Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 72, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

June 22, 1997Adams County, Arapahoe County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 22, 1997, 7:15 PM MDT for Adams County, Arapahoe 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
Jun 22, 1997, 7:15 PM MDT (01:15 UTC)
Expired
Jun 22, 1997, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

Counties Adams County, CO, Arapahoe County, CO

The nearest sounding before it

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 00:00Z, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 318 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, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 00:00Z on 1997-06-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 268 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, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 00:00Z on 1997-06-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 14 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
268 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-178 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2644 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
14 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
73 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.

732 
WUUS1 KDEN 230116 RRA
SVRDEN
COC001-005-230200-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
715 PM MDT SUN JUN 22 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 800 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN NORTHEAST COLORADO
     NORTH CENTRAL ARAPAHOE AND EASTERN ADAMS

INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     LEADER

AT 710 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LEADER...OR ABOUT 30 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF FORT MORGAN.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 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.

INTENSE LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID
USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.

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 3999 10372 3970 10411 3976 10434 3998 10401

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 22, 3:35 PM MDT, 3 hours 40 minutes before
COZ039-040-041-043-045-230000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
335 PM MDT SUN JUN 22 1997

...STRONG GUSTY WINDS ACROSS METRO DENVER...

BRIEF VERY STRONG AND GUSTY MICROBURST WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS
METRO DENVER DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING
HOURS.

AT 255 PM MDT WINDS BRIEFLY GUSTED TO 69 MPH AT JEFFERSON COUNTY
AIRPORT NEAR BROOMFIELD.

THE STRONG WINDS ARE THE RESULT OF COOLER AIR ALOFT BEING DRAWN
TO THE SURFACE BY FALLING LIGHT RAIN OR VIRGA...RAIN EVAPORATING
BEFORE REACHING THE GROUND.  THIS COOLER AIR UNDER A CONVECTIVE
CLOUD SLAMS TO THE GROUND...SPREADS OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS AND
PRODUCES BRIEF VERY STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS CALLED MICROBURSTS.
THE VERY STRONG WINDS WILL LAST FOR ONLY A MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE
DISSIPATING.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jun 22, 3:36 PM MDT, 3 hours 39 minutes before
COZ039-040-041-043-045-230000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
335 PM MDT SUN JUN 22 1997

...STRONG GUSTY WINDS ACROSS METRO DENVER...

BRIEF VERY STRONG AND GUSTY MICROBURST WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS
METRO DENVER DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING
HOURS.

AT 255 PM MDT WINDS BRIEFLY GUSTED TO 69 MPH AT JEFFERSON COUNTY
AIRPORT NEAR BROOMFIELD.

THE STRONG WINDS ARE THE RESULT OF COOLER AIR ALOFT BEING DRAWN
TO THE SURFACE BY FALLING LIGHT RAIN OR VIRGA...RAIN EVAPORATING
BEFORE REACHING THE GROUND.  THIS COOLER AIR UNDER A CONVECTIVE
CLOUD SLAMS TO THE GROUND...SPREADS OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS AND
PRODUCES BRIEF VERY STRONG AND GUSTDY WINDS CALLED MICROBURSTS.
THE VERY STRONG WINDS WILL LAST FOR ONLY A MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE
DISSIPATING.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jun 22, 5:50 PM MDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
COZ043>045-230100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
550 PM MDT SUN JUN 22 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP EAST OF DENVER...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP DURING THE NEXT HOUR IN

   CENTRAL ARAPAHOE...EASTERN ADAMS...SOUTH CENTRAL WELD AND
   SOUTHWESTERN MORGAN COUNTIES OF COLORADO.

ALL PERSONS IN OR NEAR ADENA...BYERS...COUNTRY GARDENS...DEER
TRAIL...HOYT...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 THESE STORMS UNTIL 700 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

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.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jun 22, 5:51 PM MDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
COZ043>045-230100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
550 PM MDT SUN JUN 22 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP EAST OF DENVER...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP DURING THE NEXT HOUR IN

   CENTRAL ARAPAHOE...EASTERN ADAMS...SOUTH CENTRAL WELD AND
   SOUTHWESTERN MORGAN COUNTIES OF COLORADO.

ALL PERSONS IN OR NEAR ADENA...BYERS...COUNTRY GARDENS...DEER
TRAIL...HOYT...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 THESE STORMS UNTIL 700 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

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 HAtS
PASSED. MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jun 22, 6:40 PM MDT, 35 minutes before
COZ044-045-230130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
640 PM MDT SUN JUN 22 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FORMING IN EASTERN ADAMS AND MORGAN
   COUNTIES...

AT 635 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN EASTERN ADAMS AND MORGAN
COUNTIES.  THE STRONGEST STORM WAS 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF ADENA...OR
ABOUT 14 MILES SOUTH OF FORT MORGAN.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR ADENA SCHOOL...ADENA...BRUSH...FORT MORGAN...
HOYT...LEADER...LOG LANE VILLAGE...SHAMROCK AND TWELVE-MILE CORNER

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 THESE STORMS UNTIL 730 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

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.

INTENSE LIGHTNING IS REPORTED WITH THESE STORMS. IF OUTDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID
USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.

GARD...WSFO DENVER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 23, 5:28 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Arapahoe, Denver, Jefferson47 min
Jun 23, 5:28 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUDouglas47 min
Jun 23, 5:28 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUBoulder47 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.