Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 9, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 20, 1990Otero County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 20, 1990, 4:43 PM MDT for Otero County, Colorado. It was in force for 62 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
Jul 20, 1990, 4:43 PM MDT (22:43 UTC)
Expired
Jul 20, 1990, 5:45 PM MDT
In force
62 min
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Whole counties

County Otero 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
Jul 20, 5:00 PM MDTHail 1.75Otero, 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

Fort Carson/Butt, CO (KFCS), launched 12:00Z, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 122 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, Fort Carson/Butt, CO at 12:00Z on 1990-07-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 84 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Fort Carson/Butt, CO at 12:00Z on 1990-07-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 86 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 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
84 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-147 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1129 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
86 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
122 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 KPUB 202243
SVRPUB
COC089-202345-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
443 PM MDT FRI JUL 20 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 545 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTY

   IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF COLORADO
      OTERO

 THIS WARNING INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING TOWNS AND CITIES...LA JUNTA...
 SWINK...HAWLEY...ROCKY FORD

AT 425 PM MDT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE 12 MILES WEST AND 15 MILES
NORTHWEST OF LA JUNTA. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTH AT 20 MILES
AN HOUR. AT 432 PM MDT LA JUNTA REPORTED JUST UNDER GOLF BALL SIZE
HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN CAUSING FLOODING OF UNDERPASSES AND HIGHWAYS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADWAYS QUICKLY...
AVOID DRIVING INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

CASEY

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, Jul 20, 1:11 PM MDT, 3 hours 32 minutes before
COZ009-202030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED VALID TIME...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALAMOSA CO
100 PM MDT FRI JUL 20 1990

...FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY PUBLIC 20 MILES SOUTH OF ALAMOSA...

AT 1250 MDT...THE STATE POLICE REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR MOGOTE
COLORADO APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES SOUTH OF ALAMOSA. HEAVY RAIN
ACCOMPANIED THIS FUNNEL CLOUD. ONLY ONE SIGHTING WAS REPORTED.

SEVERAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED SOUTHWEST THROUGH
NORTHWEST OF THE ALAMOSA AIRPORT. THESE STORMS WERE SLOWLY MOVING
TO THE SOUTHEAST. REPORTS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WERE
REPORTED BY SEVERAL PUBLIC REPORTS.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON
AND INTO THE EVENING HOURS. PERSONNEL SHOULD TAKE CAUTION NEAR
THESE THUNDERSTORMS. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR
HIGH WINDS, PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN, LIGHTNING, AND DAMAGING HAIL.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL RADIO STATIONS FOR
UPDATES ON THESE S5TORMS.

BENTON
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 1:34 PM MDT, 3 hours 9 minutes before
PSALS9-202030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...UPDATE.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALAMOSA CO
130 PM MDT FRI JUL 20 1990

...TORNADO REPORTED BY PUBLIC 20 MILES SOUTH OF ALAMOSA...

THE FUNNEL CLOUD PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AT 1250 MDT NEAR MOGOTE HAS NOW
BEEN CONFIRMED TO BE A TORNADO. NO PERSONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE OR
INJURIES OCCURRED. A ROW OF TREES WERE DESTROYED BY THE TWISTER.

SEVERAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED SOUTHWEST THROUGH
NORTHWEST OF THE ALAMOSA AIRPORT. THESE STORMS WERE SLOWLY MOVING
TO THE SOUTHEAST. REPORTS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WERE
REPORTED BY SEVERAL PUBLIC REPORTS. MAXIMUM WIND GUST RECORDED
AT THE ALAMOSA AIRPORT WAS 38 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON
AND INTO THE EVENING HOURS. PERSONS SHOULD TAKE CAUTION NEAR THESE
THUNDERSTORMS. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR HIGH WINDS,
PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN, LIGHTNING, AND DAMAGING HAIL.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL RADIO STATIONS FOR
UPDATES ON THESE STORMS.

BENTON/BARNETT
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 1:45 PM MDT, 2 hours 58 minutes before
COZ009-202030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALAMOSA CO
145 PM MDT FRI JUL 20 1990

...TORNADO REPORTED BY PUBLIC 20 MILES SOUTH OF ALAMOSA...

THE FUNNEL CLOUD PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AT 1250 MDT NEAR MOGOTE HAS NOW
BEEN CONFIRMED TO BE A TORNADO. NO PERSONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE OR
INJURIES OCCURRED. A ROW OF TREES WERE DESTROYED BY THE TWISTER. THE
PUBLIC REPORTED THAT THE TORNADO DISSIPATED AT APPROXIMATELY 100 PM
MDT.

SEVERAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED SOUTHWEST THROUGH
NORTHWEST OF THE ALAMOSA AIRPORT. THESE STORMS WERE SLOWLY MOVING
TO THE SOUTHEAST. REPORTS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WERE REPORTED BY
SEVERAL PUBLIC REPORTS. MAXIMUM WIND GUST RECORDED AT THE ALAMOSA
AIRPORT WAS 38 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND
INTO THE EVENING HOURS. PERSONS SHOULD TAKE CAUTION NEAR THESE
THUNDERSTORMS. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR HIGH WINDS,
PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN, LIGHTNING, AND DAMAGING HAIL.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL RADIO STATIONS FOR
UPDATES ON THESE STORMS.

BENTON/BARNETT
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 1:51 PM MDT, 2 hours 52 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALAMOSA CO
145 PM MDT FRI JUL 20 1990

...TORNADO REPORTED BY PUBLIC 20 MILES SOUTH OF ALAMOSA...

THE FUNNEL CLOUD PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AT 1250 MDT NEAR MOGOTE HAS NOW
BEEN CONFIRMED TO BE A TORNADO. NO PERSONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE OR
INJURIES OCCURRED. A ROW OF TREES WERE DESTROYED BY THE TWISTER. THE
PUBLIC REPORTED THAT THE TORNADO DISSIPATED AT APPROXIMATELY 100 PM
MDT.

SEVERAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED SOUTHWEST THROUGH
NORTHWEST OF THE ALAMOSA AIRPORT. THESE STORMS WERE SLOWLY MOVING
TO THE SOUTHEAST. REPORTS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WERE REPORTED BY
SEVERAL PUBLIC REPORTS. MAXIMUM WIND GUST RECORDED AT THE ALAMOSA
AIRPORT WAS 38 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND
INTO THE EVENING HOURS. PERSONS SHOULD TAKE CAUTION NEAR THESE
THUNDERSTORMS. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR HIGH WINDS,
PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN, LIGHTNING, AND DAMAGING HAIL.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL RADIO STATIONS FOR
UPDATES ON THESE STORMS.

BENTON/BARNETT
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 2:48 PM MDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before
COZ015-016-202200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
248 PM MDT FRI JUL 20 1990

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST COLORADO UNTIL 900
   PM...

AT 245 PM MDT THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS WERE IN WESTERN PUEBLO
COUNTY OF SOUTHEAST COLORADO. THE STRONGEST STORM WAS 12 MILES WEST
OF THE CITY OF PUEBLO. THE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MILES
AN HOUR.

BESIDES HEAVY RAINS THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUC:E STRONG GUSTY WINDS
AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID LOW AREAS WHERE DRAINAGE
IS POOR. IF HEAVY RAINS ARE OCCURRING AVOID UNDERPASSES AND LOW SPOTS
ON THE HIGHWAYS AND STAY OUT OF STREAMS AND DRY CREEK BEDS.

CASEY
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 4:13 PM MDT, 30 minutes before
COZ014-202310-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLORADO SPRINGS CO
410 PM MDT FRI JUL 20 1990

... TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 9PM MDT FOR EAST EL PASO COUNTY ...

AT 405 PM MDT LIMON RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY
RAIN AND HAIL INDICATED...IN EL PASO AND ELBERT COUNTIES.  LOW RAGGED
CLOUDS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH SOME OF THESE STORMS AND WERE VISIBLE OVER
SOUTH COLORADO SPRINGS IN THE PAST 15 MINUTES...HOWEVER THERE WAS NO
ROTATION NOTED WITH ANY OF THESE CLOUDS...AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE INTER-
PRETED AS FUNNEL CLOUDS UNLESS ACTUAL VISIBLE ROTATION IS NOTED.

THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT ABOUT 15 MPH AND ARE CAP-
ABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WIND AND
LOCAL FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS.

PERSONS ARE ADVISED TO STAY ALERT TO RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACHES.

CROWLEY

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.