Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 25, NWS Pueblo, CO

August 18, 2009Huerfano County, Las Animas County, Pueblo County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this tornado warning at Aug 18, 2009, 2:01 PM MDT for Huerfano County, Las Animas County, Pueblo County, Colorado. It was in force for 59 min. 4 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 18, 2009, 2:01 PM MDT (20:01 UTC)
Expired
Aug 18, 2009, 3:00 PM MDT
In force
59 min
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Huerfano County, CO, Las Animas County, CO, Pueblo County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 90 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:02 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 18, 2:06 PM MDTFUNNEL CLOUD6 Se Walsenburg, CONUMEROUS PUBLIC REPORTS
Aug 18, 2:11 PM MDTFUNNEL CLOUD8 S Walsenburg, COLOOKING OFF TO THE EAST ABOUT 5 MILES. HILL OBSTRUCTING VIEW OF GROUND.
Aug 18, 2:14 PM MDTHAIL 14 N Aguilar, CO
Aug 18, 2:18 PM MDTTORNADO11 Se Walsenburg, CODEBRIS REPORTED

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

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 18, 12:29 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 12:00Z, 8.0 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 2009-08-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 498 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 2009-08-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 124 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
498 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-120 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1071 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
124 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
138 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS55 KPUB 182001
TORPUB
COC055-071-101-182100-
/O.NEW.KPUB.TO.W.0025.090818T2001Z-090818T2100Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
201 PM MDT TUE AUG 18 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...
  NORTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...
  EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN PUEBLO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...

* UNTIL 300 PM MDT

* AT 201 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE STORM WHICH WAS RAPIDLY ROTATING AND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO OVER EAST CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTY...OR ABOUT 28 MILES NORTH
  OF TRINIDAD...WHICH WAS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT 25 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL IMPACT MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN
  PUEBLO COUNTY...NORTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS COUNTY AND EAST CENTRAL
  HUERFANO COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM MDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO.

&&

LAT...LON 3785 10417 3759 10405 3743 10475 3760 10483
TIME...MOT...LOC 2001Z 252DEG 20KT 3754 10469

$$
4 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS55 KPUB 182008
SVSPUB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
208 PM MDT TUE AUG 18 2009

COC055-071-101-182100-
/O.CON.KPUB.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-090818T2100Z/
HUERFANO CO-LAS ANIMAS CO-PUEBLO CO-
208 PM MDT TUE AUG 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM MDT FOR EXTREME
SOUTHEASTERN PUEBLO...NORTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS AND EAST CENTRAL
HUERFANO COUNTIES...

AT 206 PM MDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD. THIS SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORM WAS CENTERED OVER EAST CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTY...OR 28 
MILES NORTH OF TRINIDAD...AND WAS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT 25 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED WILL BE RURAL AREAS OF EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN PUEBLO
COUNTY...NORTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS COUNTY AND EAST CENTRAL HUERFANO
COUNTY.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH 
CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS...EASTERN HUERFANO...A SOUTHEAST PUEBLO COUNTIES 
UNTIL 245 PM MDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM MDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO.

&&

LAT...LON 3785 10417 3759 10405 3743 10475 3760 10483
TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 252DEG 20KT 3756 10466

$$
000 
WWUS55 KPUB 182021
SVSPUB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
221 PM MDT TUE AUG 18 2009

COC055-071-101-182100-
/O.CON.KPUB.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-090818T2100Z/
HUERFANO CO-LAS ANIMAS CO-PUEBLO CO-
221 PM MDT TUE AUG 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM MDT FOR EXTREME
SOUTHEASTERN PUEBLO...NORTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS AND EAST CENTRAL
HUERFANO COUNTIES...

AT 220 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A TORNADO.  THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS
CENTERED OVER EAST CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTY...OR 28 MILES NORTH OF
TRINIDAD...AND WAS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT 20 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED WILL BE RURAL AREAS OF EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN PUEBLO
COUNTY...NORTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS COUNTY AND EAST CENTRAL HUERFANO
COUNTY.

AT 218 PM A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOTTER SAW A TORNADO WITH 
DEBRIS EVIDENT 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WALSENBURG.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM MDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO.

&&

LAT...LON 3785 10417 3759 10405 3743 10475 3760 10483
TIME...MOT...LOC 2020Z 257DEG 18KT 3757 10459

$$
000 
WWUS55 KPUB 182042
SVSPUB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
242 PM MDT TUE AUG 18 2009

COC055-071-101-182100-
/O.CON.KPUB.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-090818T2100Z/
HUERFANO CO-LAS ANIMAS CO-PUEBLO CO-
242 PM MDT TUE AUG 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM MDT FOR EXTREME
SOUTHEASTERN PUEBLO...NORTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS AND EAST CENTRAL
HUERFANO COUNTIES...

AT 240 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH RAPID ROTATION CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS CENTERED OVER
NORTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS COUNTY...OR 31 MILES NORTH OF TRINIDAD...AND
WAS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT 20 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED WILL BE RURAL AREAS OF EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN PUEBLO
COUNTY AND NORTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS COUNTY.

THIS STORM IS GRADUALLY WEAKENING...AS A STORM ABOUT 6 MILES 
NORTHEAST OF AGUILAR IS INTENSIFYING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM MDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO.

&&

LAT...LON 3746 10463 3770 10457 3785 10417 3759 10405
TIME...MOT...LOC 2041Z 257DEG 18KT 3762 10441

$$
000 
WWUS55 KPUB 182056
SVSPUB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
256 PM MDT TUE AUG 18 2009

COC055-071-101-182106-
/O.EXP.KPUB.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-090818T2100Z/
HUERFANO CO-LAS ANIMAS CO-PUEBLO CO-
256 PM MDT TUE AUG 18 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN PUEBLO...NORTH
CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS AND EAST CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 300
PM MDT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM MDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO.

LAT...LON 3746 10463 3770 10457 3785 10417 3759 10405
TIME...MOT...LOC 2056Z 257DEG 18KT 3764 10432

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 17, 6:23 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBLas Animas67 min
Aug 17, 7:39 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso51 min
Aug 17, 8:19 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso56 min
Aug 17, 8:30 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso31 min
Aug 17, 9:14 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso61 min
Aug 17, 9:32 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso40 min
Aug 17, 9:45 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBFremont, Teller60 min
Aug 17, 10:35 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso55 min
Aug 17, 11:33 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso57 min
Aug 18, 2:06 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCrowley, Kiowa45 min
Aug 18, 12:45 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBHuerfano, Las Animas, Pueblo60 min
Aug 18, 1:24 PM MDTTornado WarningPUBHuerfano, Las Animas, Otero, Pueblo66 min
Aug 18, 1:31 PM MDTTornado WarningPUBTeller38 min
Aug 18, 1:39 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBHuerfano, Las Animas, Otero, Pueblo66 min
Aug 18, 2:16 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCuster, Fremont, Pueblo59 min
Aug 18, 2:26 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBHuerfano, Las Animas64 min
Aug 18, 2:37 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBLas Animas, Otero, Pueblo53 min
Aug 18, 2:44 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso61 min
Aug 18, 2:59 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso, Fremont, Teller61 min
Aug 18, 3:10 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCuster, El Paso, Fremont, Pueblo95 min
Aug 18, 3:29 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBBaca, Bent, Las Animas, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo91 min
Aug 18, 4:02 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso43 min
Aug 18, 4:36 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCrowley, Otero, Pueblo84 min
Aug 18, 5:34 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBBaca, Bent, Las Animas34 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Colorado, 2009Every tornado warning in 2009Tornadoes in 2009

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.