Cheyenne, WY

Weather Forecast Office

June 23, 2023 Tornadoes

Overview

On June 23rd 2023, a powerful supercell thunderstorm developed near Chugwater, Wyoming and tracked east through Platte, Goshen, and Scotts Bluff counties. 9 tornadoes occurred from this cyclic supercell. Many of the tornadoes remained over open country with no damage reported, however two tornados produced EF-2 damage, one near Hawk Springs and another just east of Gering.

This event had a high degree of predictability, with forecast models and short-term guidance honing in on the threat for supercells and possible tornadoes in this location a few days out. Thus, numerous photos and videos from spotters and the public were received from this event.

Due to the remote nature of some of the tornadoes, exact paths were a best-estimate from spotter photos and radar data. Thanks is extended to all who shared photos, video, and reports from this event. For the official NWS Public Information Statement on this event in text format, please see this link.

The second tornado from the Chugwater-Scottsbluff supercell, in open country near
the Platte/Goshen County line.

Overview map showing all 9 tornadoes in the "Tornado Family" from the cyclic supercell.

Radar Reflectivity and Velocity loop showing the evolution of the supercell

Tornado
Wind & Hail
Photos & Video
Radar
Storm Reports

Tornadoes

Tornado - Just east of Chugwater
Platte County Wyoming

Date	6/23/23
Time (Local)	5:11 PM MDT
EF Rating	EF-U
Est. Peak Winds	Unknown
Path Length	<100 yards
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: Brief tornado touched down for less than 10 seconds in open country just west of Pioneer Road to the east of Chugwater. Observed by several storm spotters in the area.

Track Map


Radar Reflectivity and Velocity at time of touchdown	Photo of the brief tornado touchdown courtesy of Linda Charnick	Photo of the brief tornado touchdown looking east from Chugwater courtesy of Dan Fitts

Tornado - 9 miles east of Chugwater
Platte County Wyoming

Date	6/23/23
Time (Local)	5:29 PM MDT
EF Rating	EF-U
Est. Peak Winds	Unknown
Path Length	Estimated 3.2 miles
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: Cone tornado with occasional touchdowns over a roughly 3 mile stretch. Numerous photos and videos from storm spotters. No damage and in open country.

Track Map


Radar Reflectivity and Velocity at time of touchdown	Photo of the tornado near the midpoint of it's track, courtesy of Mike Charnick	Another photo of the tornado in open farmland, courtesy of Jen Walton

Tornado - 7 miles west of Hawk Springs
Goshen County Wyoming

Date	6/23/23
Time (Local)	6:03 PM MDT
EF Rating	EF-U
Est. Peak Winds	Unknown
Path Length	Unknown
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths
Summary: Brief, fully condensed tornado touchdown approximately 7 miles west of Hawk Springs. Numerous photos and video from spotters used to approximate track. No damage and in open country.

Track Map


Radar Reflectivity and Velocity at time of touchdown	Photo of the tornado touchdown courtesy of Phil Bergmaier

Tornado - Just south of Hawk Springs
Goshen County Wyoming

Date	6/23/23
Time (Local)	6:21 PM MDT
EF Rating	EF-2
Est. Peak Winds	118 mph
Path Length	4.72 miles
Max Width	800 yards
Injuries/Deaths	1
Summary: This was a larger cone tornado that quickly became rain-wrapped east of US-85 south of Hawk Springs. This tornado flipped an 18-wheeler and injured the driver. The tornado also snapped cottonwood trees with a tree branch impaling a stucco house. It damaged outbuildings and snapped power poles. This same tornado tracked southeast and damaged another outbuilding and a barn 3 miles southeast of Hawk Springs. Along with the tornado damage there was some rear flank downdraft straight-line-wind damage rated to near 100 mph that snapped several hardwood trees 3 miles southeast of Hawk Springs.

Track Map


Radar Reflectivity and Velocity at time of touchdown.	Photo of the tornado shortly after touchdown, before becoming rain-wrapped, courtesy of Mike Charnick	Collapsed outbuilding from storm survey.	Impaled tree branch in stucco house siding.

Tornado - 6 miles east of Hawk Springs
Goshen County Wyoming

Date	6/23/23
Time (Local)	6:44 PM MDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	97 mph
Path Length	3.9 miles
Max Width	20 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: This tornado bent free-standing light and flag poles along its path. A small outbuilding was noted with collapsed walls by local emergency management.

Track Map


Radar Reflectivity and Velocity after touchdown.	Video screen-grab of tornado, courtesy of Dan Fitts	Damage to outbuilding from tornado	Another video screen-grab of tornado, courtesy of Dan Fitts

Tornado - Approximately 12 miles west of Gering
Scotts Bluff, Nebraska

Date	6/23/23
Time (Local)	7:04 PM MDT
EF Rating	Unknown
Est. Peak Winds	Unknown
Path Length	Approx. 3.2 miles
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: This was a brief tornado touchdown that occurred in open country with no damage. Spotters reported the tornado.

Track Map


Radar Reflectivity and Velocity after touchdown.	Video screen-grab of tornado, courtesy of Dan Fitts.	Photo of the wall cloud of this storm over the wildcat hills.

Tornado - Approximately 9 miles west of Gering
Scotts Bluff, Nebraska

Date	6/23/23
Time (Local)	7:22 PM MDT
EF Rating	Unknown
Est. Peak Winds	Unknown
Path Length	Approx 1.5
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: This was another brief tornado touchdown that occurred in open country with no damage. Spotters reported the tornado.

Track Map


Radar Reflectivity and Velocity after touchdown.

Tornado - 1.5 miles east-northeast of Gering
Scotts Bluff, Nebraska

Date	6/23/23
Time (Local)	7:38 PM MDT
EF Rating	EF-2
Est. Peak Winds	118 mph
Path Length	2.2 miles
Max Width	700 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: Significant Damage to structure with content scattered up to 1/2 mile west including hazardous material. Vehicles on property thrown about 50 feet. Small wooden trailer thrown 1/4 mile away. Additionally irrigation pivots were rolled numerous times and power lines were broken along highway 26.

Track Map


Radar Reflectivity and Velocity after touchdown.	Video screen-grab of tornado, courtesy of Aaron Rigsby.	Photo of tornado rope-out, courtesy of Jakob McMillin

Tornado - 2 miles southeast of Gering
Scotts Bluff, Nebraska

Date	6/23/23
Time (Local)	7:44 PM MDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	90 mph
Path Length	1 mile
Max Width	50 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: Broad, diffuse area of damage near and along County Road 34 and Highway 92 from a secondary tornadic circulation just east/south of the main Gering tornado. Rating based on Quonset collapse and power poles broken.

Track Map


Radar Reflectivity and Velocity after touchdown.

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Hail

In addition to the tornadoes, this storm produce a long, wide swath of hail from southeast Wyoming through western Nebraska. Below are a few pictures.


Large hail south of Minatare	Large hail in Slater	Large hail in Lodgepole	Another photo of large hail in Slater from storm spotter

Radar


Composite radar image of the storm every hour from 20:00 UTC (2PM MDT) to 02:00 UTC (8PM MDT) on June 23, 2023

Storm Reports

Official NWS Public Information Statement on this event: https://nwschat.weather.gov/p.php?pid=202307020003-KCYS-NOUS45-PNSCYS

Media use of NWS Web News Stories is encouraged!
Please acknowledge the NWS as the source of any news information accessed from this site.