Set against open fields, farms, and rolling hills, the stovepipe shaped funnel was awe-inspiring to witness, but the National Weather Service office in Cheyenne urged caution.
“Tornado north of Laramie is still on the ground,” it tweeted. “As picturesque as it may look, we ask that you take shelter now. No picture is worth getting hurt.”
Satellite imagery presented a dramatic view of the parent thunderstorm erupting. Dakota Smith, a meteorologist based in Colorado, posted an animation of the billowing storm clouds while describing the resulting tornado as “incredibly picturesque.”
The National Weather Service has received 13 reports of tornadoes in Wyoming so far this year compared to 10 in Oklahoma, typically a twister hotbed. Last Friday, an EF-3 rated tornado on the 0-5 scale touched down near Gillette, Wyo. It was the strongest tornado to strike the state in 30 years.
There is a slight risk of severe storms that could produce tornadoes in eastern Wyoming again on Thursday.
Below find a remarkable compilation of videos and photographs of Wednesday’s tornado.