WINDSOR, Colorado — It has been 16 years since a tornado churned through Windsor and other parts of Weld County.
Packed with wind speeds near 165 miles per hour, the three-quarter-mile wide tornado hit northern Colorado on May 22, 2008, beginning at 11:26 a.m.
The EF3 tornado stayed on the ground for nearly 40 minutes, leaving a devastating trail of damage through Weld and Larimer counties.
One person was killed when he tried to escape a trailer park in his motor home. Seventy-eight were injured, ranging from broken bones to minor cuts and lacerations.
The tornado first touched down northeast of Platteville and finally lifted miles west-northwest of Wellington. The tornado was notable for its north-northwestward path because most tornadoes travel west to east.
FEMA estimated 850 homes were damaged and nearly 300 homes were significantly damaged or destroyed. In total, the tornado left behind an estimated $147 million in damage, making it the costliest tornado in Colorado history.
Much of the destruction occurred at the Missile Silo Park campground, and to businesses and homes in eastern Windsor.
The National Weather Service (NWS) report said the tornado flattened Windsor's main feedlot and a dairy barn, where 400 cows were killed in the tornado or killed later.
The thunderstorm also produced damaging hail up to the size of baseballs. Crops and irrigation equipment were damaged.
Tractor trailers were flipped along U.S. Highway 85. NWS reported that the tornado overturned 15 railroad cars and destroyed a lumber car on the Great Western Railway of Colorado.
In the 16 years since the tornado, Windsor has rebuilt and doubled in population.
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