Severe Weather, A Year in Review

Lead Meteorologist

        The first active day of the 2003 season was on June 16^th. A very moist and unstable airmass resulted in severe thunderstorms firing rapidly across Fremont and Natrona counties during the late afternoon and evening of the 16^th. Golfball size hail was reported in Casper and Lysite.  Also, there were five reports of quarter size hail. Along with the severe weather, the thunderstorms produced very heavy rain. Flash flooding occurred ten miles north of Lysite with creeks and streams reported out of their banks. In addition, nine miles southwest of Casper rocks, boulders, mud and water covered Highway 220.  Two funnel clouds were also sighted this day, one was seen in Fremont County and another in Washakie County. On the 19^th, stationary thunderstorms over northern Johnson county resulted in flash flooding near Buffalo. Flood waters washed out a portion of Trabing Road, 6 miles south of Buffalo. Two motorcyclists clung to a fence six miles east of Buffalo on I-90, as their motorcycles were washed away. June 28^th turned out to be another busy day as severe thunderstorms erupted over Fremont county during the late afternoon and early evening. Golfball size hail was reported in Fort Washakie and seven miles north of Fort Washakie.  Elsewhere, quarter size hail was reported in Lander and Hiland.  Funnel clouds and mesocyclones were sighted in Fremont and Natrona counties.

        On July 7^th, afternoon and evening thunderstorms produced golfball and penny size hail about 30 miles east of Buffalo, in Johnson county. On August 17^th, afternoon severe thunderstorms produced a hail storm in Riverton. There were numerous reports of large hail ranging from the size of nickels to golfballs for 10 to 15 minutes. The rest of August and September yielded little severe weather.

Questions or Comments?

Chad Hahn

Mark Cunningham

Riverton, WY 82501

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