Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 56, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

August 24, 2008Douglas County, Elbert County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this tornado warning at Aug 24, 2008, 5:23 PM MDT for Douglas County, Elbert County, Colorado. It was in force for 37 min. 6 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 24, 2008, 5:23 PM MDT (23:23 UTC)
Expired
Aug 24, 2008, 6:00 PM MDT
In force
37 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Douglas County, CO, Elbert County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 40 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:25 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
Aug 24, 5:31 PM MDTTORNADO5 Sw Parker, COREPORTED BY CENTENNIAL TOWER.
Aug 24, 5:35 PM MDTTORNADOSe Parker, CO
Aug 24, 5:38 PM MDTHAIL 12 Ne Castle Rock, CO
Aug 24, 5:38 PM MDTTORNADO2 Ne Castle Rock, COLEMON GULCH AREA. TREES DOWN. NO STRUCTURE DAMAGE.
Aug 24, 5:46 PM MDTTORNADO4 Sw Parker, COREPORTED BY CENTENNIAL TOWER.
Aug 24, 6:03 PM MDTTORNADO3 W Castle Rock, CONO DAMAGE REPORTED.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 136 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 2008-08-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 2008-08-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 2 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2411 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
2 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
22 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 
WFUS55 KBOU 242323
TORBOU
COC035-039-250000-
/O.NEW.KBOU.TO.W.0056.080824T2323Z-080825T0000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
523 PM MDT SUN AUG 24 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN ELBERT COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO
  NORTHEASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY IN NORTHEAST COLORADO

* UNTIL 600 PM MDT

* AT 521 PM MDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD 2
  MILES NORTH OF CASTLE ROCK...OR 22 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DENVER.
  THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONAY. 

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CASTLE
  PINES...THE PINERY...PARKER...FRANKTOWN AND CASTLE ROCK.

ADDITIONAL FUNNEL CLOUDS AND SHORT LIVED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE 
ALONG A BOUNDARY THAT STRETCHES FROM CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY INTO 
CENTRAL ARAPAHOE COUNTY. 

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 SAFE SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN
THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR
HANDS.

LAT...LON 3956 10454 3927 10478 3935 10501 3956 10477
TIME...MOT...LOC 2321Z 290DEG 4KT 3944 10479

$$

DANKERS
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS55 KBOU 242338
SVSBOU

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
538 PM MDT SUN AUG 24 2008

COC035-039-250000-
/O.CON.KBOU.TO.W.0056.000000T0000Z-080825T0000Z/
ELBERT CO-DOUGLAS CO-
535 PM MDT SUN AUG 24 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM MDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN DOUGLAS AND NORTHWESTERN ELBERT COUNTIES...

AT 535 PM MDT...NUMEROUS TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED SEVERAL 
TORNADOES BETWEEN PARKER AND CASTLE ROCK...INCLUDING AREAS AROUND 
THE PINERY AND FRANKTOWN.  THIS STORM PRODUCING THE TORNADOES WAS 
SHOWING LITTLE MOVEMENT.

IF YOU ARE IN THIS AREA TAKE COVER NOW

LOCATIONS REMAINING IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
CASTLE PINES...THE PINERY...PARKER...FRANKTOWN...CASTLE ROCK AND
SOUTH CENTRAL AURORA.

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.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THEY
WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST
OFFICE IN DENVER.

LAT...LON 3956 10454 3927 10478 3935 10501 3956 10477
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 281DEG 5KT 3949 10477

$$
BARJENBRUCH
000 
WWUS55 KBOU 242349
SVSBOU

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
549 PM MDT SUN AUG 24 2008

COC035-039-250000-
/O.CON.KBOU.TO.W.0056.000000T0000Z-080825T0000Z/
ELBERT CO-DOUGLAS CO-
547 PM MDT SUN AUG 24 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM MDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN DOUGLAS AND NORTHWESTERN ELBERT COUNTIES...

AT 547 PM MDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS CONTINUED TO REPORT A
TORNADO.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PARKER...OR 20 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF DENVER. THIS STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 6 MPH.

LOCATIONS REMAINING IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
CASTLE PINES...THE PINERY...PARKER...FRANKTOWN...CASTLE ROCK AND
SOUTH CENTRAL AURORA.

A TORNADO OVER THE TOWN OF PARKER HAS BEEN CAUSING DAMAGE NEAR STROH 
RANCH AND JORDAN ROAD.  AT 548 PM MDT...NEWS VIDEO WAS SHOWING THAT 
THE TORNADO HAD DISSIPATED.  ADDITIONAL TORNADO ACTIVITY WILL BE 
POSSIBLE ALONG THIS BOUNDARY THROUGH 600 PM.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS
STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES. IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY

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.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THEY
WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST
OFFICE IN DENVER.

LAT...LON 3956 10454 3927 10478 3935 10501 3951 10483
      3951 10482 3952 10482 3956 10477
TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 281DEG 5KT 3949 10475

$$

DANKERS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 23, 9:55 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOULincoln3 hr
Aug 24, 5:22 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUArapahoe, Elbert34 min
Aug 24, 5:35 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUDouglas3 hr
Aug 24, 5:42 PM MDTTornado WarningBOUAdams, Arapahoe48 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Colorado, 2008Every tornado warning in 2008Tornadoes in 2008

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.