Power Outage in Gillette, WY

Numerous sheds were destroyed, along with other minor property damage. Tree branches to six inches in diameter were broken. Three fires were started from downed power lines.

The spotter reported siding and tree damage at their home, along with many downed power lines in the area.

A power pole was snapped at its base.

The tornado touched down over the west pit of the Eagle Butte Mine, about seven miles north of downtown Gillette. The tornado traveled east-northeast for about eight minutes before dissipating just east of the Dry Fork Power Plant. The tornado snapped and bent over seven power poles, damaged the control room building at the mine, and damaged several vehicles at the Eagle Butte Mine and Dry Fork Power Plant. With wind speeds estimated at 100 mph, the tornado was rated as an EF-1.

A tornado destroyed a pole barn, damaged another small shed, and blew down power poles.

A long duration derecho tracked northeast across Wyoming, producing wind gusts as high as 80 mph across much of northeastern Wyoming. Trees and power poles were downed by the wind, with minor property damage as well.

A long-lived supercell thunderstorm developed and tracked southeast through central portions of Campbell County and Weston County. The storm went through much of Gillette, with hail and strong wind gusts causing damage and downing trees and power lines.

A strong upper-level shortwave moving over northeastern Wyoming produced a long lived supercell thunderstorm. The thunderstorm developed over western Campbell County and moved east across Gillette and continued to Rozet. The storm continued into southern Crook County, moving just north of Moorcroft and Sundance. West of Gillette, the storm became tornadic and produced brief tornadoes. One tornado briefly touched down 12 miles west of Gillette in the vicinity of Force Road, north of Interstate 90, with no damage. Another tornado briefly touched down near the Wyodak Power Plant, about 5 miles east of Gillette, also with no damage. Golf ball to baseball sized hail was common across Campbell and Crook Counties. Extensive hail damage was reported in Gillette, particularly across northern parts of the city. Auto dealerships estimated losses of several million dollars. Insurance companies estimated claims totals from automobile and roof damage to be in the millions of dollars.

Law enforcement reported a tornado touching down 10 miles south of Gillette. The storm moved southeast 4 miles downing numerous power lines.