Dayton in Sheridan County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

The Majesty of Nature

Photographed by Connor Olson, June 15, 2019

1. The Majesty of Nature Marker

Inscription. On June 25, 1991, the trees in this are blew down in a windstorm event which meteorologists define as a "Traveling Microburst." Approximately 1,100 acres were affected along an 8 mile path. This microburst began on Highway 14 near Granite Pass and extended northeast to a point just west of the Black Mountain Fire Lookout. High winds lasted only fifteen minutes, but topples enough trees to build 350 homes! A majority of the trees have been salvaged for lumber, while some areas were left in a natural state.

A microburst is defined as a strong downdraft which induces an outburst of damaging winds on or near the ground. Microbursts typically occur from the death of a thunderstorm cell when updrafts decrease and allow a column of air to rush to the ground. the sudden gust of wind can be compared to pointing the nozzle of a garden hose downward at an angle so that the jet of water hits the surface to generate a fan-shaped outburst. The damaging winds associated with microbursts can reach peak speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour.

Erected by USDA Forest Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these

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topic lists: Environment • Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical date for this entry is June 25, 1991.

Location. 44° 39.895′ N, 107° 29.728′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Wyoming, in Sheridan County. It is on U.S. 14, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dayton WY 82836, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Powder River Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Agents of Change (approx. 7 miles away); Nature's Destruction (approx. 7 miles away); Wringing Out a Livelihood (approx. 7.9 miles away); Shaping a Canyon (approx. 8 miles away); Forming Waterfalls (approx. 8 miles away); A 4,000 Mile Journey (approx. 8 miles away); Oasis in the Desert (approx. 8 miles away); Lifeblood of the West (approx. 8 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 167 times since then and 18 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on July 20, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.

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