EF1 Tornado — Niobrara, Wyoming

2022-06-07 · near Node, Niobrara, Wyoming

Event narrative

A supercell thunderstorm developed east of Lusk, WY near 2PM MDT on

7 June 2022 north of Highway 20 that exhibited broad rotation from

KCYS radar. This rotation tightened near 2:20pm MDT just north of

Highway 20 west-northwest of Duck Creek Ranch. First indications of

ground damage start at west side of Duck Creek Ranch with wood fencing

blown down. The tornado intensified and widened as it approached

Duck Creek Ranch with metal sheeting fencing pulled from metal

posts and roof damage occurring on a large ranch shed. A

convergent damage pattern was apparent with the debris of the wood

fencing being blown west and the solid sheet metal fencing blown

north and bent backwards to the west with the roof damage facing

south. Hardwood trees were snapped at the base along with softwood

pines both snapped and uprooted in proximity to a single family

home. The snapped pine tree and the uprooted pine tree were facing

opposite directions. The more impressive damage was a barn roof

and partial second level were torn off and thrown 50 to 100 yards

to the southeast. Additional tin roof peeling damage was noted on

another farm building and a large side sheet metal and wood

section on the southern end of the tornado path was torn from the

facade. Duck Creek Ranch is where the more intense damage was

noted. Farther southeast along, Highway 20, sporadic pockets of

cattle windbreak fencing damage was noted near a WYDOT road sensor

that gusted to 78mph during this time frame. Lastly, near mile

marker 59 on Highway 20, four (4) power poles were leaning south

and marks the end of the tornado path. No additional damage was

seen or reported in Van Tassell and along South Van Tassell Road.

Wider weather episode

Strong to severe thunderstorms developed in east-central Wyoming on the 7th with one storm near Van Tassell producing a tornado causing damage to the Duck Creek Ranch.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (42.6999, -104.2002)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1022228. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.