Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

August 12, 1994Washington County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this tornado warning at Aug 12, 1994, 6:15 PM MDT for Washington County, Colorado. It was in force for 30 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 12, 1994, 6:15 PM MDT (00:15 UTC)
Expired
Aug 12, 1994, 6:45 PM MDT
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Whole counties

County Washington County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 117 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:15 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDEN), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 11 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 00:00Z on 1994-08-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 22 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 00:00Z on 1994-08-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 55 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
22 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-150 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2217 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
55 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
57 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 130014
TORDEN
COC121-130045-

BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
615 PM MDT FRI AUG 12 1994

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 645 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES

IN NORTHEASTERN COLORADO
     EAST CENTRAL WASHINGTON

AT 612 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
A POSSIBLE TORNADO 45 MILES SOUTH OF STERLING.

THIS STORM HAS PRODUCED A TORNADO...LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND
STRONG WINDS.    

THE STORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH

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 WEALTHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE IN DENVER.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
LAT...LON 3974 10280 3986 10316 4007 10303 4002 10279

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, Aug 12, 4:14 PM MDT, 2 hours 1 minute before
COZ044-122315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
415 PM MDT FRI AUG 12 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER MORGAN COUNTY COLORADO...

AT 410 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTH OF WELDONA ...OR ABOUT 42 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF STERLING.  OTHER STORMS WERE OVER NORTHERN MORGAN
COUNTY.  THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 MPH.

ALL PEOPLE IN MORGAN COUNTY INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     ANTELOPE SPRINGS...BRUSH...FORT MORGAN...HILLROSE...LOG
     LANE VILLAGE...SNYDER AND WELDONA
SHOULD BE ALERT FOR HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
ANS STRONG GUSTY WINDS TIL 515 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON.

HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES.  AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS
AS THEY MAY BE WASHED OUT.  WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND
RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF
THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.

INTENSE LIGHTNING IS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM.  IF OUTDOORS...
STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES.  MOVE
INDOORS IF POSSIBLE.  WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND
DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.
TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE
THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
LAT...LON 4015 10347 4016 10394 4052 10408 4052 10347
Special weather statement, Aug 12, 4:15 PM MDT, 2 hours before
COZ044-122315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
415 PM MDT FRI AUG 12 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER MORGAN COUNTY COLORADO...

AT 410 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTH OF WELDONA ...OR ABOUT 42 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF STERLING.  OTHER STORMS WERE OVER NORTHERN MORGAN
COUNTY.  THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 MPH.

ALL PEOPLE IN MORGAN COUNTY INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     ANTELOPE SPRINGS...BRUSH...FORT MORGAN...HILLROSE...LOG
     LANE VILLAGE...SNYDER AND WELDONA
SHOULD BE ALERT FOR HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
ANS STRONG GUSTY WINDS TIL 515 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON.

HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES.  AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS
AS THEY MAY BE WASHED OUT.  WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND
RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF
THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.

INTENSE LIGHTNING IS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM.  IF OUTDOORS...
STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES.  MOVE
INDOORS IF POSSIBLE.  WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND
DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.
TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE
THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
LAT...LON 4015 10347 4016 10394 4052 10408 4052 10347
Special weather statement, Aug 12, 4:56 PM MDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
COZ044-049-122345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
500 PM MDT FRI AUG 12 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY
   COLORADO...

AT 451 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES SOUTH OF HILLROSE ...OR ABOUT 35 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF STERLING.  THE STORM WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT
15 MPH.  OTHER STORMS WERE LOCATED OVER CENTRAL MORGAN COUNTY.

ALL PEOPLE IN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN MORGAN COUNTY AND NORTHERN WASHINGTON
COUNTY...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     ADENA SCHOOL...ANTELOPE SPRINGS...BRUSH...FORT MORGAN...
     GARY...HILLROSE...LOG LANE VILLAGE...MIDWAY...SNYDER AND
     TWELVE-MILE CORNER
SHOULD BE ALERT FOR HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS FROM THESE STORMS UNTIL 545 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON.

HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES.  AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS
AS THEY MAY BE WASHED OUT.  WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND
RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF
THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.

INTENSE LIGHTNING IS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM.  IF OUTDOORS...
STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES.  MOVE
INDOORS IF POSSIBLE.  WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND
DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.
TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE
THUN0DERSTORM APPROACHES.

GARD...WSFO DENVER

LAT...LON 4003 10322 4004 10410 4052 10372 4035 10324
Special weather statement, Aug 12, 5:00 PM MDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
COZ044-049-122345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
500 PM MDT FRI AUG 12 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY
   COLORADO...

AT 451 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES SOUTH OF HILLROSE ...OR ABOUT 35 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF STERLING.  THE STORM WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT
15 MPH.  OTHER STORMS WERE LOCATED OVER CENTRAL MORGAN COUNTY.

ALL PEOPLE IN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN MORGAN COUNTY AND NORTHERN WASHINGTON
COUNTY...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     ADENA SCHOOL...ANTELOPE SPRINGS...BRUSH...FORT MORGAN...
     GARY...HILLROSE...LOG LANE VILLAGE...MIDWAY...SNYDER AND
     TWELVE-MILE CORNER
SHOULD BE ALERT FOR HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS FROM THESE STORMS UNTIL 545 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON.

HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES.  AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS
AS THEY MAY BE WASHED OUT.  WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND
RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF
THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.

INTENSE LIGHTNING IS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM.  IF OUTDOORS...
STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES.  MOVE
INDOORS IF POSSIBLE.  WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND
DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.
TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE
THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.

GARD...WSFO DENVER

LAT...LON 4003 10322 4004 10410 4052 10372 4035 10324

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 12, 6:41 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWashington19 min
Aug 12, 7:12 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWashington48 min
Aug 13, 1:49 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan, Weld41 min
Aug 13, 2:46 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Washington29 min
Aug 13, 3:46 PM MDTTornado WarningBOUArapahoe29 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Colorado, 1994Every tornado warning in 1994Tornadoes in 1994

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.