Rare High-Elevation Tornado Levels Hundreds of Trees Near Pikes Peak, Colorado

DIVIDE, COLORADO – A rare high-elevation tornado struck near Pikes Peak in Divide, Colorado, on June 17, causing widespread devastation to the local forest. Storm chaser Eric Kelly captured extensive tree damage in the area, located at an elevation of over 9,000 feet above sea level. Hundreds of trees were reportedly leveled by the powerful winds.If confirmed, this recent event marks the third tornado in just three years to impact the vicinity of Pikes Peak, one of the highest mountains in the United States. Last year, an EF1 tornado with 100-mile-per-hour winds knocked down numerous trees just north of Cripple Creek. Additionally, in 2023, another EF1 tornado crossed the Pikes Peak Highway.Experts suggest that such rare high-elevation weather events may have gone largely unnoticed in the past. However, with the increasing prevalence of cell phones and drones, these previously hidden meteorological phenomena are now being documented and brought to public attention, revealing the unexpected power of mountain weather.

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