EF2 tornado in Johnson County, Wyoming

A storm survey was conducted near Kaycee and confirmed a tornado. The tornado touched down on a hill just west of Interstate 25 and just north of the Middle Fork of the Powder River. The tornado downed many trees moving down the hill. The tornado then strengthened as it crossed a field. An abandoned trailer was destroyed with the base thrown over 200 yards. Trees in the field were snapped off above the bases with some ground scouring noted. The tornado then crossed Barnum Road and moved northward toward Pine Ridge. The tornado narrowly missed a house and a barn as it moved up the ridge. Numerous trees were downed along both sides of the ridgeline before the funnel lifted. Winds were estimated at 110 to 120 mph, a minimal EF2 tornado.

A combination of an abnormally strong upper level low, strong jet dynamics and an approaching cold front produced one of the biggest severe weather outbreaks across western and central Wyoming in many years. A total of 4 tornadoes were confirmed, including an EF2 tornado which was the strongest tornado that occurred in the NWS Riverton county warning area since 2001 which completely destroyed a trailer and threw it's base over 200 yards. There were also multiple reports of large hail, especially in Johnson County where hail up to tennis ball size was reported. In the dry slot across central and southern Wyoming, strong mid level winds mixed to the surface. The strongest winds were in the Lander foothills where wind gusts up to 76 mph occurred. Many trees were uprooted with some damage to outbuildings. Wind gusts 58 mph or over were also reported in Sweetwater County.