NWS Riverton WY - Casper Sets New Precipitation Record

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Flash Flooding Across Central Wyoming and New Precipitation Record for Casper

A moist and very unstable air mass caused severe thunderstorms to fire across Central Wyoming on the evening of June 16th. These thunderstorms produced Flash Flooding and resulted in Casper breaking their rainfall record for June 16th. The Natrona County International Airport reported 2.12 inches of rain, which smashed the old record rainfall of 0.28 inches which was set in 2000. The three wettest days are:

Date	Precipitation Amount
6/19/1986	2.15
6/14/1982	2.14
6/16/2003	2.12

Severe Thunderstorms developed rapidly along the Fremont/Natrona County line around 4 pm. The storms remained nearly stationary through 5:30 pm, producing large hail and very heavy rain. One inch diameter hail was reported in Hiland in Northwestern Natrona County at 5:08 pm. Flash flooding and creeks out of their banks were reported 10 miles north of Lysite in Northeastern Fremont County at 5:50 pm.

Another line of severe thunderstorms across southeast Natrona County produced large hail and flash flooding between 5:30 pm and 7:00 pm. One inch diameter hail was reported 13 miles southwest of Casper at 6:26 pm. Golf ball size hail was reported on the west side of Casper at 6:15 pm.

Flash Flooding occurred along Highway 220 about 10 miles southwest of Casper at 6:42 pm. Rocks, boulders, mud, and water covered the highway. Doppler radar rainfall estimates showed a band of 2 to 3 inches of rain extending from Alcova Reservoir to an area just southwest of Casper. Another band of 2 to 3 inch rainfall was noted across northern Natrona County.

The following is the Riverton WSR-88D storm total precipitation from this storm.

Storm Total Precipitation Image - June 16, 2003

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