Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 43, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

August 11, 19904 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 11, 1990, 4:32 PM MDT for 4 counties in Colorado. It was in force for 28 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 11, 1990, 4:32 PM MDT (22:32 UTC)
Expired
Aug 11, 1990, 5:00 PM MDT
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Whole counties

Counties Adams County, CO, Arapahoe County, CO, Denver County, CO, Jefferson County, CO

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 11, 4:50 PM MDTHail 1.75Denver, CO

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDEN), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 127 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 1990-08-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 56 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 1990-08-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -47 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
56 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-258 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1249 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-47 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
18 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KDEN 112235
SVRDEN
COC059-005-031-001-112315-

BULLETIN...IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
432 PM MDT SAT AUG 11 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 515 PM  MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST COLORADO:

     EAST CENTRAL JEFFERSON
     WESTERN ARAPAHOE
     DENVER
     SOUTHWESTERN ADAMS

INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TOWNS/CITIES:

     AURORA..DENVER..ENGLEWOOD..GOLDEN..LAKEWOOD..LITTLETON...
     MORRISON..MOUNTAIN VIEW..PLEASANT VIEW..SHERIDAN..WATKINS..
     AND WHEAT RIDGE


AT 430 PM MDT RADAR INDICATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
OVER THE DENVER METRO AREA MOVING SOUTH AT ABOUT 15 MPH.
HAIL UP TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THE
STORMS AND WIND GUSTS APPROACHING 40 MPH HAVE ALSO OCCURRED.

IF SEVERE WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...GO TO A STURDY
SHELTER AWAY FROM CREEK BEDS AND OTHER FLOOD PRONE AREAS.
REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAN PRODUCE LARGE DAMAGING
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS OF OVER 60 MPH...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND
HEAVY RAINS THAT CAN QUICKLY FLOOD A LOW LYING AREA.

INTENSE LIGHTNING IS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM.  IF OUTDOORS...
STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS.  MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE.  WHEN
INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING
TELEPHONES AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

THESE STORMS CAN PRODUCE A TORNADO WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE
WARNING...SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A
PLACE OF SAFETY IF ONE IS SPOTTED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF NORTHEAST
COLORADO UNTIL 8 PM MDT.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
IN DENVER...OR CALL YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
AT 361-0663.  DO NOT CALL THIS NUMBER FOR INFORMATION.

ET

LAT...LON 3957 10455 3957 10523 3978 10521 3981 10451

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 11, 1:22 PM MDT, 3 hours 10 minutes before
COZ011-112030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
125 PM MDT SAT AUG 11 1990

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHEAST COLORADO FOOTHILLS

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AT 120 PM INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHEASTERN COLORADO FOOTHILLS.
ONE STRONG STORM WAS LOCATED SOUTHEAST OF ESTES PARK WITH NEW STORMS
FORMING NORTHWARD TO WEST OF CHEYENNE IN WYOMING.  OTHER STRONG
STORMS ARE LOCATED IN SOUTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY NEAR
DECKERS...DEVELOPING EASTWARDS INTO SOUTHWEST DOUGLAS COUNTY.

THE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 20 MPH.  HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...STRONG
GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING MAY ACCOMPANY THE STORMS.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER THE FOOTHILLS AND MOVE OVER
THE FRONT RANGE FROM FORT COLLINS TO SOUTH OF DENVER IN THE NEXT COUPLE
OF HOURS.  THESE MAY BECOME SEVERE SO PERSONS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR
CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND
MEDIA OUTLETS FOR FURTHER UPDATES.

SZOKE/LOONEY
Special weather statement, Aug 11, 2:49 PM MDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
COZ011-112200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
248 PM MDT SAT AUG 11 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MOST OF NORTHEAST COLORADO...

THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER THE FOOTHILLS OF NORTHEAST
COLORADO.  AT 245 PM MDT SATURDAY AFTERNOON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THE STRONGEST STORM WEST OF BOULDER NEAR THE
TOWNS OF SUGARLOAF AND GOLD HILL.

THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.  THE STORM IS ALSO ROTATING WHICH IS SOMETIMES THE PRECURSOR
TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNNEL CLOUDS AND TORNADOES.

PERSONS IN SOUTH CENTRAL BOULDER COUNTY INCLUDING THE TOWN OF BOULDER
SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR DANGEROUS WEATHER AND SEEK SAFE SHELTER IF
THREATENING WEATHER IS OBSERVED.  THE RAIN WITH THE STORM MAY BE
SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE LOCAL FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND ROADWAYS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOST O9F NORTHEAST
COLORADO UNTIL 8 PM MDT.
ET
Special weather statement, Aug 11, 3:31 PM MDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
COZ011-012-112300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
330 PM MDT SAT AUG 11 1990

...MORE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN NORTHEAST COLORADO...

A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES NORTHEAST
OF DOWNTOWN DENVER IN CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTY AT 320 PM MDT.  THE STORM
WILL BE MOVING TO THE EAST AT ABOUT 15 MPH FOR THE NEXT HOUR.  OTHER
STORMS WERE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP IN NORTH CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTY SOUTH
OF KEENESBURG.

HEAVY RAIN...HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS AS
WELL AS FREQUENT LIGHTNING.  PERSONS IN NORTH CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTY AS
WELL AS SOUTHEAST WELD COUNTY INCLUDING THE TOWNS OF SOUTH ROGGEN AND
PROSPECT VALLEY SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND
SEEK SAFE SHELTER IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES.

THE STORM IN BOULDER COUNTY WAS DISSIPATING AT 320.  HALF INCH HAIL
AND LOTS OF RAIN FELL FROM THE STORM AROUND BOULDER SINCE 245 PM.
ALSO FREQUENT LIGHTNING OCCURRED WITH THE STORM.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF NORTHEAST
COLORADO UNTIL 8 PM MDT.
ET
Special weather statement, Aug 11, 4:27 PM MDT, 5 minutes before
COZ011-012-112300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
425 PM MDT SAT AUG 11 1990

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN ADAMS COUNTY...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CONTINUES OVER NORTH CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTY ABOUT
20 MILES NORTHEAST OF DOWNTOWN DENVER AT 420 PM MDT.  VERY STRONG WINDS
ARE OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM WITH GUSTS ESTIMATED BY DOPPLER RADAR AT
50 MPH.  A TREMENDOUS DUST CLOUD WAS PRODUCED WITH THIS STORM IN THE
EXTREME EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE METRO AREA.  A SHORT LIVED FUNNEL CLOUD
WAS ALSO REPORTED AROUND GUN CLUB AND INTERSTATE 70.

PERSONS IN CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTY SHOULD BE ALERT TO CHANGING WEATHER
CONDITIONS AND SEEK SAFE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF NORTHEAST
COLORADO UNTIL 8 PM.
ET

The office that day

Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 11, 3:36 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Weld39 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Colorado, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.