Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 11, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

June 22, 1998Washington County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this tornado warning at Jun 22, 1998, 9:11 PM MDT for Washington County, Colorado. It was in force for 34 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
Jun 22, 1998, 9:11 PM MDT (03:11 UTC)
Expired
Jun 22, 1998, 9:45 PM MDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

County Washington County, CO

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 142 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:10 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
Jun 22, 9:36 PM MDTHail 1.75Otis, 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
Jun 22, 7:45 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 00:00Z, 3.2 hours before the alert went out and 44 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 1998-06-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 411 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 1998-06-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 77 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
411 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-44 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2892 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
77 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
121 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

151 
WFUS1 KDEN 230312 RRA
TORDEN
COC121-230345-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
911 PM MDT MON JUN 22 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
     NORTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST COLORADO

* UNTIL 945 PM MDT

* AT 910 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  THUNDERSTORM WITH A POSSIBLE TORNADO 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF OTIS...OR
  ABOUT 11 MILES EAST OF AKRON...MOVING EAST AT 15 MILES PER HOUR.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...OTIS AND PLATNER

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 NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 4029 10305 4012 10310 4006 10280 4026 10279

BARJENBRUCH

What 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 22, 4:45 PM MDT, 4 hours 26 minutes before
COZ030-032>050-230600-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
445 PM MDT MON JUN 22 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:  THE FIRST THUNDERSTORM OF THE DAY HAS CREATED A WIND
SHIFT LINE ACROSS THE DENVER METRO AREA.  THIS HAS LESSENED THE
CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER FARTHER NORTH IN THE GREELEY AND FORT
COLLINS AREA.  THE MAIN AREA FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT FOR THE
REST OF THE AFTERNOON WILL BE IN THE AREA BETWEEN DENVER AND LAST
CHANCE.

FARTHER EAST...THE AIRMASS REMAINS MOIST AND UNSTABLE.  ADDITIONAL
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS EXPECTED THIS EVENING FROM LAST CHANCE
AND NEW RAYMER EAST.  HAIL IN THE ONE TO TWO INCH DIAMETER RANGE
WILL BE THE MAIN FEATURE OF STORMS THIS EVENING...BUT DAMAGING
WINDS...TORNADOES...AND HEAVY RAIN ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

AMATEUR RADIO SPOTTERS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED IN THE DENVER AREA.  YOU
CAN REPORT SEVEVRE WEATHER TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
WHO WILL RELAY THE REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

GIMMESTAD
Special weather statement, Jun 22, 4:45 PM MDT, 4 hours 26 minutes before
COZ030-032>050-230600-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
445 PM MDT MON JUN 22 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:  THE FIRST THUNDERSTORM OF THE DAY HAS CREATED A WIND
SHIFT LINE ACROSS THE DENVER METRO AREA.  THIS HAS LESSENED THE
CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER FARTHER NORTH IN THE GREELEY AND FORT
COLLINS AREA.  THE MAIN AREA FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT FOR THE
REST OF THE AFTERNOON WILL BE IN THE AREA BETWEEN DENVER AND LAST
CHANCE.

FARTHER EAST...THE AIRMASS REMAINS MOIST AND UNSTABLE.  ADDITIONAL
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS EXPECTED THIS EVENING FROM LAST CHANCE
AND NEW RAYMER EAST.  HAIL IN THE ONE TO TWO INCH DIAMETER RANGE
WILL BE THE MAIN FEATURE OF STORMS THIS EVENING...BUT DAMAGING
WINDS...TORNADOES...AND HEAVY RAIN ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

AMATEUR RADIO SPOTTERS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED IN THE DENVER AREA.  YOU
CAN REPORT SEVEVRE WEATHER TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
WHO WILL RELAY THE REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

GIMMESTAD
Local storm report, Jun 22, 8:15 PM MDT, 56 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
815 PM MDT MON JUN 22 1998

...PRELIMINARY STORM REPORT FOR JUNE 22 1998..

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

0414 PM    2 N LOCHBOUIE             CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   WELD

0522 PM    11 E PROSPECT VALLEY      CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   WELD

0651 PM    11 S FORT MORGAN          CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   MORGAN

0727 PM    WIGGINS                   CO   76 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
06/22/98   MORGAN                         MEASURED BY SPOTTER

0730 PM    15 SE FORT MORGAN         CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   MORGAN

0756 PM    3 N PROSPECT VALLEY       CO   1.50 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   WELD                           MOSTLY SMALL STONES
Local storm report, Jun 22, 8:15 PM MDT, 56 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
815 PM MDT MON JUN 22 1998

CORRECTED WIND SPEED IN 0727 PM REPORT

...PRELIMINARY STORM REPORT FOR JUNE 22 1998..

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

0414 PM    2 N LOCHBOUIE             CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   WELD

0522 PM    11 E PROSPECT VALLEY      CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   WELD

0651 PM    11 S FORT MORGAN          CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   MORGAN

0727 PM    WIGGINS                   CO   67 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
06/22/98   MORGAN                         MEASURED BY SPOTTER

0730 PM    15 SE FORT MORGAN         CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   MORGAN

0756 PM    3 N PROSPECT VALLEY       CO   1.50 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   WELD                           MOSTLY SMALL STONES
Local storm report, Jun 22, 8:15 PM MDT, 56 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
815 PM MDT MON JUN 22 1998

CORRECTED WIND SPEED IN 0727 PM REPORT

...PRELIMINARY STORM REPORT FOR JUNE 22 1998..

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

0414 PM    2 N LOCHBOUIE             CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   WELD

0522 PM    11 E PROSPECT VALLEY      CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   WELD

0651 PM    11 S FORT MORGAN          CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   MORGAN

0727 PM    WIGGINS                   CO   67 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
06/22/98   MORGAN                         MEASURED BY SPOTTER

0730 PM    15 SE FORT MORGAN         CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   MORGAN

0756 PM    3 N PROSPECT VALLEY       CO   1.50 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   WELD                           MOSTLY SMALL STONES
Local storm report, Jun 22, 8:15 PM MDT, 56 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
815 PM MDT MON JUN 22 1998

...PRELIMINARY STORM REPORT FOR JUNE 22 1998..

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

0414 PM    2 N LOCHBOUIE             CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   WELD

0522 PM    11 E PROSPECT VALLEY      CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   WELD

0651 PM    11 S FORT MORGAN          CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   MORGAN

0727 PM    WIGGINS                   CO   76 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
06/22/98   MORGAN                         MEASURED BY SPOTTER

0730 PM    15 SE FORT MORGAN         CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   MORGAN

0756 PM    3 N PROSPECT VALLEY       CO   1.50 INCH HAIL
06/22/98   WELD                           MOSTLY SMALL STONES

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 22, 6:12 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan48 min
Jun 22, 7:00 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan45 min
Jun 22, 8:40 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWashington50 min
Jun 22, 10:47 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWeld43 min
Jun 22, 11:27 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUWeld3 hr
Jun 22, 11:31 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan, Weld44 min
Jun 23, 12:14 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan46 min
Jun 23, 12:58 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan, Washington47 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Colorado, 1998Every tornado warning in 1998Tornadoes 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.