Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 1996
Tornado Warning 58, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this tornado warning at Jul 13, 1996, 10:56 PM MDT for Adams County, Arapahoe County, Colorado. It was in force for 34 min. 6 reports 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 13, 1996, 10:56 PM MDT (04:56 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 13, 1996, 11:30 PM MDT
- In force
- 34 min
- Issued by
- NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Adams County, CO, Arapahoe County, CO
The radar
The Denver radar (KFTG), 18 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:46 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 11:00 PM MDT | Thunderstorm Wind 52 | Bennett, CO | |
| Jul 13, 11:06 PM MDT | Thunderstorm Wind 70 | Strasburg, CO | |
| Jul 13, 11:12 PM MDT | Hail 1 | Byers, CO | |
| Jul 13, 11:12 PM MDT | Thunderstorm Wind 52 | Byers, CO | |
| Jul 13, 11:20 PM MDT | Thunderstorm Wind 61 | Bennett, CO | |
| Jul 13, 11:30 PM MDT | Thunderstorm Wind | Bennett, 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.
The nearest sounding before it
Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 00:00Z, 4.9 hours before the alert went out and 95 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1605 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -40 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1342 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 39 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 79 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 298 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.9
- Supercell composite
- 7.1
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
TTAA00 KDEN 140502
TORDEN
COC001-005-140530-
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1056 PM MDT SAT JUL 13 1996
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1130 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
IN NORTHEAST COLORADO
EASTERN ARAPAHOE AND EASTERN ADAMS
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
BENNETT...BYERS...COUNTRY GARDENS...DEER TRAIL...LEADER AND
STRASBURG
AT 1055 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM WITH A POSSIBLE TORNADO 8 MILES NORTH OF STRASBURG...OR
ABOUT 36 MILES EAST OF DENVER. THE STORM WAS MOVING 40 MPH TO THE
SOUTH-SOUTHEAST.
THE PUBLIC REPORTED A TORDADO NEAR THE TOWN OF BENNETT AT 10:54 PM
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 DFLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
RJK
LAT...LON 3985 10402 3960 10401 3957 10430 3977 10448
3993 10448 4001 10430 3997 10412What 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 13, 6:18 PM MDT, 4 hours 38 minutes before
COZ041-046-140100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO 620 PM MDT SAT JUL 13 1996 ...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING IN EASTCENTRAL ELBERT COUNTY... AT 6:22 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING IN EASTCENTRAL ELBERT COUNTY...INCLUDING THE TOWNS OF AGATE...MATHESON...AND SIMLA. OVER THE PAST 20 MINUTES THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DECREASED IN INTENSITY BUT ARE STILL CAPABLE OF PRODUrCING HEAVY RAINS...SMALL HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTH-SOUTHEASTWARD AT 20 TO 25 MPH. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND EASTERN COLORADO UNTIL 900 PM MDT. RJK
Special weather statement, Jul 13, 8:03 PM MDT, 2 hours 53 minutes before
COZALL-140300- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO 8 PM MDT SAT JUL 13 1996 ...TORNADO WATCH CANCELLED FOR I-25 CORRIDOR AND NEARBY COUNTIES... THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... EASTERN FREMONT...TELLER...EL PASO...LARIMER...ADAMS...ARAPAHOE... BOULDER....DENVER...DOUGLAS...JEFFERSON...WESTERN WELD...PUEBLO AND CROWLEY. THE TRHEAT OF SEVERE WEATHER IS PAST FOR ALL COMMUNITIES ALONG I-25 INCLUDING DENVER...COLORADO SPRINGS AND PUBELO AS WELL AS THE TOWNS OF GREELEY...FORT COLLINS AND BOULDER. THE TORNADO WATCH DOES CONTINUE UNTIL 9 PM MDT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...CHEYENNE...ELBERT...KIT CARSON...LINCOLN...CENTRAL AND EASTERN WELD...LOGAN...MORGAN...PHILLIPS...SEDGWICK...WASHINGTON AND YUMA. END...BOODA...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jul 13, 8:15 PM MDT, 2 hours 41 minutes before
COZ042-048-140245- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO 810 PM MDT SAT JUL 13 1996 ...INTENSE THUNDERSTORM HEADING INTO WELD AND LOGAN COUNTIES... AT 810 PM MDT RADAR SHOWED AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHERN COLORADO BORDER INTO NORTHEASTERN WELD AND NORTHWESTERN LOGAN COUNTIES. THIS THUNDERSTORM HAS WEKEANED IN THE PAST 30 MINUTES BUT DID PRODUCE A TORNADO AND LARGE HAIL EARLIER WHILE IN WYOMING. THE THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST ABOUT 30 MPH AND WILL PASS OVER OR NEAR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...LOGAN CORNERS...NORTH STERLING RESERVOIR...STERLING AND WESTPLAINS. THIS THUNDERSTORM IS STILL QUITE POTENT AND MAY PRODUCE MARBLE OR LARGER SIZE HAIL ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. ANYONE IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT AND MOVE INDOORS IF THIS THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. PROTECT VEHICLES FROM HAIL WHICH COULD BY PUTTING THEM UNDER COVER END...BOODA...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jul 13, 8:20 PM MDT, 2 hours 36 minutes before
COZ042-048-140245- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO 820 PM MDT SAT JUL 13 1996 ...INTENSE THUNDERSTORM HEADING INTO WELD AND LOGAN COUNTIES... AT 810 PM MDT RADAR SHOWED AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHERN COLORADO BORDER INTO NORTHEASTERN WELD AND NORTHWESTERN LOGAN COUNTIES. THIS THUNDERSTORM HAS WEKEANED IN THE PAST 30 MINUTES BUT DID PRODUCE A TORNADO AND LARGE HAIL EARLIER WHILE IN WYOMING. THE THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST ABOUT 30 MPH AND WILL PASS OVER OR NEAR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...LOGAN CORNERS...NORTH STERLING RESERVOIR...STERLING AND WESTPLAINS. THIS THUNDERSTORM IS STILL QUITE POTENT AND MAY PRODUCE MARBLE OR LARGER SIZE HAIL ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. ANYONE IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT AND MOVE INDOORS IF THIS THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. PROTECT VEHICLES FROM HAIL BY PUTTING THEM UNDER COVER. END...BOODA...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jul 13, 8:38 PM MDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before
COZ036-140600- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER COLORADO 841 PM MDT SAT JUL 13 1996 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER IS CANCELLING THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN AND WESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY. RAINFALL IS NO LONGER EXPECTED OVER THE WATCH AREA THIS EVENING. EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON VERY WEAK SHOWERS PUSHED ACROSS SOUTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY DROPPING LESS THEN ONE TENTH OF AN INCH OF RAIN. SUNDAY'S FORECAST INDICATES MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE FOR THE FOOTHILLS INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY AREA. RJK
Special weather statement, Jul 13, 9:27 PM MDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
COZALL-140400- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO 920 PM MDT SAT JUL 13 1996 ...TORNADO WATCH EXPIRES FOR REST OF COLORADO... THE TORNADO WATCH HAS EXPIRED AT 9 PM MDT FOR THE REST OF EASTERN COLORADO THIS EVENING. ALTHOUGH THE TORNADO WATCH HAS EXPIRED...PEOPLE IN NORTHWEST WELD COUNTY ARE UNDER A TORNADO WARNING UNTIL 945 PM MDT DUE TO A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT HAS ENTERED THE STATE FROM WYOMING. THIS WARNING INCLUDES THE TOWNS OF HEREFORD...PURCELL AND ROCKPORT. END...BOODA...WSFO DENVER
The office that day
Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 6:34 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Elbert | 26 min |
| Jul 13, 6:52 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Logan | 53 min |
| Jul 13, 9:05 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | BOU | Weld | 40 min |
| Jul 13, 9:45 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | BOU | Larimer, Weld | 35 min |
| Jul 13, 10:18 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Adams, Morgan, Weld | 27 min |
| Jul 13, 10:37 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Adams, Morgan, Washington | 53 min |
| Jul 13, 10:44 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Adams, Arapahoe | 31 min |
| Jul 13, 10:44 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Weld | 31 min |
| Jul 13, 11:33 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Arapahoe, Elbert, Lincoln | 27 min |
| Jul 13, 11:55 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Elbert, Lincoln | 40 min |
| Jul 14, 12:26 AM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Elbert, Lincoln | 34 min |
| Jul 14, 1:04 AM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Elbert, Lincoln | 41 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Colorado, 1996Every tornado warning in 1996Tornadoes in 1996
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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.