Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 101, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

July 15, 1997Sedgwick County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 15, 1997, 3:56 PM MDT for Sedgwick County, Colorado. It was in force for 34 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline the Iowa Environmental Mesonet reconstructed for it; the warning itself named whole counties.

The facts

Issued
Jul 15, 1997, 3:56 PM MDT (21:56 UTC)
Expired
Jul 15, 1997, 4:30 PM MDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

County Sedgwick County, CO

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 167 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:56 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

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 135 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, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 12:00Z on 1997-07-15Temperature 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, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 12:00Z on 1997-07-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 68 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
-464 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1830 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
68 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
86 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.

226 
WUUS1 KDEN 152157 RRA
SVRDEN
COC115-152230-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
356 PM MDT TUE JUL 15 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 430 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN NORTHEAST COLORADO
     SOUTHEASTERN SEDGWICK

AT 353 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTHEASTERN SEDGWICK COUNTY...ABOUT 13 
MILES SOUTHEAST OF JULESBURG.

A STORM SPOTTER 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF JULESBURG REPORTED ONE INCH 
DIAMETER HAIL WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. 

THE STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY. 

HEAVY RAINS MAY ALSO CAUSE FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS IN SOUTHEAST 
SEDGWICK COUNTY.  

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

LAT...LON 4077 10209 4077 10226 4090 10227 4094 10208
DANKERS
&

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 15, 11:00 AM MDT, 4 hours 56 minutes before
COZ030-032>050-160600-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1100 AM MDT TUE JUL 15 1997

THIS OUTLOOK PERTAINS TO THE FOLLOWING COLORADO COUNTIES

ADAMS     ARAPAHOE     BOULDER   CLEAR CREEK   DENVER       DOUGLAS
ELBERT    GILPIN       GRAND     JACKSON       JEFFERSON    LARIMER
LINCOLN   LOGAN        MORGAN    PARK          PHILLIPS     SEDGWICK
SUMMIT    WASHINGTON   WELD

SYNOPSIS: HIGH PRESSURE IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE CONTINUES ACROSS THE
FOUR CORNERS REGION. SOME MID AND HIGH LEVEL MOISTURE WILL PUSH INTO
THE REGION LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...COUPLED WITH STRONG
HEATING TO PRODUCE ONLY ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. SOME GUSTY WINDS
WITH THESE STORMS BUT HARDLY ANY RAIN EXPECTED. STORMS WILL
INITIALLY DEVELOP ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND ALONG THE HIGHER TERRAIN
ALONG THE PALMER DIVIDE AFTER 3 PM...THEN DRIFT OUT INTO THE URBAN
COORDIOR AFTER 4 PM. ACROSS THE NORTHEAST PLAINS...ISOLATED STORMS
WILL NOT DEVELOP UNTIL THIS EVENING.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY.

ENTREKIN
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 11:08 AM MDT, 4 hours 48 minutes before
COZ030-032>050-160600-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1100 AM MDT TUE JUL 15 1997

THIS OUTLOOK PERTAINS TO THE FOLLOWING COLORADO COUNTIES

ADAMS     ARAPAHOE     BOULDER   CLEAR CREEK   DENVER       DOUGLAS
ELBERT    GILPIN       GRAND     JACKSON       JEFFERSON    LARIMER
LINCOLN   LOGAN        MORGAN    PARK          PHILLIPS     SEDGWICK
SUMMIT    WASHINGTON   WELD

SYNOPSIS: HIGH PRESSURE IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE CONTINUES ACROSS THE
FOUR CORNERS REGION. SOME MID AND HIGH LEVEL MOISTURE WILL PUSH INTO
THE REGION LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...COUPLED WITH STRONG
HEATING TO PRODUCE ONLY ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. SOME GUSTY WINDS
WITH THESE STORMS BUT HARDLY ANY RAIN EXPECTED. STORMS WILL
INITIALLY DEVELOP ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND ALONG THE HIGHER TERRAIN
ALONG THE PALMER DIVIDE AFTER 3 PM...THEN DRIFT OUT INTO THE URBAN
COORDIOR AFTER 4 PM. ACROSSr THE NORTHEAST PLAINS...ISOLATED STORMS
WILL NOT DEVELOP UNTIL THIS EVENING.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY.

ENTREKIN
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 12:23 PM MDT, 3 hours 33 minutes before
COZ030-032>050-160600-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1220 PM MDT TUE JUL 15 1997  ...UPDATE...

THIS OUTLOOK PERTAINS TO THE FOLLOWING COLORADO COUNTIES

ADAMS     ARAPAHOE     BOULDER   CLEAR CREEK   DENVER       DOUGLAS
ELBERT    GILPIN       GRAND     JACKSON       JEFFERSON    LARIMER
LINCOLN   LOGAN        MORGAN    PARK          PHILLIPS     SEDGWICK
SUMMIT    WASHINGTON   WELD

SYNOPSIS: A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAVE FORMED ALONG A
BOUNDARY...WHICH STRETCHES FROM WESTERN YUMA COUNTY SOUTHWESTWARD
INTO SOUTHWEST LINCOLN COUNTY. WITH THE SURFACE MOISTURE HIGHER IN
THESE PARTS...SOME SMALL HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.  OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES FROM THIS LINE WILL
INTERACT TO PRODUCE ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN OTHER AREAS OF THE
NORTHEAST PLAINS LATER THIS AFTERNOON.

ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE OUTLOOK AREA...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS
WILL DEVELOP AFTER 3 PM ESPECIALLY OVER HIGHER TERRAIN AND PRODUCING
MAINLY GUSTY WINDS.

ENTREKIN
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 3:36 PM MDT, 20 minutes before
COZ050-152200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
336 PM MDT TUE JUL 15 1997

...THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN IN SEDGWICK COUNTY...

AT 336 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTHEASTERN SEDGWICK COUNTY...ABOUT 14 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF JULESBURG.

THE STORM HAS SHOWN LITTLE MOVEMENT IN THE PAST HALF HOUR.

RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SMALL HAIL AND HEAVY
RAINS...AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES.

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.

DANKERS
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 3:39 PM MDT, 17 minutes before
COZ050-152200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
336 PM MDT TUE JUL 15 1997

...THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN IN SEDGWICK COUNTY...

AT 336 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTHEASTERN SEDGWICK COUNTY...ABOUT 14 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF JULESBURG.

THE STORM HAS SHOWN LITTLE MOVEMENT IN THE PAST HALF HOUR.

RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SMALL HAIL AND HEAVY
RAINS...AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES.

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 0MAY
ALSO RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD
WATERS.

DANKERS

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Colorado, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

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.