Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 27, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

May 21, 1998Logan County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 21, 1998, 6:15 PM MDT for Logan 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 counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 21, 1998, 6:15 PM MDT (00:15 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 1998, 7:00 PM MDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Whole counties

County Logan County, CO

The radar

The Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 150 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:15 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
May 21, 2:15 PM MDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 96 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 1998-05-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 600 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 1998-05-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -67 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
600 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-98 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2597 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-67 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
92 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 220015 RRA
SVRDEN
COC075-220100-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
615 PM MDT THU MAY 21 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
     NORTH CENTRAL LOGAN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST COLORADO

* UNTIL 700 PM MDT

* AT 612 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER PEETZ...OR ABOUT 22 MILES NORTH OF
  STERLING...MOVING EAST AT 20 MILES PER HOUR.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...PEETZ

ONE INCH DIAMETER HAIL WAS REPORTED BY A WEATHER SPOTTER 5 MILES 
SOUTHWEST OF PEETZ AT 1805 PM MDT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MDT FOR NORTHEAST
COLORADO.

LAT...LON 4099 103n13 4096 10311 4090 10310 4092 10285
          4100 10287

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, May 21, 12:25 PM MDT, 5 hours 50 minutes before
COZ030-032>050-220600-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER COLORADO
1153 AM MDT THU MAY 21 1998

THIS OUTLOOK PERTAINS TO THE FOLLOWING COLORADO COUNTIES

ADAMS     ARAPAHOE     BOULDER   CLEAR CREEK   DENVER       DOUGLAS
ELBERT    GILPIN       GRAND     JACKSON       JEFFERSON    LARIMER
LINCOLN   LOGAN        MORGAN    PARK          PHILLIPS     SEDGWICK
SUMMIT    WASHINGTON   WELD

SYNOPSIS:  AN UPPER SYSTEM PUSHED EAST OF THE AREA EARLIER THIS
MORNING...BRINGING MORE STABLE AND DRY CONDITIONS...AS WELL AS
DOWNSLOPE WINDS...TO PLAINS ADJACENT TO THE FOOTHILLS.  HOWEVER...AT
THE SURFACE AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WAS OVER SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON
COUNTY AT THIS TIME...AND IS EXPECTED TO MOVE LITTLE THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON.  THE ASSOCIATED WIND FIELD WILL KEEP AREAS EAST AND NORTH
OF THE LOW IN MORE MOIST UPSLOPE FLOW...AREAS TO THE SOUTH AND WEST
WILL BE MUCH DRIER.  SO THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP
OVER THE ALPINE AREAS BY EARLY AFTERNOON WILL DISSIPATED WHEN THEY
PUSH OFF THE FOOTHILLS INTO THESE DRY AREAS.  EXPECT ONLY ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS AFTER 4 PM IN JEFFERSON...DENVER...DOUGLAS...ELBERT...
LINCOLN...ARAPAHOE COUNTIES.

THE UPPER SYSTEM THAT PUSHED THROUGH EARLIER HAS LEFT A FAIRLY
STABLE AREA AT THE MID LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE.  THIS WILL MAKE
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPMENT MORE DIFFICULT...EVEN IN THE MORE MOIST
COUNTIES.  EXPECTED WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AFTER
2:30 PM IN BOULDER...LARIMER...WELD...MORGAN...ADAMS...WASHINGTON
...LOGAN...PHILLIPS...AND SEDGWICK COUNTIES.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED AFTER 3 PM OVER THE FAR NORTHEAST
BORDER C"OUNTIES OF COLORADO.    RJK
Special weather statement, May 21, 4:16 PM MDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
COZ043-044-212245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
416 PM MDT THU MAY 21 1998

...THUNDERSTORM IN
   FAR EAST CENTRAL WELD AND WEST CENTRAL MORGAN COUNTIES OF COLORADO

AT 409 PM MDT THE PUBLIC REPORTED A POSSIBLE TORNADO BETWEEN FORT
MORGAN AND WIGGINS. WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF ORCHARD...OR ABOUT 16 MILES WEST
OF FORT MORGAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES PER HOUR.

THIS STORM LIES ALONG A BOUNDARY WHICH MAY PRODUCE A BRIEF FUNNEL
CLOUD OR LANDSPOUT.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR GOODRICH...JACKSON RESERVOIR...ORCHARD...WELDONA
AND WIGGINS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND
MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES.

ENTREKIN
Special weather statement, May 21, 4:16 PM MDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
COZ043-044-212245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
416 PM MDT THU MAY 21 1998

...THUNDERSTORM IN
   FAR EAST CENTRAL WELD AND WEST CENTRAL MORGAN COUNTIES OF COLORADO

AT 409 PM MDT THE PUBLIC REPORTED A POSSIBLE TORNADO BETWEEN FORT
MORGAN AND WIGGINS. WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF ORCHARD...OR ABOUT 16 MILES WEST
OF FORT MORGAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES PER HOUR.

THIS STORM LIES ALONG A BOUNDARY WHICH MAY PRODUCE A BRIEF FUNNEL
CLOUD OR LANDSPOUT.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR GOODRICH...JACKSON RESERVOIR...ORCHARD...WELDONA
AND WIGGINS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND
MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES.

ENTREKIN
Local storm report, May 21, 5:30 PM MDT, 45 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
530 PM MDT THU MAY 21 1998

...PRELIMINARY STORM REPORT FOR MAY 21 1998...

TIME(MDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0430 PM    18 N NEW RAYMER           CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/21/98   WELD

0430 PM    11 NE PAWNEE BUTTES       CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/21/98   WELD

0435 PM    15 NE PAWNEE BUTTES       CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/21/98   WELD

0445 PM    18 NE PAWNEE BUTTES       CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/21/98   WELD

RAY
Local storm report, May 21, 5:30 PM MDT, 45 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
530 PM MDT THU MAY 21 1998

...PRELIMINARY STORM REPORT FOR MAY 21 1998...

TIME(MDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0430 PM    18 N NEW RAYMER           CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/21/98   WELD

0430 PM    11 NE PAWNEE BUTTES       CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/21/98   WELD

0435 PM    15 NE PAWNEE BUTTES       CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/21/98   WELD

0445 PM    18 NE PAWNEE BUTTES       CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/21/98   WELD

RAY

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 21, 6:13 PM MDTTornado WarningBOUPhillips, Sedgwick22 min
May 21, 7:27 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan, Weld33 min
May 21, 8:01 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan, Weld39 min
May 21, 8:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULogan, Phillips35 min
May 21, 10:36 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Weld34 min
May 22, 11:56 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUBoulder, Jefferson34 min
May 22, 12:29 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUBoulder, Jefferson, Weld46 min
May 22, 12:29 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams46 min
May 22, 1:00 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Weld30 min
May 22, 1:10 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUBoulder, Larimer, Weld25 min
May 22, 1:30 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Weld45 min
May 22, 1:35 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULarimer, Weld40 min
May 22, 1:41 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWeld34 min
May 22, 2:06 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Arapahoe, Denver39 min
May 22, 2:15 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan, Weld45 min
May 22, 2:21 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWeld24 min
May 22, 2:45 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan, Weld45 min
May 22, 2:58 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Arapahoe32 min
May 22, 3:15 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan, Weld40 min
May 22, 3:21 PM MDTTornado WarningBOUAdams, Arapahoe24 min
May 22, 3:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan, Washington35 min
May 22, 4:11 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams34 min
May 22, 4:30 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULogan, Morgan, Washington30 min
May 22, 4:40 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWashington50 min
May 22, 4:46 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Washington44 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Colorado, 1998Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1998

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.