High Wind — Sedgwick and Phillips Counties, Colorado

2001-04-20 · Sedgwick and Phillips Counties, Colorado

Wider weather episode

High winds, a product of an intense surface pressure gradient and strong thunderstorm outflow, caused significant damage 12 miles southeast of Holyoke. The owner of a feedlot, suffered damage to his home as well as his feedlot facilities. The wind, estimated up to 90 mph (78 kts) broke the eave on the roof of his home, allowing rain to pour into the residence, down a wall and into the basement. The wind also toppled an irrigation sprinkler and two portable calf barns in a nearby field. One of the calf barns was thrown 200 yards, with pieces of the building dropped a quarter of a mile away. Damage to his property alone was estimated at $60,000. Another farmer lost two grain bins. In addition, a local electric company lost another 60 poles to the high winds. The poles were replacements to the ones destroyed in the blizzard the previous week.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5238183. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.