High-Impact Weather and Climate Events

Presidential Disaster Declaration. "On November 1, 2000, an intense winter storm brought high winds and heavy, wet snowfall to portions of northeastern Wyoming. In Crook and Weston counties, snowfall rates were one to two inches an hour. Snowfall totals in the plains were from 4 to 8 inches, while in the Bear Lodge Mountains, totals were from 8 to 24 inches. The Four Corners area in northeastern Weston County reported the most snowfall at 24 inches. High, sustained winds up to 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph caused blizzard conditions and toppled 600 power poles. Seven thousand people were without power; almost 15 miles of lines had to be replaced. The city of Moorcroft had more than 150 stranded semi-trucks after the interstate was shut down. In Campbell County, the temperatures were too warm for snow and rain fell throughout the day, but high winds were reported with gusts more than 50 mph at times. The highest gust in Campbell County was 64 mph at Echeta." - WY Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021-2026

"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

"A large and destructive tornado accompanied with hail, up to softball size, ripped through eastern Logan County. An 88-year old farmer and his wife received minor injuries when the tornado flattened their home. The elderly man spared from serious injury when the recliner he was sitting in flipped upside down; just before a wall caved in on top of him. The farmer suffered a cracked vertebra and a lacerated hand. In all, five farmsteads were either damaged or destroyed. Several structures were destroyed, including three homes and numerous outbuildings. One modular home was lifted up and dropped 50 feet away from its foundation. Numerous pieces of farm equipment including, machinery, stock trailers and vehicles were damaged or destroyed. Three square miles of corn crops and several trees were destroyed. Some livestock were also killed. The tornado snapped power poles and downed electrical lines between Holyoke and Fleming. Initial damage estimates to two properties alone were around $750,000." - NOAA

An F1 tornado in the Naples area damaged or destroyed several mobile homes, garages, and sheds. Several houes were damaged by flying debris. Power poles were pulled out of the ground and numerous trees were downed, with some thrown up to a quarter of a mile away. Agriculture damage included hay pastures and gardens.

During the early afternoon, the most destructive tornado in Utah's history touched down in southwest Salt Lake City. Shortly after touching down the tornado intensified to an F2. It moved northeast, causing widespread damage at Delta Center including the only fatality of the storm at an outdoor retailers' convention tent. The tornado skirted the Capitol Building and ripped out several large trees there and in Memory Grove. Before lifting off, it caused significant damage in the residential area known as The Avenues. The storm resulted in 1 fatality, 80 injuries, 300 buldings and homes damaged, with 34 deemed uninhabitable. The event destroyed 500 trees and damaged 300 more. Additional damages were inflicted on vehicles and infastracture. The storm had an average width of 300 to 600 ft., a path length of 4.5 mi., and was on the ground for 14 minutes.

"Two tornadoes touched down causing extensive damage north of Genoa. The first tornado, an F2, caused minor damage to a home, but substantial damage to trees in the area. The second tornado, an F3, destroyed 2 mobile homes and several grain bins. It also caused moderate damage to 2 framed houses. At one farm, several dogs that were boarded in kennels were killed. Several trees and dozens of power poles were also snapped, and a pickup truck was tossed over a quonset hut. Damage was estimated to be $3-4 million." - NOAA

"Dikes North of La Junta, Otero County, 1999: A three-day rainfall event occurred on April 29 to May 1, 1999. Heavy rain and saturated soil caused flooding in two major areas along the Front Range, specifically in Northeastern Colorado along the South Platte River and some of its tributaries, and Southeastern Colorado along the Arkansas River and some of its tributaries. Rainfall totals of up to 13 inches were recorded in the Cheyenne Mountain region of Colorado Springs. The La Junta region recorded approximately 8 inches over the same three-day period. The Arkansas River broke the dikes near North La Junta, flooding approximately 200 residences and businesses. The stormwater runoff from the three-day general rain resulted in large flood inundation and erosion in the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek watersheds." - CO Hazard Mitigation Plan 2018-2023

Multi-day rain event caused severe flooding on Fountain Creek, Monument Creek, and the Arkansas River.

Presidential Disaster Declaration. "On October 4-5, 1998, 8 to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow fell across eastern Converse County and Niobrara County. The heavy snow downed trees and power lines. Ice buildup was up to 6 inches around many power lines. The build-up of ice around the power lines, along with 40 mph winds, caused 200 power poles to snap. Four thousand people were without power for up to five days in the Lusk, Manville, Van Tassell, and Lance Creek areas. Interstate 80 between Cheyenne and Laramie was closed due to near zero visibilities." - WY Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021-2026

"Delta County, Carl Smith Reservoir, 1998: The Carl Smith Reservoir failed on the evening of May 2, 1998. Carl Smith Dam is an 850-acre foot, Class 1 off-channel reservoir in Leroux Creek Basin north of Hotchkiss, Colorado. The failure was a result of a large slide on the downstream slope that extended across the crest and into the upstream slope. The releasing water swiftly eroded down through the top half of the remaining embankment and quickly released about 500 acre-feet of storage. The peak discharge just below the dam was determined to be around 3,300 cfs. Several residences were evacuated. The only loss of life was livestock. The high water washed out numerous bridges, and diversion structures were quickly rebuilt to restore water to irrigators." - CO Hazard Mitigation Plan 2018-2023