Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 55, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

June 14, 1997Morgan County, Weld County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 14, 1997, 6:05 PM MDT for Morgan County, Weld County, Colorado. It was in force for 35 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
Jun 14, 1997, 6:05 PM MDT (00:05 UTC)
Expired
Jun 14, 1997, 6:40 PM MDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

Counties Morgan County, CO, Weld County, CO

The radar

The Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 90 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:09 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 watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jun 14, 3:15 PM MDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 105 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 00:00Z on 1997-06-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 70 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 1997-06-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -71 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
70 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-106 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2413 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
3 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-71 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-39 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 150005 RRA
SVRDEN
COC087-123-150040-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
605 PM MDT SAT JUN 14 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 640 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN NORTHEAST COLORADO
     CENTRAL WELD AND NORTHWESTERN MORGAN

INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     BRIGGSDALE...GOODRICH...JACKSON RESERVOIR...KEOTA AND ORCHARD

AT 600 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES SOUTH OF KEOTA...OR ABOUT 28 MILES
NORTHWEST OF FORT MORGAN.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES PER 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.

FUNNEL CLOUDS...HEAVY RAIN...WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH AND VERY 
LARGE HAIL ARE 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEAST COLORADO UNTIL 9 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.

BAKER
LAT...LON 4058 10376 4031 10412 4058 10447 4085 10412

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 14, 3:35 PM MDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
COZ033-035-142205-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
335 PM MDT SAT JUN 14 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH CENTRAL LARIMER COUNTY...

AT 330 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTH OF RED FEATHER LAKES...OR ABOUT 32
MILES NORTHWEST OF FORT COLLINS.  THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT
20 TO 25 MPH.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR RED FEATHER LAKES AND VIRGINIA DALE SHOULD BE ON
THE LOOKOUT FOR LARGE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 45 MPH WITH THIS STORM
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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST COLORADO
UNTIL 900 PM MDT.

RJK
Special weather statement, Jun 14, 3:36 PM MDT, 2 hours 29 minutes before
COZ033-035-142205-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
335 PM MDT SAT JUN 14 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH CENTRAL LARIMER COUNTY...

AT 330 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTH OF RED FEATHER LAKES...OR ABOUT 32
MILES NORTHWEST OF FORT COLLINS.  THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT
20 TO 25 MPH.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR RED FEATHER LAKES AND VIRGINIA DALE SHOULD BE ON
THE LOOKOUT FOR LARGE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 45 MPH WITH THIS STORM
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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST COLORADO
UNTIL 900 PM MDT.

RJK
Special weather statement, Jun 14, 3:40 PM MDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before
COZ046-047-142210-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
335 PM MDT SAT JUN 14 1997

...THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE SHORTLY OVER PORTIONS OF
   LINCOLN AND ELBERT COUNTIES...

AT 335 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN
AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS STRENGHTENING RAPIDLY OVER SOUTHERN LINCOLN
AND SOUTHERN ELBERT COUNTIES.  THE STRONGEST STORM WAS LOCATED IN
SOUTH CENTRAL ELBERT COUNTY...12 MILES NORTH OF THE TOWN OF RAMAH.

STORMS WERE MOVING NORTH AT 15 TO 20 MPH.

TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NEARLY ALL OF NORTHEAST COLORADO
UNTIL 900PM MDT.

BAKER
Special weather statement, Jun 14, 3:45 PM MDT, 2 hours 20 minutes before
COZ035-038-039-142220-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
345 PM MDT SAT JUN 14 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHEASTERN LARIMER AND CENTRAL BOULDER
COUNTIES...

AT 345 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER RIVERSIDE...OR ABOUT 33 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF FORT COLLINS.  THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15
MPH.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR SOUTHERN FORT COLLINS...NORTHWESTERN LONGMONT...
BERTHOUD...DRAKE...GOLD HILL...HARMONY...JAMESTOWN...LOVELAND...
LYONS...MASONVILLE...NEDERLAND...PEACEFUL VALLEY...RAYMOND...TIMNATH
AND WARD SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR LARGE HAIL...STRONG
WINDS...AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES WITH THESE STORMS 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST COLORADO
UNTIL 900 PM THIS EVENING.

RJK
Special weather statement, Jun 14, 5:34 PM MDT, 31 minutes before
COZ040-140010-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
535 PM MDT SAT JUN 14 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EASTWARD THROUGH DOUGLAS COUNTY...

AT 530 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EAST THROUGH DOUGLAS COUNTY.
THE STRONGEST STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF CASTLE
ROCK...OR 34 MILES SOUTH OF DENVER.

THIS LINE OF STORMS WAS MOVING EAST-NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR CASTLE ROCK...FRANTOWN...LARKSPUR...BEVERLY
HILLS...PARKER...GREENLAND AND SILVER HEIGHTS SHOULD BE ON THE
LOOKOUT FOR LARGE HAIL...VERY STRONG WIND GUSTS...FUNNEL CLOUDS AND
POSSIBLE TORNADOES WITH THESE STORMS 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST COLORADO
UNTIL 900 PM THIS EVENING.

BAKER
Special weather statement, Jun 14, 5:35 PM MDT, 30 minutes before
COZ040-140010-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
535 PM MDT SAT JUN 14 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EASTWARD THROUGH DOUGLAS COUNTY...

AT 530 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EAST THROUGH DOUGLAS COUNTY.
THE STRONGEST STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF CASTLE
ROCK...OR 34 MILES SOUTH OF DENVER.

THIS LINE OF STORMS WAS MOVING EAST-NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR CASTLE ROCK...FRANTOWN...LARKSPUR...BEVERLY
HILLS...PARKER...GREENLAND AND SILVER HEIGHTS SHOULD BE ON THE
LOOKOUT FOR LARGE HAIL...VERY STRONG WIND GUSTS...FUNNEL CLOUDS AND
POSSIBLE TORNADOES WITH THESE STORMS 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST COLORADO
UNTIL 900 PM THIS EVENING.

BAKER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 14, 7:35 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Washington25 min
Jun 14, 7:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULogan, Phillips, Sedgwick45 min
Jun 14, 8:52 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULogan, Phillips, Sedgwick38 min
Jun 14, 9:38 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUPhillips27 min
Jun 15, 12:33 AM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUPhillips3 hr
Jun 15, 3:25 AM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUPhillips2 hr
Jun 15, 5:23 AM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUPhillips3 hr
Jun 15, 1:41 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULarimer, Weld34 min
Jun 15, 3:11 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Boulder, Weld34 min
Jun 15, 3:20 PM MDTTornado WarningBOUAdams, Weld25 min
Jun 15, 3:20 PM MDTTornado WarningBOUBoulder25 min
Jun 15, 3:53 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Weld32 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.