Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1996

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 182, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 31, 1996Kiowa County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 31, 1996, 5:29 PM MDT for Kiowa County, Colorado. It was in force for 61 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 31, 1996, 5:29 PM MDT (23:29 UTC)
Expired
Jul 31, 1996, 6:30 PM MDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Whole counties

County Kiowa County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 126 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:31 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 (KDNR), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 165 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 1996-07-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 66 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 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 1996-07-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 49 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
66 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-290 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1655 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
61 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 312329
SVRPUB
COC061-010030-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
529 PM MDT WED JUL 31 1996

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR
  KIOWA COUNTY      IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO

* UNTIL 630 PM MDT
 
* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED
    HASWELL BY 532 PM MDT

* AT 527 PM MDT RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE STORM 2 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF
  HASWELL ON HIGHWAY 96 MOVING SLOWLY EAST AT 5 MPH.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT.  SEVERE STORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FOLLOW UP STATEMENTS AND
WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO.

SC

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 31, 12:08 PM MDT, 5 hours 21 minutes before
COZ060>081-010600-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST
COLORADO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1206 AM MDT WED JUL 31 1996

THIS OUTLOOK PERTAINS TO THE FOLLOWING COLORADO COUNTIES:

ALAMOSA      BACA        BENT          CHAFFEE        CONEJOS
COSTILLA     CROWLEY     CUSTER        EL PASO        FREMONT
HUERFANO     KIOWA       LAS ANIMAS    MINERAL        OTERO
PROWERS      PUEBLO      RIO GRANDE    SAGUACHE       TELLER

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING
ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS...

ABUNDANT LOW AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE WILL PERSIST TODAY ACROSS THE
MAJORITY OF THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS.  MODERATE INSTABILITY WILL
COMBINE WITH DAYTIME HEATING TO PRODUCE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS
THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING...MAINLY OVER THE SOUTHEAST
PLAINS...PRIMARILY IN CROWLEY...OTERO...KIOWA...BENT...EASTERN
LAS ANIMAS... PROWERS AND BACA COUNTIES...A FEW THUNDERSTORMS
COULD BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING HAIL 3/4 OF AN INCH OR LARGER IN
DIAMETER AND/OR WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  MOVEMENT OF
STORMS WILL BE TO THE SOUTHEAST.

A FEW OF THE STRONGER STORMS WILL PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN
EXCESS OF ONE INCH PER HOUR...WHICH COULD CAUSE FLOODING OF LOW
LYING AREAS...ROADS...DITCHES...UNDERPASSES AND NORMALLY DRY
ARROYOS.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IN COLORADO SPRINGS AND PUEBLO MAY BE
NECESSARY LATER TODAY...AND REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER WILL
BE MOST APPRECIATED. $
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 12:14 PM MDT, 5 hours 15 minutes before
COZ060>081-010600-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST
COLORADO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1206 PM MDT WED JUL 31 1996

THIS OUTLOOK PERTAINS TO THE FOLLOWING COLORADO COUNTIES:

ALAMOSA      BACA        BENT          CHAFFEE        CONEJOS
COSTILLA     CROWLEY     CUSTER        EL PASO        FREMONT
HUERFANO     KIOWA       LAS ANIMAS    MINERAL        OTERO
PROWERS      PUEBLO      RIO GRANDE    SAGUACHE       TELLER

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING
ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS...

ABUNDANT LOW AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE WILL PERSIST TODAY ACROSS THE
MAJORITY OF THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS.  MODERATE INSTABILITY WILL
COMBINE WITH DAYTIME HEATING TO PRODUCE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS
THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING...MAINLY OVER THE SOUTHEAST
PLAINS...PRIMARILY IN CROWLEY...OTERO...KIOWA...BENT...EASTERN
LAS ANIMAS... PROWERS AND BACA COUNTIES...A FEW THUNDERSTORMS
COULD BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING HAIL 3/4 OF AN INCH OR LARGER IN
DIAMETER AND/OR WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  MOVEMENT OF
STORMS WILL BE TO THE SOUTHEAST.

A FEW OF THE STRONGER STORMS WILL PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN
EXCESS OF ONE INCH PER HOUR...WHICH COU:LD CAUSE FLOODING OF LOW
LYING AREAS...ROADS...DITCHES...UNDERPASSES AND NORMALLY DRY
ARROYOS.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IN COLORADO SPRINGS AND PUEBLO MAY BE
NECESSARY LATER TODAY...AND REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER WILL
BE MOST APPRECIATED.
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 3:07 PM MDT, 2 hours 22 minutes before
COZ068-073-312210-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
307 PM MDT WED JUL 31 1996

...THUNDERSTORMS RUMBLING OVER THE FOOTHILLS AGAIN...

THUNDERSTORMS ARE GOING TO MOVE ACROSS THE OPEN COUNTRY OF SOUTHERN
FREMONT COUNTY AND NORTHWESTERN PUEBLO COUNTY THROUGH 335 PM
MDT...PRODUCING PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS TO
40 MPH.

AT 305 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR IN PUEBLO DETECTED THESE STORMS FROM
COALDALE ALONG HIGHWAY 50 TO HIGHWAY 115 NEAR PENROSE.  THIS
LINE OF STORMS WAS MOVING SOUTH SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

ANOTHER STORM OVER FORT CARSON AND SOUTHWEST EL PASO COUNTY IS EXPECTED
TO CONTINUE MOVING SOUTH...MERGING WITH THE STORM SYSTEM OVER
NORTHERN PUEBLO COUNTY BY 320 PM MDT.
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 3:48 PM MDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
COZ077-081-312255-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
348 PM MDT WED JUL 31 1996

...THUNDERSTORMS BUILDING INTO EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO LATE THIS AFTERNOON ARE
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD SLOWLY NORTH INTO EASTERN PARTS
OF LAS ANIMAS COUNTY...AS WELL AS EXTREME WESTERN BACA COUNTY THROUGH
430 PM MDT.

ONE THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS LOCATED 30 MILES WEST
SOUTHWEST OF CAMPO...IN EXTREME SOUTHWEST BACA COUNTY.  ANOTHER
STORM WAS 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF KIM...IN EXTREME SOUTHEAST LAS
ANIMAS COUNTY.  THESE STORMS WERE NEARLY STATIONARY.

ANYONE IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF COLORADO S~HOULD PREPARE NOW
FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF INTENSIFYING STORMS...WHICH COULD BECOME
SEVERE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL.
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 4:05 PM MDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
COZ068-070-073-312310-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
405 PM MDT WED JUL 31 1996

...THUNDERSTORMS MARCHING THROUGH WESTERN PUEBLO COUNTY...

LOOK FOR PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN...WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH...AND SMALL HAIL
AS THUNDERSTORMS MOVE ACROSS PUEBLO WEST AND WESTERN PUEBLO COUNTY
THROUGH 425 PM MDT.

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 15 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF PUEBLO
WEST AT 400 PM...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.  FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL
BE ACCOMPANYING THIS THUNDERSTORM.
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 4:14 PM MDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
COZ081-312320-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
414 PM MDT WED JUL 31 1996

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING NEAR SPRINGFIELD IN BACA COUNTY...

LOOK FOR A STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO INTENSIFY FROM SPRINGFIELD T0 15
MILES EAST OF SPRINGFIELD THROUGH 430 PM MDT.  LOOK FOR HEAVY RAIN...
SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH WITH THESE STORMS OVER BACA
COUNTY.

AT 411 PM MDT DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED ONE STORM DEVELOPING OVER
SPRINGFIELD...WITH ANOTHER 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SPRINGFIELD...IN OPEN
COUNTRY.

THESE STORMS REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Pueblo, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 30, 9:03 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso, Pueblo47 min
Jul 31, 4:52 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBKiowa63 min
Jul 31, 2:15 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso60 min
Jul 31, 4:31 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBBaca64 min
Jul 31, 5:20 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBBaca60 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Colorado, 1996Every severe thunderstorm warning 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.