Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 2025
Tornado Warning 31, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this tornado warning at Jul 16, 2025, 6:28 PM MDT for Washington County, Colorado. It was in force for 17 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
- Jul 16, 2025, 6:28 PM MDT (00:28 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 16, 2025, 6:45 PM MDT
- In force
- 17 min
- Issued by
- NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.0 in
County Washington County, CO
The radar
The Denver radar (KFTG), 124 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 2:45 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 388 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 2213 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -10 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2007 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 25 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 17 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 71 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 3.3
The text
As transmitted.
898
WFUS55 KBOU 170028
TORBOU
COC121-170045-
/O.NEW.KBOU.TO.W.0031.250717T0028Z-250717T0045Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Denver CO
628 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025
The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northeastern Washington County in northeastern Colorado...
* Until 645 PM MDT.
* At 628 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a
tornado was located over Akron, moving southeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
Akron and Platner.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built
building away from 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.
&&
LAT...LON 4015 10329 4024 10323 4025 10311 4012 10296
4001 10317
TIME...MOT...LOC 0027Z 321DEG 21KT 4019 10318
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Danielson1 follow-up statement
131
WWUS55 KBOU 170042
SVSBOU
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
642 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025
COC121-170052-
/O.EXP.KBOU.TO.W.0031.000000T0000Z-250717T0045Z/
Washington CO-
642 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025
...TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 645 PM MDT FOR NORTHEASTERN
WASHINGTON COUNTY...
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT
Wednesday for a portion of northeast Colorado.
&&
LAT...LON 4015 10329 4024 10323 4025 10311 4012 10296
4001 10317
TIME...MOT...LOC 0028Z 321DEG 21KT 4018 10318
$$
DanielsonWhat 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 Denver/Boulder, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jul 16, 5:57 PM MDT, 31 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Conditional severe storm threat across the eastern half of the plains this evening. Main hazards will be large hail and strong wind gusts and an isolated tornado.
- Active pattern continues into the weekend, with scattered afternoon showers and storms each day. Best chance of rain across the Front Range/Foothills and South Park most afternoons.
- Trending warmer and drier next week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 16, 5:57 PM MDT, 31 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 557 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Conditional severe storm threat across the eastern half of the plains this evening. Main hazards will be large hail and strong wind gusts and an isolated tornado. - Active pattern continues into the weekend, with scattered afternoon showers and storms each day. Best chance of rain across the Front Range/Foothills and South Park most afternoons. - Trending warmer and drier next week. && .DISCUSSION /Through Wednesday/... Issued at 216 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025 Clouds have slowly eroded this past hour, allowing a brief moment of surface heating across parts of the foothills and plains. Current satellite imagery shows convection initiating over the high country, with a few cells already having some impressive vertical development as they approach the foothills. However, the severe weather threat is still conditional at this time due to the lack of sufficient surface heating. ACARS soundings still show a well-defined cap in place over the plains, and anvil clouds from the mountain convection will continue to block sunlight sporadically. Areas of further destabilization is expected, with SPC mesoanalysis page showing 1000-1500 J/kg of MLCAPE and effective bulk shear up to 40-45 kts over the next few hours. Due to the expected conditions, some storms could overcome the capped environment and increase in severity over the I-25 corridor and into the adjacent plains. Hail up to 2" and winds damaging winds up to 60 mph are possible with the strongest storms. In addition, there could be brief moderate to heavy rainfall causing localized flooding threats. Convection is expected through late tonight, with showers and thunderstorms gradually weakening and ending from west to east. Thursday looks to be much quieter across our area as we will be under weak westerly/northwesterly flow aloft due to an upper level ridge building over the southern US. Orographic showers and weak storms are possible in the afternoon, mainly over South Park and the southern Front Range Mountains, as there will be drier air aloft over northern Colorado. Did not make too many changes to the forecast except for raising temperatures slightly, as hi-res model guidance has been trending towards warmer temperatures. Warm temperatures (90+ degrees) will return on Friday and into next week as the broad upper level ridge amplifies. Ensemble guidance is in good agreement of embedded shortwaves through the weekend, creating daily chances for scattered showers and thunderstorms. Model Skew-T soundings have high LCLs, so gusty outflow winds will be the primary concern. By the beginning of next week, a warmer and drier trend is likely. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday/... Issued at 555 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025 Models have east to southeast winds for DIA this evening and most of the tonight. Some of the models are still showing limited rain showers so will keep a "VCSH" until 04Z for now. Cross sections and soundings on some of the models show the potential for fairly low Stratus, so will keep a SCT010-015 deck in through sunrise for now. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...Ideker AVIATION.....rjk
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 16, 9:26 AM MDT, 9 hours 2 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 926 AM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025 COZ030>051-171530- Jackson County Below 9000 Feet- West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet- Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet- South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/ Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet- South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/ Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties Above 9000 Feet-Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet- Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet- Central and Southeast Park County- Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County- Boulder And Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet/West Broomfield County- North Douglas County Below 6000 Feet/Denver/West Adams and Arapahoe Counties/East Broomfield County- Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet- Northeast Weld County-Central and South Weld County-Morgan County- Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties- North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln County- Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County- Logan County-Washington County-Sedgwick County-Phillips County- 926 AM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025 This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered showers and thunderstorms expected today across our area, with the chance for some storms to become strong to severe along the I-25 corridor. The severity of today's storms will be dependent on how much sunshine we get. Hail the size of ping pong balls are the main threat. However, localized flooding, damaging winds and an isolated tornado are possible. Best chance for severe weather in the Denver metro will be between 2-6 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday 90+ degree temperatures are expected to return by Friday. There will be daily chances of showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 16, 3:13 PM MDT, 3 hours 15 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
313 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025
COZ038-043-162145-
Central and South Weld County CO-Larimer County Below
6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County CO-
313 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL WELD AND EAST
CENTRAL LARIMER COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM MDT...
At 313 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Wellington, or 9 miles northeast of Fort Collins, moving east at 20
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Northeastern Fort Collins, Wellington, Eaton, Severance, Ault,
Pierce, Nunn and Black Hollow Reservoir.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 4060 10508 4070 10505 4078 10496 4070 10461
4049 10472
TIME...MOT...LOC 2113Z 286DEG 19KT 4067 10498
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
DanielsonSpecial weather statement, Jul 16, 3:19 PM MDT, 3 hours 9 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Denver CO 319 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025 COZ042-162200- Northeast Weld County CO- 319 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN WELD COUNTY UNTIL 4 PM MDT... At 319 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9 miles northeast of Grover, or 50 miles northeast of Greeley, moving east at 20 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Pawnee Buttes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening weather conditions. && LAT...LON 4089 10422 4100 10417 4100 10370 4076 10379 TIME...MOT...LOC 2118Z 286DEG 19KT 4097 10412 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH Danielson
Special weather statement, Jul 16, 3:27 PM MDT, 3 hours 1 minute before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
327 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025
COZ041-162200-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet CO-
327 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN ELBERT AND EAST
CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTIES UNTIL 4 PM MDT...
At 327 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Elizabeth, or 31 miles southeast of Denver, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Elizabeth, Kiowa, Ponderosa Park and Franktown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3923 10473 3932 10476 3942 10474 3948 10436
3947 10437 3945 10437 3945 10436 3923 10434
TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 265DEG 19KT 3933 10467
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
DanielsonSpecial weather statement, Jul 16, 4:11 PM MDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
411 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025
COZ042>044-048-162300-
Central and South Weld County CO-Morgan County CO-Logan County CO-
Northeast Weld County CO-
411 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN MORGAN...
WEST CENTRAL LOGAN AND NORTHEASTERN WELD COUNTIES UNTIL 5 PM MDT...
At 411 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms extending from 8 miles east of Pawnee Buttes to 6
miles west of Briggsdale, or extending from 35 miles west of
Sterling to 22 miles northeast of Greeley, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Keota, New Raymer, Pawnee Buttes, Stoneham, Briggsdale, Buckingham
and Cornish.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 4056 10463 4058 10469 4058 10459 4068 10448
4079 10417 4093 10375 4081 10330 4054 10369
4041 10414
TIME...MOT...LOC 2210Z 288DEG 19KT 4080 10383 4070 10411 4064 10444
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
DanielsonSpecial weather statement, Jul 16, 4:13 PM MDT, 2 hours 15 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
413 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025
COZ041-162300-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet CO-
413 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL ELBERT COUNTY UNTIL 5
PM MDT...
At 413 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles east of Elbert, or 39 miles west of Limon, moving east at 20
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Simla and Fondis.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3928 10449 3930 10432 3929 10431 3931 10429
3932 10412 3933 10409 3932 10407 3933 10405
3930 10405 3932 10408 3931 10411 3927 10416
3927 10413 3925 10412 3927 10409 3923 10404
3909 10402 3909 10405 3913 10405 3913 10447
TIME...MOT...LOC 2213Z 265DEG 17KT 3919 10442
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
DanielsonLocal storm report, Jul 16, 6:18 PM MDT, 10 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Denver CO
618 PM MDT Wed Jul 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0550 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 E Union 40.35N 103.44W
07/16/2025 M63 MPH Washington CO Mesonet
Mesonet station CO183 I-76 Merino exit.
0536 PM Hail 2 W Messex 40.41N 103.47W
07/16/2025 M1.00 Inch Morgan CO Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
0541 PM Hail 2 W Messex 40.41N 103.47W
07/16/2025 E2.00 Inch Morgan CO Public
Report from mPING: Hen Egg (2.00 in.).
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 7:26 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BOU | Weld | 3 hr |
| Jul 16, 9:50 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BOU | Adams, Weld | 3 hr |
| Jul 16, 10:02 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | BOU | Boulder, Broomfield, Jefferson | 118 min |
| Jul 16, 10:19 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | BOU | Adams | 3 hr |
| Jul 16, 11:08 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BOU | Larimer | 3 hr |
| Jul 16, 11:29 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BOU | Denver, Jefferson | 2 hr |
| Jul 17, 4:34 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BOU | Denver | 26 min |
| Jul 17, 5:25 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BOU | Denver | 50 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Colorado, 2025Every tornado warning in 2025Tornadoes in 2025
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.