Cheyenne, Wyoming, recently experienced a powerful and destructive severe weather event, unleashing baseball-sized hail and ominous funnel clouds across the region, eerily coinciding with the 40th anniversary of a historic flash flood that devastated the city in 1985. This latest Cheyenne storm caused significant widespread damage to vehicles, homes, and trees, prompting immediate concern and highlighting the unpredictable nature of natural disasters.
The afternoon brought a dramatic escalation of meteorological phenomena, with residents reporting and documenting substantial hailstones. While no funnel clouds reportedly touched down, their presence underscored the storm’s intensity and the potential for greater hazards, prompting emergency services to monitor the situation closely.
According to Matthew McLaughlin, a general forecaster with the National Weather Service, approximately four funnel clouds were sighted over Cheyenne, though fortunately, no touchdowns occurred. Hail was widespread, with certain areas bearing the brunt of the storm; downtown Cheyenne experienced baseball-sized hail, while locations southwest of Burns recorded even larger hailstones, measuring around three inches in diameter.
The severe weather caused immediate and frightening impacts for residents. Rhiannon Knight, a long-time Cheyenne resident, recounted how a window in her home was damaged by the relentless hail while she was showering. Acting swiftly, she ensured the safety of her 14-year-old brother and their pets by moving them to a secure downstairs area. Her boyfriend also faced perilous driving conditions, nearly colliding due to backed-up streets, and sustained a cracked windshield from the tempest.
Laramie County Emergency Services, through operations coordinator Matt Butler, confirmed that patrols during the storm observed considerable damage to both building and car windows, with streets and properties heavily littered with leaves and broken branches. Despite the extensive hail damage, Butler reassuringly stated that there were no ongoing public safety risks, and critically, no injuries had been reported as of Saturday afternoon, though radar indicated another storm approaching.
The recent severe weather stirred vivid memories of a monumental natural disaster that struck Cheyenne decades prior. On August 1, 1985, an equally powerful hailstorm precipitated a devastating flash flood across the city. This historic Wyoming flood serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of nature, particularly when intense precipitation combines with urban topography.
The 1985 event was characterized by unprecedented rainfall, with the National Weather Service Forecast office in Cheyenne measuring 6.06 inches, and some areas receiving an astonishing 7.87 inches within a mere three-hour period. During this catastrophic storm, hailstones reaching two inches in diameter amassed to depths of one foot in certain locations, accompanied by ferocious 70 mph winds and the formation of two short-lived tornadoes.
The consequences of the 1985 flood were tragic and far-reaching, resulting in 12 fatalities and 70 injuries, alongside damages exceeding $61 million. Most of the lives lost were attributed to individuals being swept away in their vehicles while attempting to navigate flooded streets, particularly along Dry Creek. The recent storm, while damaging, thankfully avoided such devastating human cost, underscoring the advancements in weather forecasting and public safety protocols.
