DIVIDE, Colo. (KOAA) — The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down northeast of Divide on June 17th. Winds are estimated to be 106mph.
On Friday, the National Weather Service in Pueblo updated its tornado survey, including the path and width of the twister. It traveled 0.44 miles and was 150 yards wide.
Their complete survey states:
"A supercell thunderstorm developed over northwest Teller County. As it shifted to the southeast towards Highway 24, it continued to strengthen. As the storm further intensified, a tornado developed 2 miles north-northeast of Divide. It quickly caused extensive tree damage just west of County Road 25. As the tornado moved east, it continued to cause tree damage over 15 acres of large and healthy softwood and hardwood trees in this location. The trees were snapped, and others were uprooted. At this point, the tornado was at peak intensity given the extent of the tree damage in this location. The extent of the damage was consistent, with the degree of damage to the softwood trees indicating the highest estimated winds were up to 106 mph. Also observed in this location were clear convergent and cyclonic damage patterns. The tornado continued east, crossing County Road 25, where additional uprooted softwood trees were observed, before lifting just to the east of the road."
Meteorologist Lauren Brand joined the National Weather Service in Divide to look at the damage.
Klint Skelly, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist with NWS Pueblo, explained that "Uniformity is an indicator of straight line wind damage, and if we're looking for a tornado, that's not what we want to see. We want to see things cross over from one direction to the other when it comes to tornadoes".
This is the 7th confirmed tornado in Teller County since 1995. 4 have been rated an EF-0 and 3 have been rated an EF-1. There have only been 24 tornado warnings issued for the county since 1986.
Downed power lines and trees were reported along County Road 511 and 51.
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