High-Impact Weather and Climate Events

"Three people left their car and sought shelter in a farmhouse 14 miles northwest of Fowler when they saw a tornado around 3 pm. The farmhouse and car were destroyed. 3 dead, 4 injured." - Chris Spears

"Four different homes were destroyed near McClave and Eads from an overnight tornado that struck around 1:30 am. 4 dead, 12 injured." - Chris Spears

"A tornado touched down 1 mile north of Wright and traveled southeast into the town. It crossed Wyoming Highway 387, slammed into a mobile home park, and dissipated a half mile from the highway before reaching the elementary school and Wright Blvd on the southeast edge of the park. It damaged 120 of the approximately 250 homes in the park; 91 were completely destroyed. Roofs, porches, siding, and trees sustained light damage from the strong wind gusts. Two people were killed and 13 injured; all were in mobile homes." - NOAA

"Two field workers were killed in their home near Wheatland, Platte County." - Wyoming Climate Atlas

"A small homestead shack was destroyed near Lariat in the southeast corner of Sheridan County." - Wyoming Climate Atlas

"A man was killed when a tornado uprooted a tree, which crushed his pickup truck in Bighorn County." - Wyoming Climate Atlas

"This day holds a special and terrifying place in Colorado weather history. Colorado typically sees one EF-4 or EF-3 tornado every three years. But on May 18th, 1977, the ominous, dark skies southeastern Colorado unleashed three of the state’s most powerful twisters on record on a single day. Each tornado ranked as an F-4 (the official tornado measurement scale changed in 2007). Tornadoes ranked at EF-3 and higher pose the greatest risk to lives and property, and the Denver Post points out that while twisters this large are quite rare, they are known to account for two-thirds of all tornado-related deaths." - Uncover Colorado

"Severe thunderstorms broke out across Boulder, Denver, Elbert, Jefferson and Larimer Counties. Two large and long lived tornadoes developed in Larimer County near Berthoud and near Simla in Elbert County. The tornado that occurred along the Boulder and Larimer county line was rated an EF3 at its highest damage point, with maximum winds estimated at 135 to 140 mph. The path length was 6 miles long with a width of one quarter mile at times. In Elbert County, 17 tornadoes touched down, with EF1 damage observed southwest and southeast of Simla. Four homes suffered severe damage; two were uninhabitable. In addition, two other homes suffered moderate damage with slight damage reported to eight other residences. Large hail up to baseball size occurred in Elbert County, with hail up to tennis ball size observed in Boulder County. The hail damaged cars and homes; breaking windows and windshields. The tornado continued its track into Larimer County. At least 25 homes between Longmont and Berthoud were damaged; three of them destroyed. No injuries were reported as the winds tore apart homes and rolled vehicles." - NOAA

"The West Fork Fire Complex (110,405 acres) resulted after three lightning-sparked fires connected with one another in the Weminuche Wilderness area northeast of Pagosa Springs in southwestern Colorado. The fire was fueled by beetle kill trees and a dry summer. Firefighters were assisted when a monsoon brought needed moisture to the area." - 9News

"Lighting started the Kate's Basin Fire on August 7, 2000, in Hot Springs County southwest of Thermopolis and north of Riverton. It was actually a fire complex made up of two fires that burned until August 18, 2000, consuming over 137,600 acres. The fire killed one firefighter." - 101.9 KING FM