Tornado Touches Down Near Westcliffe, Colorado, Causes Power Pole Damage

A rare high-elevation tornado touched down near Westcliffe in Colorado's Custer County on Wednesday afternoon. Gary Jackson captured cellphone footage of the tornado forming and reaching the ground near his property south of Westcliffe. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning and alerted residents in the area, including the West Mountain Valley subdivision near a landfill. Deputies and firefighters searched the area and found no injuries, with only minor damage reported to three power poles, which are being repaired by Sangre Electric. The event was notable due to the uncommon occurrence of a tornado at such a high altitude in the mountainous region.