Tornado outbreak of May 22–27, 2008

Template:Ongoing weather The May 2008 Plains tornado Outbreak is a on-going tornado outbreak that is affecting the Central Plains of the United States since May 22, 2008. At least 70 tornadoes were reported across four states from Wyoming to Kansas with at least 8 confirmed as of May 23. At least 1 person was killed when a tornado struck portions of Weld County, Colorado.

Meteorological synopsis

A low pressure system developed across the Rockies on May 22 with a warm front stretching across the central Plains and a trough stretching north towards Alberta and eastern British Columbia.

A moderate risk was already issued for portions of northern Kansas on May 21 and was upgraded into a high risk during the afternoon of May 22. It was the first high risk area in Kansas since May 5, 2007, one day after an EF5 tornado hit Greensburg, Kansas

Just before noon, a mile-wile tornado was reported near Greeley, Colorado which is about one hour north of Denver. It moved into an unusual path towards the northwest and struck the town of Windsor causing extensive damage to some buildings although lesser damage was reported to some homes according to some video footage. One person was reported. The Weld County tornado was the first killer and EF3 tornado in Colorado since an EF3 hit [[Holly, in Kiowa County near the Kansas state line. That tornado killed two as part of a similar outbreak in March 2007.

Another tornado struck the city of Laramie, Wyoming causing some damage to some roofs of businesses and tossing trucks across Interstate 25. A few hours after the tornado passed, thundersnow was reported with visibility reduced to one-half mile and temperatures dropping below freezing. Numerous tornadoes were reported across northern Kansas however damage was limited due to the sparsely populated areas it affected. Another intense storm traveled across northern Oklahoma during the evening hours. At least 40 tornadoes were reported across the region on that day

Activity fired up across much of the same area the following where a moderate risk of storms was issued for northern Kansas. Supercells were reported across northern Kansas and Colorado as well as southern Kansas were an intense supercell was traveling near the areas hit by powerful tornadoes on May 4-5, 2007. There were at least 25 tornadoes reported throughout the area.

Reported tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating

EFU	EF0	EF1	EF2	EF3	EF4	EF5	Total
0	5	2	1	1	0	0	8

May 22 event

List of reported tornadoes - Thursday, May 22, 2008
EF#	Location	County	Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Colorado
EF3	Windsor area	Weld	40°49′N 104°91′W	1726		1 death - Extensive damage in the area from an extremely large wedge tornado estimated at over 1 mile (1.6 km) in width. Over 100 others were injured. Possibly one or multiple tornadoes.
EF?	NE of Fort Collins	Larimer	40°59′N 105°03′W	1805		Brief tornado touchdown near a Budweiser plant.
EF?	NE of Timnath	Weld, Larimer	40°55′N 104°94′W	1807		Several buildings damaged, and a barn, two outbuildings and some farm equipment was destroyed.
EF?	ENE of Fort Collins	Larimer	40°59′N 104°94′W	1816		Tornado overturned a center pivot.
EF?	W of Dacono	Weld	40°08′N 105°02′W	1823
Wyoming
EF?	W of Buford (1st tornado)	Albany	41°09′N 105°35′W	1922		A porch and a constructed site were damaged.
EF?	Laramie	Albany	41°31′N 105°58′W	1930		Tornado tracked across the eastern and northern parts of the city. A high school, a junior high school and a Wal-Mart were damaged, along with numerous houses nearby.
EF?	SW of Buford	Albany	41°07′N 105°35′W	2055		Dirt blown around by a tornado that remained in open country.
EF?	W of Buford (2nd tornado)	Albany	41°11′N 105°34′W	2300		Several funnels were reported in the area, at least one of which touched down. Damage was also reported in the area. One person was injured.
EF?	NW of Cheyenne (1st tornado)	Laramie	41°28′N 105°24′W	0048		A house was destroyed and another was heavily damaged.
EF?	E of Cheyenne	Laramie	41°15′N 104°60′W	0233
Kansas
EF0	SW of Gove	Gove	38°78′N 100°73′W	2047	unknown
EF0	S of Grinnell	Gove	38°98′N 100°63′W	2119	unknown
EF0	W of Granfield	Sheridan	39°14′N 100°51′W	2214	unknown	Minor damage reported to sheds.
EF?	NW of Alamota	Lane	39°46′N 100°37′W	2232
EF2	W of Hoxie	Sheridan	39°40′N 100°49′W	2240	unknown	Large wedge tornado reported. One house was heavily damaged and power poles were knocked over.
EF1	Oberlin area	Sheridan, Decatur, Red Willow (NE)	39°79′N 100°57′W	2240	30 miles (48 km)	Long track tornado with damage to several houses and farms.
EF0	SE of Gove	Gove	38°79′N 100°17′W	2313		A house and several outbuildings were damaged.
EF?	N of Oberlin	Decatur	39°91′N 100°53′W	2314
EF1	W of Dresden	Decatur	39°61′N 100°41′W	2322	23 miles (37 km)	Damage reported to a house and a ranch, and some farm equipment.
EF?	S of Collyer	Trego	38°99′N 100°12′W	2326
EF?	E of Kanona	Decatur	39°80′N 100°39′W	2359
EF?	SW of Utica	Ness	38°57′N 100°22′W	0104		A cattle shed and a barn were blown away.
EF?	SE of Pendennis	Lane	38°55′N 100°26′W	0105
EF?	SW of Trego Center	Trego	38°78′N 99°90′W	0147
EF?	S of Wakeeney	Trego	38°97′N 99°89′W	0151
EF0	NE of Hoxie	Sheridan	39°40′N 100°35′W	unknown	unknown
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for May 22, 2008, NWS Goodland, NWS Denver

May 23 event

List of reported tornadoes - Friday, May 23, 2008
EF#	Location	County	Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Wyoming
EF?	NW of Cheyenne (2nd tornado)	Laramie	41°27′N 104°96′W	2114		Long track tornado in the area.
EF?	E of Wheatland	Platte	42°07′N 104°82′W	2200
EF?	SW of Pine Bluffs	Laramie	41°12′N 104°15′W	2220		Tornado touchdown south of Interstate 80 at mile 394.
EF?	N of Pine Bluffs	Laramie	41°18′N 104°07′W	2314
EF?	S of La Grange	Laramie	41°52′N 104°16′W	2340
Kansas
EF?	SE of Gove	Gove	38°90′N 100°30′W	2100
EF?	W of Quinter	Gove	39°07′N 100°26′W	2131
EF?	W of Dighton	Lane	38°48′N 100°48′W	2209
EF?	SW of Shields	Lane	38°49′N 100°47′W	2212
EF?	N of Dighton	Lane	38°50′N 100°47′W	2233		A roof was reportedly removed from a house according to KAKE coverage.
EF?	W of Quinter	Gove, Lane	38°73′N 100°43′W	2240		Tornado reported on the county line.
EF?	Quinter area	Gove	39°05′N 100°15′W	2320		Large wedge tornado confirmed via KSNK broadcast.
EF?	S of Studley	Sheridan	39°23′N 100°16′W	2352		Long lived wedge tornado confirmed.
EF?	NW of Leoti	Wichita	38°50′N 101°41′W	0005
Colorado
EF?	E of Windsor	Weld	40°49′N 104°89′W	2150		Gustnado reported.
EF?	W of Greeley	Weld	40°42′N 104°80′W	2150		Gustnado reported.
EF?	W of Weskan	Cheyenne	38°86′N 102°05′W	2333
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for May 23, 2008

See also

• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• Tornadoes of 2008