Tornado in Albany County, Wyoming

In the late morning hours of Thursday, 18 May, 2023,

a semi-sustained updraft was able to maximize the local near-surface

vorticity of a low-topped thunderstorm in Laramie Valley north of

the town of Laramie. As a result, several funnel clouds occurred near

11:20am to 11:25am MDT. Funnel pictures were initially elevated and

horizontal in nature. Additional pictures and several videos then showed

clear evidence of a more vertical circulation taking place. This vertical

circulation was able to connect with the ground per evidence of a

large dust circulation from several videos and pictures. Approximate

touchdown points have been officially updated in the NWS Damage

Assessment Toolkit Viewer based on radar, pictures, videos, and

emergency management accounts. No known damage occurred as a result

of this tornado as it remained in open space NE of Laramie, WY. NWS

meteorologists surveyed the accessible areas NE of Laramie and determined

no damage indicators were impacted. Thus, a tornado rating of EF-Unknown

(EF-U) has been determined. No injuries or fatalities.

A few strong to locally severe thunderstorms occurred across southeast Wyoming during the late morning and early afternoon hours on 5/18. Notable weather events included a landspout tornado northeast of Laramie, and strong thunderstorm wind gusts near the city of Pine Bluffs. No damage was reported.