Power Outage in Douglas, WY

The first observed evidence of the tornado was near Rattlesnake Hill just north of Wagonhound Road. The tornado moved to the south and quickly grew stronger. The NWS survey team continued to investigate some video evidence that the tornado may have been on the ground prior to Rattlesnake Hill. The tornado snapped several trees and power poles along Wagonhound Road, and blew several large rolls of hay nearly 300 yards from a large hay bale stack. The tornado intensified as it moved south toward a ranch, reaching EF3 intensity through the barn and residence, destroying several buildings and causing significant damage to the ranch house. The ranch house had large sections of roof structure removed, and a quonset hut tractor storage area just west of the house was destroyed. Two large utility trailers weighing several thousand pounds were lofted and had not been located, with the exception of one axel set. Large cottonwood trees were stripped of all vegetation with just the largest limbs near the center of the trees remaining intact. The tornado continued south-southeast before lifting in the vicinity of Poison Lake. Start and end and locations and times of the tornado were estimated from eyewitness accounts and radar data.

The first observed evidence of the tornado was near Rattlesnake Hill just north of Wagonhound Road. The tornado moved to the south and quickly grew stronger. The NWS survey team continued to investigate some video evidence that the tornado may have been on the ground prior to Rattlesnake Hill. The tornado snapped several trees and power poles along Wagonhound Road, and blew several large rolls of hay nearly 300 yards from a large hay bale stack. The tornado intensified as it moved south toward a ranch, reaching EF3 intensity through the barn and residence, destroying several buildings and causing significant damage to the ranch house. The ranch house had large sections of roof structure removed, and a quonset hut tractor storage area just west of the house was destroyed. Two large utility trailers weighing several thousand pounds were lofted and had not been located, with the exception of one axel set. Large cottonwood trees were stripped of all vegetation with just the largest limbs near the center of the trees remaining intact. The tornado continued south-southeast before lifting in the vicinity of Poison Lake. Start and end and locations and times of the tornado were estimated from eyewitness accounts and radar data.

The second major winter storm in 10 days produced heavy snow over much of southeast Wyoming, with blizzard conditions in some spots. 12 to 16 inches of snow fell in Douglas, Lusk, Elk Mountainand Medicine Bow, WY, with 8 to 10 inches recorded in Wheatland and Cheyenne. All roads out of Cheyenne, WY, were closed again, as was much of Interstate 80. Power outages were also reported in parts of Laramie County as winds gusted to around 40 mph.

A powerful low pressure system tracked across eastern Colorado and Nebraska and produced strong winds and snow across southeast Wyoming. Blizzard conditions occurred over some areas with many roads closed due to blowing and drifting snow and extremmely low visibilities along with numerous accidents.