Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 1997
Tornado Warning 15, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this tornado warning at Jun 13, 1997, 7:07 PM MDT for Elbert County, Colorado. It was in force for 23 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 13, 1997, 7:07 PM MDT (01:07 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 13, 1997, 7:30 PM MDT
- In force
- 23 min
- Issued by
- NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
- Area
- Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction
County Elbert County, CO
The radar
The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 73 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:09 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 2:00 PM MDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 00:00Z, 1.1 hours before the alert went out and 106 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 42 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -47 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1375 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 36 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 81 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 119 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
TTAA00 KDEN 140107 RRA
TORDEN
COC039-140130-
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
707 PM MDT FRI JUN 13 1997
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 730 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO
SOUTH CENTRAL ELBERT
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
MATHESON
AT 705 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM WITH A POSSIBLE TORNADO 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MATHESON...
OR ABOUT 21 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LIMON.
THE STORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MILES PER HOUR.
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW
SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO STRUCTURE
IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT.
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF N~O SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
GARD...WSFO DENVER
LAT...LON 3908 10381 3896 10397 3914 10410 3918 10397What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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, 5 hours 10 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 DENVERSpecial weather statement, Jun 13, 2:54 PM MDT, 4 hours 13 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 DENVERSpecial weather statement, Jun 13, 2:55 PM MDT, 4 hours 12 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 DENVERSpecial weather statement, Jun 13, 4:30 PM MDT, 2 hours 37 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, 1 hour 55 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, 1 hour 40 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 DENVERThe office that day
Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 6:12 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Elbert | 48 min |
| Jun 13, 6:12 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Elbert, Lincoln | 33 min |
| Jun 13, 6:30 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | BOU | Weld | 16 hr |
| Jun 13, 6:57 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Lincoln | 43 min |
| Jun 13, 7:30 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Elbert | 45 min |
| Jun 13, 8:15 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | BOU | Elbert | 30 min |
| Jun 13, 8:47 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | BOU | Elbert, Lincoln | 43 min |
| Jun 13, 9:31 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Lincoln | 44 min |
| Jun 14, 3:53 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Elbert | 42 min |
| Jun 14, 3:55 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Boulder, Larimer | 35 min |
| Jun 14, 4:22 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Larimer, Weld | 23 min |
| Jun 14, 4:26 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Arapahoe, Elbert | 29 min |
| Jun 14, 4:26 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Adams, Washington | 29 min |
| Jun 14, 4:39 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Adams, Arapahoe, Denver | 51 min |
| Jun 14, 4:45 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Weld | 30 min |
| Jun 14, 5:00 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Adams, Arapahoe, Washington | 35 min |
| Jun 14, 5:00 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Elbert | 35 min |
| Jun 14, 5:23 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Adams, Arapahoe, Denver | 52 min |
| Jun 14, 5:51 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Weld | 29 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Colorado, 1997Every tornado warning in 1997Tornadoes 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.