Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 143, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

August 26, 1997Washington County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 26, 1997, 5:15 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
Aug 26, 1997, 5:15 PM MDT (23:15 UTC)
Expired
Aug 26, 1997, 6:00 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 nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 55 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 1997-08-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 6 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, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 1997-08-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -57 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
6 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-296 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2325 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-57 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-28 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 KDEN 262315 RRA
SVRDEN
COC121-270000-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
515 PM MDT TUE AUG 26 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 600 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN NORTHEAST COLORADO
     NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON

AT 513 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY...OR
ABOUT 11 MILES NORTH OF AKRON.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MILES PER HOUR.  BY 
600 PM...THIS STORM WILL BE LOCATED ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF 
BURDETT.  

UP TO GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THE STORM...PUT YOUR CAR IN A GARAGE AND 
MOVE TO A SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER.

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

BARJENBRUCH 

LAT...LON 4032 10300 4028 10323 4036 10333 4043 10314
          4043 10302

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, Aug 26, 3:34 PM MDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
COZ036-040-262210-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
335 PM MDT TUE AUG 26 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY...

AT 335 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL IN CENTRAL JEFFERSON
COUNTY.   THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 15 MILES PER HOUR.

RADAR ESTIMATED RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES PER HOUR.  THIS
STORM WAS ALSO CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR ASPEN PARK...BUFFALO CREEK...CHATFIELD
RESERVOIR...CONIFER...INDIAN HILLS...MORRISON...PINE...ROXBOROUGH
PARK...SOUTH PLATTE AND TINY TOWN SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THESE
HEAVY RAINS AND STRONG WINDS.

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.

RJK
Special weather statement, Aug 26, 3:35 PM MDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
COZ036-040-262210-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
335 PM MDT TUE AUG 26 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY...

AT 335 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL IN CENTRAL JEFFERSON
COUNTY.   THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 15 MILES PER HOUR.

RADAR ESTIMATED RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES PER HOUR.  THIS
STORM WAS ALSO CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR ASPEN PARK...BUFFALO CREEK...CHATFIELD
RESERVOIR...CONIFER...INDIAN HILLS...MORRISON...PINE...ROXBOROUGH
PARK...SOUTH PLATTE AND TINY TOWN SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THESE
HEAVY RAINS AND STRONG WINDS.

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.

RJK
Special weather statement, Aug 26, 3:57 PM MDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before
COZ042-048-262300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
357 PM MDT TUE AUG 26 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN NORTHEASTERN WELD COUNTY...

AT 355 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WESTPLAINS...OR ABOUT 30 MILES
WEST OF STERLING.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES PER HOUR...AND WILL
PRODUCE DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...MARBLE SIZED HAIL...AND BETWEEN
1 AND 2 INCHES OF RAIN IN 30 MINUTES.

PERSONS IN EXTREME NORTHEAST WELD COUNTY AND EXTREME NORTHWEST LOGAN
COUNTY...INCLUDING THE TOWN OF WESTPLAINS...SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR THREATENING WEATHER.  MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER
APPROACHES.

BARJENBRUCH
Special weather statement, Aug 26, 4:18 PM MDT, 57 minutes before
COZ036-040-041-262300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER COLORADO
418 PM MDT TUE AUG 26 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PUSHING EAST ACROSS DOUGLAS COUNTY...

AT 418 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER SEDALIA...OR ABOUT 23 MILES SOUTH OF DENVER.
THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 25 MILES PER HOUR.

RADAR ESTIMATED RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES PER HOUR.  THIS
STORM WAS ALSO CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH AS WELL AS
HAIL UP TO 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR SOUTHERN ENGLEWOOD...LITTLETON...BEVERLY HILLS...
CASTLE ROCK...DEVILS HEAD...ELIZABETH...FRANKTOWN...HIGHLANDS
RANCH...LARKSPUR...LOUVIERS...PARKER...PERRY PARK...PONDEROSA PARK...
ROXBOROUGH PARK...SEDALIA...SURREY RIDGE AND THE PINERY SHOULD BE ON
THE LOOKOUT FOR HEAVY RAINS...SMALL HAIL...AND STRONG WIND GUSTS.

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.

RJK
Special weather statement, Aug 26, 4:19 PM MDT, 56 minutes before
COZ036-040-041-262300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER COLORADO
418 PM MDT TUE AUG 26 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PUSHING EAST ACROSS DOUGLAS COUNTY...

AT 418 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER SEDALIA...OR ABOUT 23 MILES SOUTH OF DENVER.
THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 25 MILES PER HOUR.

RADAR ESTIMATED RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES PER HOUR.  THIS
STORM WAS ALSO CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH AS WELL AS
HAIL UP TO 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR SOUTHERN ENGLEWOOD...LITTLETON...BEVERLY HILLS...
CASTLE ROCK...DEVIL'S HEAD...ELIZABETH...FRANKTOWN...HIGHLANDS
RANCH...LARKSPUR...LOUVIERS...PARKER...PERRY PARK...PONDEROSA PARK...
ROXBOROUGH PARK...SEDALIA...SURREY RIDGE AND THE PINERY SHOULD BE ON
THE LOOKOUT FOR HEAVY RAINS...SMALL HAIL...AND STRONG WIND GUSTS.

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.

RJK
Special weather statement, Aug 26, 5:08 PM MDT, 7 minutes before
COZ041-262345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
508 PM MDT TUE AUG 26 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN SOUTHEASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY...

AT 505 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES SOUTH OF LARKSPUR...OR ABOUT 38 MILES
SOUTH OF DENVER. DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 1.5
INCHES IN AN HOUR. THE STORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH
AND PEA SIZED HAIL.

THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 20 MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR GREENLAND AND LARKSPUR

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.

HERRALD

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 26, 4:33 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWashington42 min
Aug 26, 4:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULogan50 min
Aug 26, 5:58 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWashington47 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.