Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 107, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

July 27, 1997Lincoln County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 27, 1997, 5:30 PM MDT for Lincoln County, Colorado. It was in force for 45 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 27, 1997, 5:30 PM MDT (23:30 UTC)
Expired
Jul 27, 1997, 6:15 PM MDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

County Lincoln County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 111 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:33 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 60 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 1997-07-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 1997-07-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 43 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1981 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
43 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-24 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.

269 
WUUS1 KDEN 272328 RRA
SVRDEN
COC073-280015-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
530 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 615 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO
     NORTHEASTERN LINCOLN

INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     ARRIBA AND GENOA

AT 527 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF GENOA...OR ABOUT 8 MILES
NORTHEAST OF LIMON.

AT 516 PM MDT THE PUBLIC REPORTED WINDOWS BLOWN OUT IN LIMON.

THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH
LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING. PREPARE TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN
A STURDY STRUCTURE SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM IF A
TORNADO IS SPOTTED.

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

GARD...WSFO DENVER
&
LAT...LON 3949 10317 3908 10319 3925 10369 3942 10369

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 27, 3:06 PM MDT, 2 hours 24 minutes before
COZ041-272200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
303 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN WESTERN ELBERT COUNTY...

AT 303 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER KIOWA...OR ABOUT 39 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
DENVER.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES PER HOUR.  PERSONS FROM
KIOWA AND POINTS NORTH AND EAST SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR VERY
HEAVY RAIN.  UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED IN 30 MINUTES OR
LESS.  A BRIEF WEAK TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...MOVE TO A STURDY STRUCTURE AND
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH CAN
ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

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.

BARJENBRUCH
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 3:22 PM MDT, 2 hours 8 minutes before
COZ046-049-272215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
322 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN IN EXTREME NORTHEASTERN
LINCOLN COUNTY...

AT 319 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES SOUTH OF THURMAN...OR ABOUT 30 MILES NORTHEAST
OF LIMON.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT JUST 5 MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR ANTON...ARICKAREE SCHOOL AND THURMAN SHOULD BE ON
THE LOOKOUT FOR VERY HEAVY RAIN.  BETWEEN 2 AND 3 INCHES OF RAIN
CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM IN AN HOUR OR LESS.

HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES LOW SPOTS IN
ROADS.  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.

BARJENBRUCH
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 3:59 PM MDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before
COZ041-045-046-272300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
400 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN SOUTHEASTERN ARAPAHOE AND NORTHEASTERN
   ELBERT COUNTIES OF COLORADO...

AT 400 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF AGATE...OR ABOUT 24 MILES WEST OF
LIMON.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR AGATE AND DEER TRAIL

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND MOVE TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES.

DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...AND GUSTY WINDS
WILL OCCUR WITH THIS STORM UNTIL 500 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON.

HEAVY RAINS...UP TO 2.00 INCHES AN HOUR...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.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 4:00 PM MDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
COZ041-045-046-272300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
400 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN SOUTHEASTERN ARAPAHOE AND NORTHEASTERN
   ELBERT COUNTIES OF COLORADO...

AT 400 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF AGATE...OR ABOUT 24 MILES WEST OF
LIMON.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR AGATE AND DEER TRAIL

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND MOVE TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES.

DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...AND GUSTY WINDS
WILL OCCUR WITH THIS STORM UNTIL 500 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON.

HEAVY RAINS...UP TO 2.00 INCHES AN HOUR...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.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 5:15 PM MDT, 15 minutes before
COZ035-038-272345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
515 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN IN EAST CENTRAL LARIMER COUNTY...

AT 515 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF TEDS PLACE...OR
ABOUT 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF FORT COLLINS.

THE STORM WAS MOVING WEST AT 15 MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR FORT COLLINS...BELLVUE...BUCKHORN MOUNTAIN...
POUDRE PARK...TEDS PLACE AND WELLINGTON

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER.   AND MOVE TO A
PLACE OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING. DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS. DO NOT USE TELEPHONES OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES...UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY...UNTIL THE STORM HAS
PASSED. MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

RTG
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 5:16 PM MDT, 14 minutes before
COZ035-038-272345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
515 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN IN EAST CENTRAL LARIMER COUNTY...

AT 515 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF TEDS PLACE...OR
ABOUT 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF FORT COLLINS.

THE STORM WAS MOVING WEST AT 15 MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR FORT COLLINS...BELLVUE...BUCKHORN MOUNTAIN...
POUDRE PARK...TEDS PLACE AND WELLINGTON

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER.   AND MOVE TO A
PLACE OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING. DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS. DO NOT USE TELEPHONES OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES...UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY...UNTIL THE STORM HAS
PASSED. MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

RTG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 27, 4:35 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUJefferson85 min
Jul 27, 4:57 PM MDTTornado WarningBOUElbert, Lincoln33 min

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.