Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 38, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

June 13, 1997Elbert County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 13, 1997, 5:38 PM MDT for Elbert County, Colorado. It was in force for 37 min. 1 report came from 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, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jun 13, 1997, 5:38 PM MDT (23:38 UTC)
Expired
Jun 13, 1997, 6:15 PM MDT
In force
37 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

County Elbert County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 69 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:42 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 13, 6:05 PM MDTHail 1Simla, CO

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jun 13, 2:00 PM MDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Fort Carson/Butt, CO (KFCS), launched 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 71 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, Fort Carson/Butt, CO at 12:00Z on 1997-06-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 147 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, Fort Carson/Butt, CO at 12:00Z on 1997-06-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -41 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
147 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
678 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-41 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-4 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 132338
SVRDEN
COC039-140015-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
538 PM MDT FRI JUN 13 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
     CENTRAL ELBERT

INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     ELBERT

AT 535 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES EAST OF ELBERT...OR ABOUT 36 MILES WEST 
OF LIMON.

THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 10 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN COLORADO UNTIL 
800 PM MDT.

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 3914 10404 3915 10456 3932 10454 3931 10405

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, Jun 13, 1:57 PM MDT, 3 hours 41 minutes before
COZ040-045-132100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
155 PM MDT FRI JUN 13 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EAST OF DENVER...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN IN

    CENTRAL ARAPAHOE...NORTHEASTERN DENVER AND CENTRAL ADAMS

COUNTIES OF COLORADO UNTIL 300 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON.

AT 150 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER WATKINS...OR ABOUT 19 MILES EAST OF DENVER.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTH AT 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR EASTERN DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...BENNETT...
BYERS...COUNTRY GARDENS...LEADER...MANILA VILLAGE...STRASBURG AND
WATKINS

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.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN COLORADO UNTIL
800 PM MDT.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jun 13, 2:54 PM MDT, 2 hours 44 minutes before
COZ045-132145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
254 PM MDT FRI JUN 13 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM PERSISTS EAST OF DENVER...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL PERSIST EAST OF DENVER IN
     CENTRAL ARAPAHOE AND CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTIES OF COLORADO
UNTIL 400 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON.

AT 250 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DEER TRAIL...OR ABOUT 33
MILES NORTHWEST OF LIMON.

THE STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY BUT MAY MOVE SLOWLY TO THE NORTH
NORTHEAST AT 5 TO 10 MPH.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR BYERS...COUNTRY GARDENS...DEER TRAIL...LEADER AND
STRASBURG

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.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN COLORADO UNTIL
800 PM MDT.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jun 13, 2:55 PM MDT, 2 hours 43 minutes before
COZ045-132145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
254 PM MDT FRI JUN 13 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM PERSISTS EAST OF DENVER...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL PERSIST EAST OF DENVER IN
     CENTRAL ARAPAHOE AND CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTIES OF COLORADO
UNTIL 400 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON.

AT 250 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DEER TRAIL...OR ABOUT 33
MILES NORTHWEST OF LIMON.

THE STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY BUT MAY MOVE SLOWLY TO THE NORTH
NORTHEAST AT 5 TO 10 MPH.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR BYERS...COUNTRY GARDENS...DEER TRAIL...LEADER AND
STRASBURG

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.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN COLORXADO UNTIL
800 PM MDT.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jun 13, 4:30 PM MDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
COZ045-132330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
430 PM MDT FRI JUN 13 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN EASTERN ARAPAHOE COUNTY...

AT 419 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES EAST OF DEER TRAIL...OR ABOUT 30 MILES NORTHWEST
OF LIMON COLORADO.

THE STORM WAS MOVING SLOWLY TO THE EAST NORTHEAST AT 5 MILES PER
HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR 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.  THIS STORM COULD PRODUCE UP TO 2 INCHES
OF RAIN IN AN HOUR.

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 FLBOOD WATERS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN COLORADO UNTIL
800 PM MDT.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jun 13, 5:12 PM MDT, 26 minutes before
COZ041-140015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
513 PM MDT FRI JUN 13 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN CENTRAL ELBERT COUNTY COLORADO...

AT 510 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER FONDIS...OR ABOUT 41 MILES WEST OF LIMON.

THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 10 TO 15 MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR ELBERT

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND MOVE TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES UNTIL 615 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...AND GUSTY WINDS
WILL OCCUR 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN CO|LORADO UNTIL
800 PM MDT.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jun 13, 5:27 PM MDT, 11 minutes before
COZ045-046-049-140030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
526 PM MDT FRI JUN 13 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN
     SOUTHEASTERN ARAPAHOE...NORTHEASTERN ELBERT...NORTH CENTRAL
     LINCOLN AND SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES OF COLORADO...

AT 518 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES SOUTH OF AGATE...OR ABOUT 16 MILES
NORTHWEST OF LIMON.

THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 15 MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR AGATE AND JOLLY RANCH

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND MOVE TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES UNTIL 630 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...AND GUSTY WINDS
WILL OCCUR 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN COLORADO UNTIL
800 PM MDT.

GARD...WSFO DENVER

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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.