Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Pueblo, CO

May 18, 2011Crowley County, Kiowa County, Otero County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this tornado warning at May 18, 2011, 5:34 PM MDT for Crowley County, Kiowa County, Otero County, Colorado. It was in force for 41 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
May 18, 2011, 5:34 PM MDT (23:34 UTC)
Expired
May 18, 2011, 6:15 PM MDT
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Crowley County, CO, Kiowa County, CO, Otero County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:36 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 18, 5:58 PM MDTTORNADO5 Wsw Haswell, COSTORM CHASER NOTED BRIEF LANDSPOUT.
May 18, 6:22 PM MDTHAIL 1Haswell, 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, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 161 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 2011-05-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 19 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 2011-05-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 3 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
19 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-37 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
625 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
3 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
99 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.

977 
WFUS55 KPUB 182334
TORPUB
COC025-061-089-190015-
/O.NEW.KPUB.TO.W.0001.110518T2334Z-110519T0015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
534 PM MDT WED MAY 18 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN CROWLEY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...
  WESTERN KIOWA COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...
  EXTREME NORTHEASTERN OTERO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...

* UNTIL 615 PM MDT

* AT 531 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
  STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ARLINGTON...OR 24 MILES NORTH OF LA JUNTA...
  AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ARLINGTON AND HASWELL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3845 10291 3826 10327 3825 10338 3818 10340
      3839 10368 3852 10348 3852 10319 3860 10318
      3862 10314
TIME...MOT...LOC 2334Z 231DEG 20KT 3831 10338

$$
4 follow-up statements
388 
WWUS55 KPUB 182343
SVSPUB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
543 PM MDT WED MAY 18 2011

COC089-182353-
/O.CAN.KPUB.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110519T0015Z/
OTERO CO-
543 PM MDT WED MAY 18 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME NORTHEASTERN OTERO COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA.

LAT...LON 3845 10291 3829 10330 3827 10338 3827 10350
      3838 10358 3852 10348 3852 10319 3860 10318
      3862 10314
TIME...MOT...LOC 2343Z 231DEG 20KT 3834 10333

$$

COC025-061-190015-
/O.CON.KPUB.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110519T0015Z/
CROWLEY CO-KIOWA CO-
543 PM MDT WED MAY 18 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN KIOWA AND EAST
CENTRAL CROWLEY COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM MDT...

AT 541 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ARLINGTON...OR 27 MILES NORTHEAST OF LA
JUNTA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ARLINGTON
  HASWELL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3845 10291 3829 10330 3827 10338 3827 10350
      3838 10358 3852 10348 3852 10319 3860 10318
      3862 10314
TIME...MOT...LOC 2343Z 231DEG 20KT 3834 10333

$$
670 
WWUS55 KPUB 182352
SVSPUB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
552 PM MDT WED MAY 18 2011

COC025-190001-
/O.CAN.KPUB.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110519T0015Z/
CROWLEY CO-
552 PM MDT WED MAY 18 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL CROWLEY COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA.

LAT...LON 3845 10291 3832 10327 3829 10336 3830 10345
      3840 10349 3852 10348 3852 10319 3860 10318
      3862 10314
TIME...MOT...LOC 2351Z 231DEG 20KT 3838 10328

$$

COC061-190015-
/O.CON.KPUB.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110519T0015Z/
KIOWA CO-
552 PM MDT WED MAY 18 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN KIOWA COUNTY
UNTIL 615 PM MDT...

AT 550 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ARLINGTON...OR 31 MILES NORTHEAST OF LA
JUNTA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

STORM CHASERS WHO ARE OBSERVING THE STORM HAVE NOT OBSERVED ANY 
TORNADOES WITH THIS STORM. HOWEVER...LOW LEVEL CLOUD ROTATION WAS 
EVIDENT.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HASWELL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3845 10291 3832 10327 3829 10336 3830 10345
      3840 10349 3852 10348 3852 10319 3860 10318
      3862 10314
TIME...MOT...LOC 2351Z 231DEG 20KT 3838 10328

$$
915 
WWUS55 KPUB 182359
SVSPUB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
559 PM MDT WED MAY 18 2011

COC061-190015-
/O.CON.KPUB.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110519T0015Z/
KIOWA CO-
559 PM MDT WED MAY 18 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN KIOWA COUNTY
UNTIL 615 PM MDT...

AT 554 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF ARLINGTON...OR 32 MILES
NORTHEAST OF LA JUNTA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HASWELL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3845 10291 3832 10328 3833 10342 3841 10346
      3851 10343 3852 10319 3860 10318 3862 10314
TIME...MOT...LOC 2359Z 231DEG 20KT 3840 10323

$$
385 
WWUS55 KPUB 190003
SVSPUB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
603 PM MDT WED MAY 18 2011

COC061-190015-
/O.CON.KPUB.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110519T0015Z/
KIOWA CO-
603 PM MDT WED MAY 18 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN KIOWA COUNTY
UNTIL 615 PM MDT...

AT 559 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
CONFIRMED TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF HASWELL...OR 34 MILES NORTHEAST OF LA JUNTA...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

STORM CHASERS OBSERVED A TORNADO 5 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF HASWELL 
AT 558 PM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HASWELL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3845 10291 3832 10328 3833 10342 3841 10346
      3851 10343 3852 10319 3860 10318 3862 10314
TIME...MOT...LOC 0002Z 231DEG 20KT 3841 10321

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 18, 4:42 AM MDTFire Weather WatchPUBBaca, Las Animas, Prowers11 hr
May 18, 3:34 PM MDTRed Flag WarningPUBBaca, Bent, Las Animas, Prowers28 hr
May 18, 4:53 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBBent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero67 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Colorado, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes in 2011

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.