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Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Cheyenne, WY
Versions: 1 2
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NOUS45 KCYS 312359
PNSCYS
NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-WYZ101>119-011200-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne, WY
559 PM MDT Tue Jul 31 2018

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 28 JULY TORNADO EVENT IN SOUTHERN
   CONVERSE COUNTY, WY...

...NWS CHEYENNE AND CONVERSE COUNTY EMA GROUND SURVEY TEAM
   FOUND EVIDENCE OF TWO TORNADOES SOUTH OF DOUGLAS...

.OVERVIEW...
The following is preliminary results from the assessment of
damage associated with two tornadoes that affected areas south of
Douglas, WY on the 28th of July 2018 between 4 PM and 430 PM MDT.
NWS team members continue to gather data associated with these
tornadoes. Additional changes to path length and intensity of
these tornadoes are possible over the next few days as more
information becomes available.

.Wagonhound Road Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-3
Estimated peak wind:    136-165 mph
Path length (Statute):  4.5 miles
Path width (Maximum):   350 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             July 28 2018
Start time:             400 PM MDT (approx)
Start location:         9 miles southwest of Douglas, WY
Start Lat/Lon:          42.6452/-105.5134

End date:               July 28 2018
End time:               415 PM MDT (approx)
End location:           12 miles south-southwest of Douglas, WY
End_lat/lon:            42.5841/-105.4862

The first observed evidence from the first tornado was near
Rattlesnake Hill just north of Wagonhound Road. The tornado moved
to the south and quickly grew stronger. NWS continues to
investigate some video evidence that the tornado may have been on
the ground prior to Rattlesnake Hill. The tornado snapped several
trees and power poles along Wagonhound Road, and blew several
large rolls of hay nearly 300 yards from a large hay bale stack.
The tornado grew stronger as it moved south towards a ranch,
reaching EF-3 intensity as it moved through the barn and residence
portion of the ranch destroying several buildings and doing
significant damage to the ranch house. The ranch house had large
sections of roof structure removed, while a quonset hut tractor
storage area just west of the house was completely destroyed. Two
large utility trailers (weighing several thousand pounds) were
lofted and (at the time of the survey) had not been located with
the exception of 1 axel set. Large cottonwood trees near the ranch
house were completely stripped of all vegetation with just the
largest limbs near the center of the trees remaining. The tornado
continued south before lifting in the vicinity of Poison Lake.
Start/end and locations/times of this tornado are estimated from
eyewitness accounts and radar data.

.Esterbrook Road Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated peak wind:    86-110 mph
Path length/Statute/:   2 miles
Path width /Maximum/:   150 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             July 28 2018
Start time:             420 PM MDT (approx)
Start location:         12 miles south-southwest of Douglas, WY
Start Lat/Lon:          42.5681/-105.4325

End date:               July 28 2018
End time:               428 PM MDT (approx)
End location:           14 miles south of Douglas, WY
End_lat/lon:            42.5498/-105.4078

The second tornado formed as the first tornado was lifting to the
west, touching down near the West Fork of La Bonte Creek and
Esterbrook Road. The tornado quickly strengthened to EF-1 strength
as it moved along La Bonte Creek passing near a ranch house off
Esterbrook Road. Most of the damage was to trees that were snapped
mid trunk in a 150 yard path. The tornado lifted as it moves east
of the La Bonte Creek area. The ground survey team lost track of
the tornado as it moved southeast of open country, so it is possible
the track extended farther than the survey results indicate. NWS
Cheyenne also continues to investigate reports of damage at
Esterbrook Campground to the southeast, to see if this damage is also
associated with the same tornado reported here. Start/end and
locations/times of this tornado are estimated from eyewitness
accounts and radar data.

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale Classifies Tornadoes into the
following categories.

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 To 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph|

NOTE:
The information in this statement is PRELIMINARY and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in
NWS Storm Data.

$$

Worley/Garmon
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office
