of this tornado suggested this landspout may have been a hybrid type landspout/tornado. This landspout moved east to southeast over a ridge to the north of Pine Bluffs. An area of inflow winds to the west of the vortex kicked up dirt and dust. No damage was reported.
WYDOT mesonet station WY18 7 miles northwest of Elk Mountain reported visibility under one quarter mile, winds gusting 35 to 40mph, and temperatures at 30 degrees. A snowsquall was ongoing at 4:24pm on May 21st.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Wyoming, 2026Warnings in Wyoming, May 2026
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: 1337559, 1337560, 1331805.