Hail — Sublette, Wyoming

2016-09-04 · near Warren Bridge, Sublette, Wyoming

Event narrative

Hail the size of ping pong balls fell near the Rim in association with a tornadic thunderstorm.

Wider weather episode

A thunderstorm rapidly developed near Merna, Wyoming, on the afternoon of Sunday, September 4. Southeast wind at the surface coupled with strong southwest flow aloft created a favorable environment in which the storm could rotate. The storm strengthened, began rotating, and moved north across several private ranches and spawned a funnel cloud. The funnel eventually touched down as a tornado and caused areas of considerable tree damage just below The Rim, between Merna and Hoback Ranches. Large, old growth aspen trees of 12 to 15 inches in diameter were snapped in half, and other trees were topped, twisted, and/or uprooted. Hail up to the size of ping pong balls also fell near The Rim during the height of the thunderstorm.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (43.1216, -110.2451)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 657086. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.