On Thursday, June 22nd, 2023, a powerful EF-1 tornado tore through the suburban community of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, leaving an 8-mile trail of destruction in its wake. The tornado touched down just south of CO-470 in Douglas County, west of Lucent Blvd, and traveled across northern Douglas County, impacting both Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree. With top wind speeds reaching 105 mph, the tornado caused significant damage to homes, an elementary school, and a fire station.
Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported as a result of the tornado. However, the community experienced extensive damage, with numerous trees uprooted, windows broken, roofs and siding damaged by hail, and debris strewn along the tornado’s path. The National Weather Service (NWS) estimates that the tornado was on the ground for approximately 26 minutes, traveling more than 8 miles—about 2 miles more than initially estimated.
In the aftermath of the storm, residents of Highlands Ranch have come together to repair the damage and clean up their community. Crews are evaluating every street in the area, and residents are being asked to report damaged traffic signs and downed traffic signals online. Broken, leaning, and downed streetlights should be reported to Xcel Energy, which has already received over 50 reports of damaged light poles and began removing them on Friday, June 23rd.
Douglas County has issued a disaster declaration to open the door for state support, and the county is working with the Highlands Ranch community to provide tree debris drop-off sites at Highland Heritage Park and Redstone Park. These drop-off sites opened on Friday morning and will remain open indefinitely.
As residents continue to assess the damage to their homes and properties, tree removal companies are experiencing a surge in demand, with some reporting being booked out for weeks. Despite the challenges, the community remains resilient and grateful that the situation was not worse.
The tornado serves as a reminder of the power of nature and the importance of being prepared for severe weather events. As summer kicks off, residents in the Denver area should also be aware of the potential for large hail and flooding, which are increasingly common during this time of year.
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