Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 1993

Tornado Warning 23, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

July 19, 1993Arapahoe County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this tornado warning at Jul 19, 1993, 3:37 PM MDT for Arapahoe County, Colorado. It was in force for 38 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 19, 1993, 3:37 PM MDT (21:37 UTC)
Expired
Jul 19, 1993, 4:15 PM MDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Whole counties

County Arapahoe County, CO

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDEN), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 98 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 1993-07-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 47 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 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 1993-07-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 10 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
47 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-327 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1404 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
10 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-51 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 192138
TORDEN
COC005-192215-

BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
337 PM MDT MON JUL 19 1993

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 415 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES

IN NORTHEASTERN COLORADO
     CENTRAL ARAPAHOE

INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     COUNTRY GARDENS AND STRASBURG

AT 337 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
A POSSIBLE TORNADO 7 MILES WEST OF COUNTRY GARDENS ...OR ABOUT
26 MILES EAST OF DENVER.

THE STORM WAS MOVING TO THE EAST NORTHEAST ABOUT 20 MPH.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHEAST COLORADO UNTIL 8PM
MDT.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT.  GET
UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.  IF NO
BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET.  USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY
FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER.  IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN
THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH
YOUR HANDS.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE IN DENVER.


LAT...LON 3959 10420 3960 10451 3970 10451 3974 10426

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 19, 2:15 PM MDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
COZ011-012-013-192100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
215 PM MDT   MONDAY   JULY 19 1993

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ALONG THE FRONT RANGE...

RADAR SHOWS THUNDERSTORMS FORMING OVER THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS WITH
THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM IN CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY.  THIS
THUNDERSTORM IS MOVING EAST ABOUT 20 MPH AND WAS LOCATED ABOUT 5 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF TINYTOWN OR ABOUT 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DENVER.

ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF ROLLIINSVILLE ABOUT
50 MILES NORTHWEST OF DENVER.  THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING TO THE
EAST NORTHEAST ABOUT 15 TO 20 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO FORM JUST EAST OF DENVER IN THE
WATKINS AND BENNETT AREA BETWEEN 3 AND 4 PM AS A BAND OF EASTERLY WINDS
HAS COLLIDED WITH SOME WESTERLY WINDS IN THAT AREA AND WILL PROVIDE THE
FINAL AMOUNT OF ENERGY TO SPAWN SOME THUNDERSTORMS THERE.

ALL THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AND
HAIL.  SOME HAIL COULD BE AN INCH OR MORE IN DIAMETER ALTHOUGH MOST
OF THE HAIL WILL BE OF PEA TO MARBLE SIZE.  RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP
TO 2 INCHES IS POSSIBLE IN AN HOUR IN SOME AREAS.

A TORNADO WATCH COVERS MUCH OF NORTHEAST COLORADO UNTIL 8 PM MDT SO
ALL PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST COLORADO SHOULD MONITOR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA OR NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER BULLETINS AND FORECASTS.  MOVE
INDOORS IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS BE ALERT FOR
WATER PONDING ON ROADWAYS DUE TO HEAVY RAIN.

BOODA
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 2:15 PM MDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
COZ011-012-013-192100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
215 PM MDT   MONDAY   JULY 19 1993

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ALONG THE FRONT RANGE...

RADAR SHOWS THUNDERSTORMS FORMING OVER THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS WITH
THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM IN CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY.  THIS
THUNDERSTORM IS MOVING EAST ABOUT 20 MPH AND WAS LOCATED ABOUT 5 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF TINYTOWN OR ABOUT 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DENVER.

ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF ROLLIINSVILLE ABOUT
50 MILES NORTHWEST OF DENVER.  THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING TO THE
EAST NORTHEAST ABOUT 15 TO 20 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO FORM JUST EAST OF DENVER IN THE
WATKINS AND BENNETT AREA BETWEEN 3 AND 4 PM AS A BAND OF EASTERLY WINDS
HAS COLLIDED WITH SOME WESTERLY WINDS IN THAT AREA AND WILL PROVIDE THE
FINAL AMOUNT OF ENERGY TO SPAWN SOME THUNDERSTORMS THERE.

ALL THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AND
HAIL.  SOME HAIL COULD BE AN INCH OR MORE IN DIAMETER ALTHOUGH MOST
OF THE HAIL WILL BE OF PEA TO MARBLE SIZE.  RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP
TO 2 INCHES IS POSSIBLE IN AN HOUR IN SOME AREAS.

A TORNADO WATCH COVERS MUCH OF NORTHEAST COLORADO UNTIL 8 PM MDT SO
ALL PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST COLORADO SHOULD MONITOR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA OR NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER BULLETINS AND FORECASTS.  MOVE
INDOORS IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS BE ALERT FOR
WATER PONDING ON ROADWAYS DUE TO HEAVY RAIN.

BOODA
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 2:53 PM MDT, 44 minutes before
COZ011-192130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
250 PM MDT   MONDAY   JULY 19 1993

...THUNDERSTORMS IN JEFFERSON AND DOUGLAS COUNTIES...

AT 250 PM MDT RADAR SHOWED TWO VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.  ONE
THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN JEFFERSON COUNTY ABOUT 7 MILES SOUTH OF
CONIFER OR 45 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DENVER.  THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING
TO THE EAST AT 15 TO 20 MPH.

AN EVEN STRONGER THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN DOUGLAS COUNTY ABOUT 2
MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF SEDALIA OR 30 MILES SOUTH OF DENVER.  THIS
THUNDERSTORM WAS ALSO MOVING EAST ABOUT 20 MPH.  HAM RADIO OPERATORS
REPORT HEAVY RAIN WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM WITH AMOUNTS ESTIMATED OF
AT LEAST 1 INCH PER HOUR.  THERE IS SOME LOCAL STREET FLOODING REPORTED
IN DOUGLAS COUNTY IN THE VICINITY OF I-25 AND LINCOLN AVENUES.
MOTORISTS TRAVELLING SOUTH OF DENVER ON I-25 TOWARDS CASTLE ROCK SHOULD
BE DELAY TRAVEL UNTIL THE RAIN SUBSIDES OR FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES.
THIS THUNDERSTORM IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE EAST AND COULD CAUSE HEAVY
RAIN AND POSSIBLE STREET FLOODING ON PARKER ROAD...HIGHWAY 83...SOUTH
OF CHERRY CREEK RESERVOIR TO THE PARKER AREA BY 330 PM MDT.

A TORNADO WATCH COVERS MUCH OF NORTHEAST COLORADO UNTIL 8 PM MDT SO
ALL PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST COLORADO SHOULD MONITOR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA OR NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER BULLETINS AND FORECASTS.  MOVE
INDOORS IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

BOODA
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 2:53 PM MDT, 44 minutes before
COZ011-192130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
250 PM MDT   MONDAY   JULY 19 1993

...THUNDERSTORMS IN JEFFERSON AND DOUGLAS COUNTIES...

AT 250 PM MDT RADAR SHOWED TWO VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.  ONE
THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN JEFFERSON COUNTY ABOUT 7 MILES SOUTH OF
CONIFER OR 45 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DENVER.  THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING
TO THE EAST AT 15 TO 20 MPH.

AN EVEN STRONGER THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN DOUGLAS COUNTY ABOUT 2
MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF SEDALIA OR 30 MILES SOUTH OF DENVER.  THIS
THUNDERSTORM WAS ALSO MOVING EAST ABOUT 20 MPH.  HAM RADIO OPERATORS
REPORT HEAVY RAIN WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM WITH AMOUNTS ESTIMATED OF
AT LEAST 1 INCH PER HOUR.  THERE IS SOME LOCAL STREET FLOODING REPORTED
IN DOUGLAS COUNTY IN THE VICINITY OF I-25 AND LINCOLN AVENUES.
MOTORISTS TRAVELLING SOUTH OF DENVER ON I-25 TOWARDS CASTLE ROCK SHOULD
BE DELAY TRAVEL UNTIL THE RAIN SUBSIDES OR FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES.
THIS THUNDERSTORM IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE EAST AND COULD CAUSE HEAVY
RAIN AND POSSIBLE STREET FLOODING ON PARKER ROAD...HIGHWAY 83...SOUTH
OF CHERRY CREEK RESERVOIR TO THE PARKER AREA BY 330 PM MDT.

A TORNADO WATCH COVERS MUCH OF NORTHEAST COLORADO UNTIL 8 PM MDT SO
ALL PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST COLORADO SHOULD MONITOR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA OR NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER BULLETINS AND FORECASTS.  MOVE
INDOORS IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

BOODA
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 3:13 PM MDT, 24 minutes before
COZ011-192130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
310 PM MDT   MONDAY   JULY 19 1993

...HAIL IN THE TOWN OF PARKER...

A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN DOUGLAS COUNTY
HAS DUMPED HEAVY RAIN AND HAIL.  PEA SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN THE
TOWN OF PARKER...ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF DEVNER AT 305 PM
MDT.  SMALL HAIL AND STANDING WATER HAS SLOWED OR HALTED TRAFFIC ON
I-25 BETWEEN THE TOWNS OF SURREY RIDGE TO LINCOLN AVE IN NORTHERN
DOUGLAS COUNTY.

THIS THUNDERSTORM IS THE STRONGEST PART OF A MASS OF THUNDERSTORMS
THAT IS FORMING ON A LINE THAT EXTENDS FROM NEAR THE TOWN OF WATKINS
TO 45 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DENVER ON THE JEFFERSON-DOUGLAS COUNTY LINES.
ALL OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AND
HAIL.  UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN COULD FALL IN AN HOUR.

A TORNADO WATCH COVERS MUCH OF NORTHEAST COLORADO UNTIL 8 PM MDT SO
ALL PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST COLORADO SHOULD MONITOR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA OR NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER BULLETINS AND FORECASTS.  MOVE
INDOORS IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

BOODA
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 3:13 PM MDT, 24 minutes before
COZ011-192130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
310 PM MDT   MONDAY   JULY 19 1993

...HAIL IN THE TOWN OF PARKER...

A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN DOUGLAS COUNTY
HAS DUMPED HEAVY RAIN AND HAIL.  PEA SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN THE
TOWN OF PARKER...ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF DEVNER AT 305 PM
MDT.  SMALL HAIL AND STANDING WATER HAS SLOWED OR HALTED TRAFFIC ON
I-25 BETWEEN THE TOWNS OF SURREY RIDGE TO LINCOLN AVE IN NORTHERN
DOUGLAS COUNTY.

THIS THUNDERSTORM IS THE STRONGEST PART OF A MASS OF THUNDERSTORMS
THAT IS FORMING ON A LINE THAT EXTENDS FROM NEAR THE TOWN OF WATKINS
TO 45 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DENVER ON THE JEFFERSON-DOUGLAS COUNTY LINES.
ALL OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AND
HAIL.  UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN COULD FALL IN AN HOUR.

A TORNADO WATCH COVERS MUCH OF NORTHEAST COLORADO UNTIL 8 PM MDT SO
ALL PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST COLORADO SHOULD MONITOR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA OR NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER BULLETINS AND FORECASTS.  MOVE
INDOORS IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

BOODA

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 18, 6:06 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUPhillips24 min
Jul 18, 6:28 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUPhillips, Yuma32 min
Jul 19, 4:40 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan50 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Colorado, 1993Every tornado warning in 1993Tornadoes in 1993

Sources

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