Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 2015

Tornado Warning 23, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

June 4, 2015Elbert County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this tornado warning at Jun 4, 2015, 5:16 PM MDT for Elbert County, Colorado. It was in force for 29 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: Jun 4, 2015, 5:16 PM MDT (23:16 UTC)
Expired: Jun 4, 2015, 5:45 PM MDT
In force: 29 min
Issued by: NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Observed
Hail: 1.25 in

County Elbert County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:15 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jun 4, 5:18 PM MDT	TORNADO	1 N Simla, CO	THE SAME TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN FOR A SECOND TIME.
Jun 4, 5:31 PM MDT	TORNADO	2 Wnw Simla, CO	LARGE TORNADO ON THE GROUND.
Jun 4, 5:40 PM MDT	HAIL 2.75	1 W Simla, CO
Jun 4, 5:45 PM MDT	TORNADO	1 Wsw Simla, CO	LARGE TORNADO REMAINED ON THE GROUND FROM 531-545 PM MDT.

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jun 4, 2:20 PM MDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDEN), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 109 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1510 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -159 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 900 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 89 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 31 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

838 
WFUS55 KBOU 042316
TORBOU
COC039-042345-
/O.NEW.KBOU.TO.W.0023.150604T2316Z-150604T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
516 PM MDT THU JUN 4 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN ELBERT COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO...

* UNTIL 545 PM MDT
    
* AT 516 PM MDT...A TORNADO PRODUCING STORM WAS LOCATED OVER SIMLA...
  OR 23 MILES WEST OF LIMON...MOVING SOUTH AT 5 MPH.

  HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO AND HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL. 

  SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

  IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
           SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. 
           DAMAGE TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE 
           DAMAGE IS LIKELY. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SIMLA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3913 10417 3921 10418 3922 10401 3913 10403
TIME...MOT...LOC 2316Z 344DEG 5KT 3916 10411 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.25IN

$$

RPK

4 follow-up statements

416 
WWUS55 KBOU 042329
SVSBOU

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
529 PM MDT THU JUN 4 2015

COC039-042345-
/O.CON.KBOU.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-150604T2345Z/
ELBERT CO-
529 PM MDT THU JUN 4 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM MDT FOR SOUTHERN
ELBERT COUNTY...
    
AT 529 PM MDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED OVER SIMLA...OR 24 MILES WEST OF LIMON...MOVING SOUTH AT
10 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL. 

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION. 

IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
         SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE 
         TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE DAMAGE IS 
         LIKELY. 

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SIMLA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR 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 3919 10418 3920 10401 3913 10403 3913 10417
TIME...MOT...LOC 2329Z 001DEG 7KT 3914 10411 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.50IN

$$

RPK

541 
WWUS55 KBOU 042334
SVSBOU

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
534 PM MDT THU JUN 4 2015

COC039-042345-
/O.CON.KBOU.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-150604T2345Z/
ELBERT CO-
534 PM MDT THU JUN 4 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM MDT FOR SOUTHERN
ELBERT COUNTY...
        
AT 534 PM MDT...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS
LOCATED OVER RAMAH...OR 27 MILES WEST OF LIMON...MOVING SOUTH AT 10
MPH.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO. 

SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY 
         BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES 
         WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO 
         HOMES...BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE 
         DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE. 

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SIMLA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE
TO A BASEMENT OR 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 3918 10418 3918 10404 3913 10405 3913 10417
TIME...MOT...LOC 2334Z 001DEG 9KT 3913 10417 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

RPK

566 
WWUS55 KBOU 042336 CCA
SVSBOU

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
536 PM MDT THU JUN 4 2015

COC039-042345-
/O.COR.KBOU.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-150604T2345Z/
ELBERT CO-
536 PM MDT THU JUN 4 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM MDT FOR SOUTHERN
ELBERT COUNTY...
        
AT 536 PM MDT...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO 
WAS LOCATED JUST NORTH OF RAMAH ALONG THE ELBERT...ELPASO COUNTY 
LINE...OR 27 MILES WEST OF LIMON...MOVING SOUTH AT 10 MPH.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO. 

SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY 
         BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES 
         WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO 
         HOMES...BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE 
         DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE. 

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SIMLA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE
TO A BASEMENT OR 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 3918 10418 3918 10404 3913 10405 3913 10417
TIME...MOT...LOC 2334Z 001DEG 9KT 3913 10417 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

RJK

256 
WWUS55 KBOU 042346
SVSBOU

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
546 PM MDT THU JUN 4 2015

COC039-042356-
/O.EXP.KBOU.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-150604T2345Z/
ELBERT CO-
546 PM MDT THU JUN 4 2015

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHERN ELBERT COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...
        
THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA. 
THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.  HOWEVER HAIL AND 
GUSTY WINDS ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM MDT FOR EAST CENTRAL
COLORADO.

LAT...LON 3918 10418 3918 10404 3913 10405 3913 10417
TIME...MOT...LOC 2345Z 001DEG 9KT 3913 10417 

$$

RPK

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 3, 6:02 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert	43 min
Jun 3, 6:29 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Clear Creek, Jefferson	46 min
Jun 3, 6:41 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Elbert	64 min
Jun 3, 7:16 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BOU	Denver	44 min
Jun 3, 7:18 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Boulder, Larimer, Weld	15 min
Jun 3, 7:45 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Adams, Arapahoe	45 min
Jun 3, 7:46 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BOU	Elbert	44 min
Jun 3, 7:58 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Weld	32 min
Jun 3, 8:13 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Larimer	32 min
Jun 3, 8:29 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Adams, Arapahoe	61 min
Jun 3, 8:33 PM MDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BOU	Arapahoe	117 min
Jun 3, 9:15 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Adams, Arapahoe	34 min
Jun 3, 10:43 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Lincoln	47 min
Jun 3, 11:16 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BOU	Weld	44 min
Jun 3, 11:29 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Lincoln	46 min
Jun 3, 11:48 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Weld	27 min
Jun 4, 12:01 AM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Weld	44 min
Jun 4, 2:24 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BOU	Elbert	51 min
Jun 4, 3:46 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Elbert	29 min
Jun 4, 4:28 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Adams, Denver	24 min
Jun 4, 4:47 PM MDT	Tornado Warning	BOU	Adams	13 min
Jun 4, 4:48 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Elbert	27 min
Jun 4, 5:03 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Adams	27 min
Jun 4, 5:05 PM MDT	Tornado Warning	BOU	Elbert	25 min
Jun 4, 5:49 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Elbert	26 min
Jun 4, 5:54 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOU	Larimer, Weld	51 min
Jun 4, 5:58 PM MDT	Tornado Warning	BOU	Elbert	32 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Colorado, 2015 Every tornado warning in 2015 Tornadoes in 2015

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.