Lance VandenBoogart, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service (NWS) based in Riverton, delivered a detailed presentation on severe weather awareness and preparedness in Opal on May 22. The event was organized by the Lincoln County Local Emergency Planning Committee and was aimed at educating residents about storm safety, weather alerts and forecasting practices.

VandenBoogart began by introducing the role of the National Weather Service and covered essential weather terms and storm identification techniques. He emphasized the importance of recognizing the levels of weather alerts, especially the distinction between a watch and a warning.

“A warning is the most urgent of all the threats,” he said. “That is when we are asking people to take action.”

To make the concept easier to understand, he used a slide featuring a taco analogy. 

“Watch means be prepared,” he explained, likening it to having all the ingredients for a taco and being prepared to eat, but the taco is not yet made.

“The ingredients are there; the atmosphere is unstable, there is a lot of moisture around, but it has not come together yet,” he said.

Once the atmospheric ingredients come together, and present a threat to life or property, that is when a warning is issued, and the NWS is asking people to take action. Continuing with the humorous taco analogy, he said a warning is a taco that is completely prepared, and one is ready to “take action” and eat it.

He clarified that a thunderstorm is considered severe if it produces a tornado, hail of one inch in diameter or larger, or wind gusts of 58 mph or greater. These conditions can result in significant damage, including downed trees and power lines.

VandenBoogart outlined the three main ingredients for thunderstorm formation: heat and moisture, which provide instability and fuel the storm by pushing warm, moist air upward; lift, which initiates cloud development; and shear, which influences storm organization and rotation.

He noted that late May and June are particularly active months for severe weather in Wyoming.

“The sun angle is much higher, and there is more heating,” he said. “This is the time of the year when we have the most active weather.”

The presentation included discussions of various severe weather types: damaging winds, flash floods, hail, lightning, microbursts, tornados, and blizzards. While microbursts are common in the area, VandenBoogart noted that flash flooding is often the most damaging. He explained that moving water causes more destruction than wind in many cases, and that flash floods are a risk throughout the state.

He referenced the 2022 flooding in Yellowstone, when heavy rainfall and snowmelt overwhelmed the ground’s capacity to absorb water. VandenBoogart also cited a more local example — a slow-moving thunderstorm that caused flooding in Opal last year.

He explained that fast-moving storms typically pass too quickly to cause flooding, even if they produce heavy rain.

“They put down a lot of rain, but they pass over you and don’t cause flooding because the moisture soaks in.” However, slow-moving storms present a greater threat. “Slowly moving storms drench the areas underneath them,” he said, comparing the impact to a sprinkler continuously soaking one area.

VandenBoogart explained how the NWS uses ensemble forecasting, a method that improves accuracy by factoring in a variety of weather models. He noted that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the parent agency of the NWS and provides funding.

His main mission, he said, is to alert the public about dangerous weather in advance. While emergency management takes the lead after a disaster, the NWS continues to provide support as weather threats may persist during recovery. He pointed out that WYDOT also relies on NWS forecasts.

“The weather information we put out is free for the public,” he said, encouraging residents to visit weather.gov for trustworthy updates.

VandenBoogart also addressed heat safety, which remains a concern even in Wyoming. He advised checking car backseats for children or pets, as vehicles can heat up rapidly.

“Cars act like greenhouses,” he said.

He recommended staying hydrated and acknowledged that the region’s low humidity reduces instances of heat exhaustion, but emphasized continued caution.

He reminded attendees that weather warnings from the NWS are widely distributed — on the website, through local news and via weather apps. The most urgent warnings also trigger Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), which appear as alert messages on mobile devices.

“There is no sign-up required,” he said.

These alerts may include warnings for flash floods, snow squalls, and tornadoes.

For those spending time outdoors, VandenBoogart emphasized preparation.

“Plan ahead and look at weather forecasts,” he urged.

If thunderstorms are likely, he advised getting to a vehicle quickly.

“When thunder roars, go indoors,” he said, explaining that being within a five-mile radius of lightning increases the chance of being struck.

He schedules his presentations during spring, when storms with large hail and tornadoes are most likely. The local NWS office has about 15 employees who work as a team to issue alerts and educate the public.

VandenBoogart closed by sharing what motivates him in his work.

“We are in the business of protecting lives,” he said.