Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 11, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

May 27, 1997Washington County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 27, 1997, 3:45 PM MDT for Washington 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
May 27, 1997, 3:45 PM MDT (21:45 UTC)
Expired
May 27, 1997, 4:30 PM MDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

County Washington County, CO

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 126 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:45 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, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 16 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 1997-05-27Temperature 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 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 1997-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 72 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
1923 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
72 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
89 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.

158 
WUUS1 KDEN 272148 RRA
SVRDEN
COC121-272230-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
345 PM MDT TUE MAY 27 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
     SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON

INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     ANTON...ARICKAREE SCHOOL AND ELBA

AT 335 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES WEST OF ELBA...OR ABOUT 18 MILES SOUTH OF
AKRON.

THE STORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MILES PER HOUR.

IF SEVERE WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...GO INSIDE A STURDY SHELTER
AWAY FROM CREEK BEDS AND OTHER FLOOD-PRONE AREAS. REMEMBER...A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAN PRODUCE LARGE DAMAGING HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS OVER 60
MPH...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.


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

ENTREKIN

LAT...LON 3978 10283 3958 10313 3984 10340 4010 10306

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, May 27, 11:13 AM MDT, 4 hours 32 minutes before
COZ030-032>050-280600-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1115 AM MDT TUE MAY 27 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:  A NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL REMAIN OVER THE AREA
THROUGH THE DAY IN THE WAKE OF A SLOW MOVING STORM SYSTEM NOW
LOCATED IN CENTRAL NEBRASKA.  IN ADDITION A SURFACE TROUGH WILL BACK
UP AGAINST THE FRONT RANGE LATE IN THE AFTERNOON AS A WEAK SURGE OF
COOLER AIR MOVES SOUTH INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS.

IN THE MOUNTAINS AND HIGHER FOOTHILL LOCATIONS...SCATTERED SHOWERS
WILL CONTINUE...ESPECIALLY ALONG WEST FACING SLOPES.  THE SNOW LEVEL
AROUND 9 THOUSAND FEET.  NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 30 MPH WILL PERSIST
IN THE FOOTHILLS AND IN THE MOUNTAINS ALONG AND EAST OF THE
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.  SOME THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AFTER 1 PM.

IN THE NORTHEAST PLAINS...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
AGAIN DEVELOP AFTER 2 PM HTHIS AFTERNOON.  SOME THUNDERSTORMS WILL
CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS BUT NO SEVERE WEATHER IS
EXPECTED.  AS A RESULT SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY.

COOPER
Special weather statement, May 27, 11:15 AM MDT, 4 hours 30 minutes before
COZ030-032>050-280600-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1115 AM MDT TUE MAY 27 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:  A NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL REMAIN OVER THE AREA
THROUGH THE DAY IN THE WAKE OF A SLOW MOVING STORM SYSTEM NOW
LOCATED IN CENTRAL NEBRASKA.  IN ADDITION A SURFACE TROUGH WILL BACK
UP AGAINST THE FRONT RANGE LATE IN THE AFTERNOON AS A WEAK SURGE OF
COOLER AIR MOVES SOUTH INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS.

IN THE MOUNTAINS AND HIGHER FOOTHILL LOCATIONS...SCATTERED SHOWERS
WILL CONTINUE...ESPECIALLY ALONG WEST FACING SLOPES.  THE SNOW LEVEL
AROUND 9 THOUSAND FEET.  NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 30 MPH WILL PERSIST
IN THE FOOTHILLS AND IN THE MOUNTAINS ALONG AND EAST OF THE
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.  SOME THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AFTER 1 PM.

IN THE NORTHEAST PLAINS...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
AGAIN DEVELOP AFTER 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON.  SOME THUNDERSTORMS WILL
CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS BUT NO SEVERE WEATHER IS
EXPECTED.  AS A RESULT SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY.

COOPER
Special weather statement, May 27, 2:23 PM MDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
COZ044-272045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
223 PM MDT TUE MAY 27 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH FUNNEL CLOUDS REPORTED NEAR FORT
MORGAN...

AT 213 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM OVER FORT MORGAN AIRPORT...OR ABOUT 5 MILES NORTH OF
FORT MORGAN.

AT 213 PM MDT THE PUBLIC REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD JUST NORTHWEST OF
FORT MORGAN.  HOWEVER...RADAR INDICATED CIRCULATION WITH THIS STORM
HAS WEAKENED DURING THE LAST 5 MINUTES...AND SPOTTER REPORTS
INDICATED THE FUNNEL HAS DISSIAPATED.

THE STORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES PER HOUR AND WILL LIKELY
CONTAIN HAIL UP TO 1/2 INCH DIAMETER AND POSSIBLE FUNNEL CLOUDS AS
IT MOVES SOUTHEAST.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR BRUSH...FORT MORGAN...HILLROSE AND SNYDER

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

ENTREKIN
Special weather statement, May 27, 2:24 PM MDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
COZ044-272045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
223 PM MDT TUE MAY 27 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH FUNNEL CLOUDS REPORTED NEAR FORT
MORGAN...

AT 213 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM OVER FORT MORGAN AIRPORT...OR ABOUT 5 MILES NORTH OF
FORT MORGAN.

AT 213 PM MDT THE PUBLIC REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD JUST NORTHWEST OF
FORT MORGAN.  HOWEVER...RADAR INDICATED CIRCULATION WITH THIS STORM
HAS WEAKENED DURING THE LAST 5 MINUTES...AND SPOTTER REPORTS
INDICATED THE FUNNEL HAS DISSIAPATED.

THE STORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES PER HOUR AND WILL LIKELY
CONTAIN HAIL UP TO 1/2 INCH DIAMETER AND POSSIBLE FUNNEL CLOUDS $AS
IT MOVES SOUTHEAST.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR BRUSH...FORT MORGAN...HILLROSE AND SNYDER

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

ENTREKIN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 27, 2:31 PM MDTTornado WarningBOUMorgan29 min
May 27, 2:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULogan45 min
May 27, 4:00 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWeld45 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.