Baseball-sized hail clobbers Wyoming’s Devils Tower as powerful supercell races through Black Hills

Baseball-sized hail clobbers Wyoming’s Devils Tower as powerful supercell races through Black Hills

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Three of the four listed need to be a winter storm, but one can happen year-round — even in the summer.

DEVILS TOWER, Wyo. – Baseball-sized hail clobbered Devils Tower National Monument on Monday as a powerful supercell storm formed in northeast Wyoming.

The National Weather Service reported significant damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles caused by 2.75-inch hail and 54 mph wind. The extreme weather moved directly over the Bear Lodge Ranger District of the Black Hills near Hulett and Sundance in Crook County.

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  • Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles.

    Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles. (Courtesy of Ken Nutter via NWS)

  • Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles.

    Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles. (Courtesy of Jodi Havener via NWS)

  • Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles.

    Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles. (Courtesy of Jodi Havener via NWS)

  • Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles.

    Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles. (Courtesy of Ken Nutter via NWS)

  • Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles.

    Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles. (State of Wyoming)

  • Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles.

    Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles. (Courtesy of Jodi Havener via NWS)

  • Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles.

    Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles. (Courtesy of Ken Nutter via NWS)

  • Here's a look at the damage after the storm outside Devils Tower Trading Post on Monday.

    Here’s a look at the damage after the storm outside Devils Tower Trading Post on Monday. (Devils Tower Trading Post)

  • Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles.

    Late Monday afternoon, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, Wyoming, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers and vehicles. (Courtesy of Thomas Winesett via NWS)

The National Park Service closed Devils Tower due to storm damage. Park conditions were being reevaluated Wednesday morning.

Several traffic cones and a stop sign lay on the ground after being blown over in a hail storm.

Several traffic cones and a stop sign lay on the ground after being blown over in a hail storm.

(H. Valls, DETO / NPS Photo)

“We are open and cleaning up well,” Tim Davis, the owner of Devils Tower Trading Post, told FOX Weather.

Davis said his business sustained about 20 broken windows and extensive mud accumulation from the hail that fell in front of the store. A 30-foot American flag positioned outside was also torn and devoid of any remaining stars.

“Picnic tables flew out and landed in the parking lot,” he added. “Broken trees and all vegetation shredded.”

Here's a look at the damage after the storm outside Devils Tower Trading Post on Monday.

Here’s a look at the damage after the storm outside Devils Tower Trading Post on Monday.

(Devils Tower Trading Post)

The NWS said the supercell then tracked east through the Northern Black Hills and onto the plains of western South Dakota and continued to produce large hail, strong winds and heavy rain, before dissipating later in the evening, according to the National Weather Service.

The supercell then tracked eastward into Spearfish, South Dakota.

The supercell then tracked eastward into Spearfish, South Dakota.

(Courtesy of Janice Wolfe via NWS)

Devils Tower is a geologic formation that rises out of the prairie near the Black Hills, according to NPS. It is considered sacred by the Northern Plains tribe and other indigenous people. The presence of hundreds of parallel cracks makes it one of the premier crack-climbing areas in North America.

Isolated thunderstorms are possible each day through Friday, the NWS said. A few of the storms may produce hail and strong winds. Critical fire weather conditions are expected Wednesday afternoon and evening across northeastern Wyoming and southwestern South Dakota.