Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 64, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

May 26, 1998Morgan County, Weld County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 26, 1998, 5:58 PM MDT for Morgan County, Weld County, Colorado. It was in force for 57 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
May 26, 1998, 5:58 PM MDT (23:58 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 1998, 6:55 PM MDT
In force
57 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), 84 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:04 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
May 26, 6:00 PM MDTHail 0.75Buckingham, 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
May 26, 2:45 PM MDTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 12:00Z, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 111 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 12:00Z on 1998-05-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1 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 12:00Z on 1998-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 38 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1671 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
10 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
38 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
37 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.

553 
WUUS1 KDEN 270001 RRA
SVRDEN
COC087-123-270055-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
558 PM MDT TUE MAY 26 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
     NORTHWESTERN MORGAN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST COLORADO
     NORTHEASTERN WELD COUNTY IN NORTHEAST COLORADO

* UNTIL 655 PM MDT

* AT 555 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH CENTRAL WELD AND 
  NORTHWEST MORGAN COUNTIES. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED 13 
  MILES NORTHWEST OF JACKSON RESERVOIR...OR ABOUT 27 MILES EAST OF 
  GREELEY...AND 3 EAST OF JACKSON RESERVOIR OR 31 MILES EAST OF 
  GREELEY.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES PER HOUR.

THIS WARNING REPLACES THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IN EFFECT 
FOR NORTH CENTRAL WELD COUNTY ISSUED AT 530 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 NORTHEASTERN
COLORADO. 

HAIL UP TO 1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...FUNNEL CLOUDS AND BRIEF TORNADOES 
ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THE STORM...PUT YOUR CAR IN A GARAGE AND MOVE TO A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER.

BAKER
LAT...LON 4062 10442 4044 10429 4033 10397 4050 10360
          4087 10382 4100 10409

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 26, 4:41 PM MDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
COZ046-262315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
441 PM MDT TUE MAY 26 1998

...THUNDERSTORM IN
     EAST CENTRAL ELBERT AND NORTH CENTRAL LINCOLN COUNTIES OF
     COLORADO

AT 429 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 13 MILES NORTHWEST OF LIMON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35
MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR LIMON

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND MOVE TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES.

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

TA
Special weather statement, May 26, 4:41 PM MDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
COZ046-262315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
441 PM MDT TUE MAY 26 1998

...THUNDERSTORM IN
     EAST CENTRAL ELBERT AND NORTH CENTRAL LINCOLN COUNTIES OF
     COLORADO

AT 429 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 13 MILES NORTHWEST OF LIMON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35
MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR LIMON

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND MOVE TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES.

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

TA
Special weather statement, May 26, 4:48 PM MDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
COZ040-043-045-262330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
448 PM MDT TUE MAY 26 1998

...THUNDERSTORMS IN A LINE MOVING NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN
    WELD...AND NORTH CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTIES OF COLORADO

AT 443 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES WEST OF PLATTEVILLE
TO 2 MILES NORTH OF FORT LUPTON IN SOUTH CENTRAL WELD COUNTY WAS MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES PER HOUR.

RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL WEAK CIRCULATIONS ALONG THIS LINE WHICH COULD
LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNNEL CLOUDS AND/OR SMALL BRIEF TORNADOES.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR FORT LUPTON...GILCREST...HUDSON...JOHNSTOWN...
KERSEY...LA SALLE...MILLIKEN...MILTON RESERVOIR...PLATTEVILLE...
PROSPECT VALLEY AND ROGGEN

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND MOVE QUICKLY
TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

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

BAKER
Special weather statement, May 26, 4:48 PM MDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
COZ040-043-045-262330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
448 PM MDT TUE MAY 26 1998

...THUNDERSTORMS IN A LINE MOVING NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN
    WELD...AND NORTH CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTIES OF COLORADO

AT 443 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES WEST OF PLATTEVILLE
TO 2 MILES NORTH OF FORT LUPTON IN SOUTH CENTRAL WELD COUNTY WAS MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES PER HOUR.

RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL WEAK CIRCULATIONS ALONG THIS LINE WHICH COULD
LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNNEL CLOUDS AND/OR SMALL BRIEF TORNADOES.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR FORT LUPTON...GILCREST...HUDSON...JOHNSTOWN...
KERSEY...LA SALLE...MILLIKEN...MILTON RESERVOIR...PLATTEVILLE...
PROSPECT VALLEY AND ROGGEN

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND MOVE QUICKLY
TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

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

BAKER
Special weather statement, May 26, 4:48 PM MDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
COZ040-043-045-262330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT           ...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
448 PM MDT TUE MAY 26 1998

...THUNDERSTORMS IN A LINE MOVING NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN
    WELD...AND NORTH CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTIES OF COLORADO

AT 443 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES WEST OF PLATTEVILLE
TO 2 MILES NORTH OF FORT LUPTON IN SOUTH CENTRAL WELD COUNTY WAS MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES PER HOUR.

RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL WEAK CIRCULATIONS ALONG THIS LINE WHICH COULD
LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNNEL CLOUDS AND/OR SMALL BRIEF TORNADOES.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR FORT LUPTON...GILCREST...HUDSON...JOHNSTOWN...
KERSEY...LA SALLE...MILLIKEN...MILTON RESERVOIR...PLATTEVILLE...
PROSPECT VALLEY AND ROGGEN

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND MOVE QUICKLY
TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

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

BAKER
Special weather statement, May 26, 4:48 PM MDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
COZ040-043-045-262330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT           ...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
448 PM MDT TUE MAY 26 1998

...THUNDERSTORMS IN A LINE MOVING NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN
    WELD...AND NORTH CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTIES OF COLORADO

AT 443 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES WEST OF PLATTEVILLE
TO 2 MILES NORTH OF FORT LUPTON IN SOUTH CENTRAL WELD COUNTY WAS MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES PER HOUR.

RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL WEAK CIRCULATIONS ALONG THIS LINE WHICH COULD
LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNNEL CLOUDS AND/OR SMALL BRIEF TORNADOES.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR FORT LUPTON...GILCREST...HUDSON...JOHNSTOWN...
KERSEY...LA SALLE...MILLIKEN...MILTON RESERVOIR...PLATTEVILLE...
PROSPECT VALLEY AND ROGGEN

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND MOVE QUICKLY
TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

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

BAKER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 4:30 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULarimer, Weld35 min
May 26, 4:58 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUArapahoe, Washington32 min
May 26, 5:03 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULarimer, Weld3 hr
May 26, 5:30 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWeld40 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.