About Lightning in Wyoming
Located at approximately 41°N latitude, Wyoming is a high-elevation state in the northern Rockies, where afternoon orographic thunderstorms develop rapidly over mountain terrain and can produce severe hail on the eastern plains. Thunderstorm frequency varies within state boundaries, so this page does not publish an unsupported statewide annual average or national rank.
In Wyoming, afternoon solar heating of mountain slopes drives rapid orographic thunderstorm development. Peak thunderstorm activity occurs during May through August, when conditions align for the most frequent lightning strikes. With a population of 0.6 million residents, storm awareness and lightning safety are important considerations for anyone living in or visiting Wyoming.