Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 2023

Tornado Warning 26, NWS Goodland, KS

May 11, 2023Cheyenne County, Colorado

NWS Goodland, KS issued this tornado warning at May 11, 2023, 4:53 PM MDT for Cheyenne County, Colorado. It was in force for 21 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: May 11, 2023, 4:53 PM MDT (22:53 UTC)
Expired: May 11, 2023, 5:14 PM MDT
In force: 21 min
Issued by: NWS Goodland, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Observed
Hail: 0.75 in

County Cheyenne County, CO

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 69 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:55 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 11, 11:22 AM MDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 232 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: 520 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -87 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 736 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 36 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 46 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

981 
WFUS53 KGLD 112253
TORGLD
COC017-112345-
/O.NEW.KGLD.TO.W.0026.230511T2253Z-230511T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Goodland KS
453 PM MDT Thu May 11 2023

The National Weather Service in Goodland has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Cheyenne County in east central Colorado...

* Until 545 PM MDT.

* At 453 PM MDT, a confirmed tornado was located 10 miles west of
  Weskan, or 10 miles east of Cheyenne Wells, moving northwest at 10
  mph.

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

  SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado near Arapahoe.

  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.

* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  east central Cheyenne County in east central Colorado, including
  the following locations... Arapahoe.

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 outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3885 10210 3880 10217 3889 10228 3895 10218
TIME...MOT...LOC 2253Z 141DEG 9KT 3886 10216 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Trigg

2 follow-up statements

262 
WWUS53 KGLD 112310
SVSGLD

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Goodland KS
510 PM MDT Thu May 11 2023

COC017-112345-
/O.CON.KGLD.TO.W.0026.000000T0000Z-230511T2345Z/
Cheyenne CO-
510 PM MDT Thu May 11 2023

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM MDT FOR EASTERN
CHEYENNE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO...
    
At 510 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 9 miles northeast of Cheyenne Wells, moving northwest at
10 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

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.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
eastern Cheyenne County in east central Colorado.

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 you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3889 10214 3884 10221 3889 10228 3895 10218
TIME...MOT...LOC 2310Z 141DEG 9KT 3889 10220 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Trigg

034 
WWUS53 KGLD 112314
SVSGLD

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Goodland KS
514 PM MDT Thu May 11 2023

COC017-112324-
/O.CAN.KGLD.TO.W.0026.000000T0000Z-230511T2345Z/
Cheyenne CO-
514 PM MDT Thu May 11 2023

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN CHEYENNE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL
COLORADO IS CANCELLED...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 PM MDT for east central
Colorado.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Goodland.

LAT...LON 3889 10214 3884 10221 3889 10228 3895 10218
TIME...MOT...LOC 2313Z 141DEG 9KT 3890 10221 

$$

Trigg

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 11, 2:11 PM MDT, 2 hours 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 11, 2:11 PM MDT, 2 hours 42 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
211 PM MDT Thu May 11 2023

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday)
Issued at 210 PM MDT Thu May 11 2023

Latest upper air analysis shows a closed low over Southeast CO.
Ahead of the closed low was a corridor of rainfall.  The corridor
was moving northeast while the storms themselves were moving
northwest.  The environment is becoming very favorable for tornadoes
to form.  However the environment is too stable for large hail or
damaging winds to form.  The tornado threat will increase through
the afternoon as storms form over the eastern part of the forecast
area.

Early this evening another round of rainfall will move in from the
southwest ahead of the closed low.  Depending on where these storms
are located with respect to the storm relative helicity will depend
on whether they will continue to have a threat for tornadoes.  The
current HREF data shows the better SRH is ahead of the rain
activity.  If this holds, the threat for tornadoes should be lower
with this round in the evening.

More rainfall may move through overnight as the closed low moves
through.  Since this round will be so close to the center of the
closed low, tornado development cannot be ruled out.  This round
should be out of the forecast area by sunrise Friday.

Friday the closed low will move north of the forecast area.  As it
departs there may be some rain activity wrapping around the back of
the closed low over the north part of the forecast area.  Since
models are usually too fast with the speed of closed lows, wouldn't
be surprised if rainfall chances linger around longer tomorrow than
currently forecast.

Friday night there may be a chance for rain over the far northern
part of the forecast area as the closed low departs.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday)
Issued at 210 PM MDT Thu May 11 2023

This part of the forecast continues to be rather blan.  The upper
level pattern has no discernible features aside from the two
ridges over the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast. Because of
this weak upper level pattern, have low confidence in the chances
for rainfall that are forecast. The GEFS and ECMWF both have
rather low chances for rainfall too, which makes sense given the
weak upper level flow. Both of these ensembles actually have the
better chances for rainfall south of the forecast area.

Temperatures will gradually warm through the period as the ridge to
the west slowly builds onto the Plains.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon)
Issued at 1158 AM MDT Thu May 11 2023

IFR to VFR conditions forecast for the TAFs. The lowest conditions
this afternoon through the evening are expected to be under the
corridor of rainfall occurring. This corridor will move northeast
through the forecast area today and this evening. Visibility could
fall to a couple miles in the moderate rainfall for short periods
of time.

Another round of rainfall will move through both sites this
evening. These storms could become more intense than the storms
currently ongoing.

Behind the storm activity clouds will fall to IFR levels
overnight.

&&

.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...Flood Watch through late tonight for KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029.

CO...Flood Watch through late tonight for COZ090>092.

NE...Flood Watch through late tonight for NEZ079>081.

&&

SHORT TERM...JTL
LONG TERM...JTL
AVIATION...JTL

Hazardous weather outlook, May 11, 11:30 AM MDT, 5 hours 23 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1130 AM MDT Thu May 11 2023

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-121730-
Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne-Rawlins-Decatur-Norton-Sherman-Thomas-
Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Logan-Gove-Greeley-Wichita-Dundy-Hitchcock-
Red Willow-
1130 AM MDT Thu May 11 2023 /1230 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023/

This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska...
northwest Kansas and east central Colorado.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...

The entire area is in a slight to enhanced risk for severe
thunderstorms today and into this evening. All modes of hazards will
be possible, including large hail, damaging winds and a few
tornadoes. A tornado watch is in effect for the entire Tri-State Area
through the afternoon. Flash flooding from heavy rainfall will also
be possible, particularly in areas that received heavy rainfall
yesterday. A flood watch is in effect for all counties except for
Greeley and Wichita counties through tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be required.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 11, 4:22 PM MDT, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
422 PM MDT THU MAY 11 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0415 PM     TORNADO          4 SW MCCOOK             40.16N 100.67W
05/11/2023                   RED WILLOW         NE   PUBLIC

            RELAYED REPORT FROM DISPATCH OF A PUBLIC
            REPORT OF A TORNADO ON THE GROUND. COULD NOT
            CONFIRM IF IT WAS STILL ON THE GROUND.

&&

KAK

Local storm report, May 11, 4:38 PM MDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
438 PM MDT THU MAY 11 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0437 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 NNW BLAKEMAN          39.84N 101.13W
05/11/2023  M2.41 INCH       RAWLINS            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED 2.41 INCHES OF RAIN TODAY.
            (12 HOUR TOTAL).

&&

KAK

Local storm report, May 11, 4:46 PM MDT, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
446 PM MDT THU MAY 11 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0441 PM     TORNADO          3 SW WESKAN             38.83N 102.00W
05/11/2023                   WALLACE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED A MULTI-VORTEX TORNADO JUST
            SOUTHWEST OF WESKAN.

&&

KAK

Local storm report, May 11, 4:48 PM MDT, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
448 PM MDT THU MAY 11 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0445 PM     TORNADO          3 SE ARAPAHOE           38.82N 102.13W
05/11/2023                   CHEYENNE           CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED ABOUT 3 MILES
            SOUTHEAST OF ARAPAHOE, CO. TORNADOES ARE
            SHORT LIVED ONLY LASTING A MINUTE OR SO,
            LIFTING, AND DROPPING AGAIN. MULTI-VORTEX
            TORNADO REPORTED.

&&

CA

Local storm report, May 11, 4:49 PM MDT, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
449 PM MDT THU MAY 11 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0445 PM     TORNADO          3 ESE ARAPAHOE          38.83N 102.13W
05/11/2023                   CHEYENNE           CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED TWO TORNADOES 2 EAST AND
            1.5 MILES SOUTH OF ARAPAHOE.

&&

KAK

Local storm report, May 11, 4:52 PM MDT, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
452 PM MDT THU MAY 11 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0451 PM     TORNADO          5 ENE WESKAN            38.89N 101.87W
05/11/2023                   WALLACE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORT OF A RAIN-WRAPPED, WEAK TORNADO THAT
            CROSSED HIGHWAY 40.

&&

CA

The office that day

Everything else NWS Goodland, KS issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 10, 6:18 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GLD	Cheyenne	27 min
May 10, 8:31 PM MDT	Flood Watch	GLD	Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Yuma	39 hr
May 11, 10:31 AM MDT	Special Weather Statement	GLD	Cheyenne	14 min
May 11, 10:37 AM MDT	Tornado Warning	GLD	Cheyenne	23 min
May 11, 11:46 AM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GLD	Kit Carson, Yuma	44 min
May 11, 11:56 AM MDT	Tornado Warning	GLD	Yuma	16 min
May 11, 12:38 PM MDT	Tornado Warning	GLD	Yuma	22 min
May 11, 1:58 PM MDT	Flash Flood Warning	GLD	Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Yuma	6 hr
May 11, 3:41 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	GLD	Cheyenne	34 min
May 11, 4:18 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	GLD	Cheyenne	27 min
May 11, 4:34 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GLD	Cheyenne, Kit Carson	41 min
May 11, 4:41 PM MDT	Tornado Warning	GLD	Cheyenne	19 min
May 11, 4:57 PM MDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	GLD	Cheyenne	21 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Colorado, 2023 Every tornado warning in 2023 Tornadoes in 2023

Sources

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