Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Pueblo, CO

August 15, 2008Custer County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this tornado warning at Aug 15, 2008, 12:54 PM MDT for Custer County, Colorado. It was in force for 46 min. 2 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 15, 2008, 12:54 PM MDT (18:54 UTC)
Expired
Aug 15, 2008, 1:40 PM MDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Custer County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 109 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:58 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 15, 12:57 PM MDTHAIL 0.755 Se Hillside, CO
Aug 15, 1:00 PM MDTHAIL 1.751 N Westcliffe, CO

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, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 265 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 2008-08-15Temperature 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 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 2008-08-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 49 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
592 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
210 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 KPUB 151854
TORPUB
COC027-152000-
/O.NEW.KPUB.TO.W.0018.080815T1854Z-080815T2000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1254 PM MDT FRI AUG 15 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL CUSTER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...

* UNTIL 200 PM MDT...

* AT 1253 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE STORM WHICH WAS RAPIDLY ROTATING AND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF WESTCLIFFE...OR ABOUT 48 MILES WEST OF
  PUEBLO...AND WAS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT 26 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WESTCLIFFE.
  SILVER CLIFF.
  ROSITA.

DAMAGING WINDS AND VERY LARGE HAIL ARE LIKELY IN THE WARNED AREA.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IN A HOUSE IS IN A BASEMENT...UNDER STURDY
FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...GO TO THE LOWEST FLOOR...IN
AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM...SUCH AS A CLOSET OR
BATHROOM. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER AND PROTECT YOUR BODY FROM
FLYING DEBRIS. ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...OR IN A MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...GO TO A
NEARBY STURDY STRUCTURE AND GET IN A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF THERE IS NO STURDY
STRUCTURE AVAILABLE...AS A LAST RESORT...GO TO A CULVERT...DITCH...OR
OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3825 10512 3790 10543 3811 10558 3825 10557
TIME...MOT...LOC 1854Z 290DEG 22KT 3821 10550

$$
4 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS55 KPUB 151902
SVSPUB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
102 PM MDT FRI AUG 15 2008

COC027-152000-
/O.CON.KPUB.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-080815T2000Z/
CUSTER CO-
101 PM MDT FRI AUG 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM MDT FOR CENTRAL
CUSTER COUNTY...

AT 1258 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH RAPID ROTATION CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS SEVERE STORM WAS CENTERED NEAR
WESTCLIFFE...OR 47 MILES WEST OF PUEBLO...AND WAS MOVING TOWARD THE 
SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. PENNY SIZE HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS 
STORM. SPOTTERS REPORTED STRONG WIND GUSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS 
STORM IN THE WESTCLIFFE AREA.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WESTCLIFFE.
  SILVER CLIFF.
  ROSITA.

NO TORNADO HAS BEEN REPORTED YET...BUT THIS STORM IS STILL ROTATING
RAPIDLY AND COULD PRODUCE A TORNADO AT ANY TIME.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IN A HOUSE IS IN A BASEMENT...UNDER STURDY
FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...GO TO THE LOWEST FLOOR...IN
AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM...SUCH AS A CLOSET OR
BATHROOM. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER AND PROTECT YOUR BODY FROM
FLYING DEBRIS. ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...OR IN A MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...GO TO A
NEARBY STURDY STRUCTURE AND GET IN A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF THERE IS NO STURDY
STRUCTURE AVAILABLE...AS A LAST RESORT...GO TO A CULVERT...DITCH...OR
OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3825 10512 3790 10543 3811 10558 3825 10557
TIME...MOT...LOC 1901Z 300DEG 22KT 3815 10545

$$
000 
WWUS55 KPUB 151909
SVSPUB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
109 PM MDT FRI AUG 15 2008

COC027-152000-
/O.CON.KPUB.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-080815T2000Z/
CUSTER CO-
108 PM MDT FRI AUG 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM MDT FOR CENTRAL
CUSTER COUNTY...

AT 107 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH RAPID ROTATION CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS SEVERE STORM WAS CENTERED NEAR SILVER
CLIFF...OR 42 MILES WEST OF PUEBLO...AND WAS MOVING TOWARD THE
SOUTHEAST AT 26 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WESTCLIFFE.
  SILVERCLIFFE.
  ROSITA.

AT 100 PM THE PUBLIC SAW GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL JUST NORTH OF 
WESTCLIFFE.

NO TORNADO HAS BEEN REPORTED YET...BUT THIS STORM IS STILL ROTATING
RAPIDLY AND COULD PRODUCE A TORNADO AT ANY TIME.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IN A HOUSE IS IN A BASEMENT...UNDER STURDY
FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...GO TO THE LOWEST FLOOR...IN
AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM...SUCH AS A CLOSET OR
BATHROOM. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER AND PROTECT YOUR BODY FROM
FLYING DEBRIS. ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...OR IN A MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...GO TO A
NEARBY STURDY STRUCTURE AND GET IN A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF THERE IS NO STURDY
STRUCTURE AVAILABLE...AS A LAST RESORT...GO TO A CULVERT...DITCH...OR
OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3825 10512 3790 10543 3811 10558 3825 10557
TIME...MOT...LOC 1908Z 298DEG 23KT 3813 10538

$$
000 
WWUS55 KPUB 151928
SVSPUB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
128 PM MDT FRI AUG 15 2008

COC027-152000-
/O.CON.KPUB.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-080815T2000Z/
CUSTER CO-
127 PM MDT FRI AUG 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM MDT FOR EASTERN
CUSTER COUNTY...

AT 125 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH RAPID ROTATION CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS SEVERE STORM WAS CENTERED NEAR ROSITA...OR
38 MILES WEST OF PUEBLO...AND WAS MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST AT 20
MPH.

THERE HAS BEEN A HISTORY OF VERY LARGE DAMAGING HAIL.

NO TORNADO HAS BEEN REPORTED YET...BUT THIS STORM IS STILL ROTATING
RAPIDLY AND COULD PRODUCE A TORNADO AT ANY TIME.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IN A HOUSE IS IN A BASEMENT...UNDER STURDY
FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...GO TO THE LOWEST FLOOR...IN
AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM...SUCH AS A CLOSET OR
BATHROOM. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER AND PROTECT YOUR BODY FROM
FLYING DEBRIS. ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IMPACTED AREAS INCLUDE...
  ROSITA.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...OR IN A MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...GO TO A
NEARBY STURDY STRUCTURE AND GET IN A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF THERE IS NO STURDY
STRUCTURE AVAILABLE...AS A LAST RESORT...GO TO A CULVERT...DITCH...OR
OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3813 10542 3824 10537 3825 10512 3807 10527
      3807 10529 3806 10529 3804 10531 3800 10534
TIME...MOT...LOC 1927Z 303DEG 17KT 3808 10527

$$
000 
WWUS55 KPUB 151940
SVSPUB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
140 PM MDT FRI AUG 15 2008

COC027-151949-
/O.CAN.KPUB.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-080815T2000Z/
CUSTER CO-
139 PM MDT FRI AUG 15 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR EASTERN CUSTER
COUNTY...

HAZARDOUS LIGHTNING MAY STILL BE IN THE AREA.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR 
CUSTER COUNTY UNTIL 215 PM MDT.

LAT...LON 3813 10542 3824 10537 3825 10512 3807 10527
      3807 10529 3806 10529 3804 10531 3800 10534
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 303DEG 17KT 3805 10521

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Pueblo, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 14, 6:52 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBCrowley, Otero39 min
Aug 14, 7:13 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso31 min
Aug 14, 7:42 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso73 min
Aug 14, 8:28 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBBent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero35 min
Aug 14, 8:52 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso2 hr
Aug 14, 9:39 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCrowley, Otero48 min
Aug 15, 12:41 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCuster, Fremont72 min
Aug 15, 2:17 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBPueblo34 min
Aug 15, 3:06 PM MDTFlash Flood WatchPUBAlamosa, Baca, Bent, Chaffee, Costilla, Crowley and 11 more56 hr
Aug 15, 3:12 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBHuerfano, Las Animas63 min
Aug 15, 3:30 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBLas Animas60 min
Aug 15, 3:41 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBAlamosa, Costilla, Huerfano30 min
Aug 15, 4:25 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBLas Animas69 min
Aug 15, 4:26 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBLas Animas119 min
Aug 15, 4:40 PM MDTTornado WarningPUBKiowa, Prowers30 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.