Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 101, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

June 20, 2026Logan County, Weld County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 20, 2026, 9:01 PM MDT for Logan County, Weld County, Colorado. It was in force for 29 min. 1 report 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 20, 2026, 9:01 PM MDT (03:01 UTC)
Expired
Jun 20, 2026, 9:30 PM MDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.25 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Logan County, CO, Weld County, CO

The radar

The Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:01 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
Jun 20, 9:21 PM MDTHAIL 2.259 N Stoneham, COReport from mPING: Hen Egg+ (2.25 in.).

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 20 minutes after it went out.

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 nearest sounding before it

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 00:00Z, 3.0 hours before the alert went out and 269 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, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 00:00Z on 2026-06-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 314 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 00:00Z on 2026-06-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 302 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
314 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-317 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
686 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
302 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
816 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
9.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

282 
WUUS55 KBOU 210301
SVRBOU
COC075-123-210330-
/O.NEW.KBOU.SV.W.0101.260621T0301Z-260621T0330Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Denver CO
901 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  West Central Logan County in northeastern Colorado...
  Northeastern Weld County in northeastern Colorado...

* Until 930 PM MDT.

* At 901 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles east of
  Pawnee Buttes, or 36 miles west of Sterling, moving east at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
           roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Mainly rural areas of West Central Logan and Northeastern Weld
  Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large
hail.

&&

LAT...LON 4073 10396 4094 10383 4092 10353 4064 10357
TIME...MOT...LOC 0301Z 285DEG 22KT 4082 10383

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

63
2 follow-up statements
357 
WWUS55 KBOU 210316
SVSBOU

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
916 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

COC075-123-210330-
/O.CON.KBOU.SV.W.0101.000000T0000Z-260621T0330Z/
Logan CO-Weld CO-
916 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM MDT FOR
WEST CENTRAL LOGAN AND EAST CENTRAL WELD COUNTIES...

At 916 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 12 miles north of
Stoneham, or 29 miles northwest of Sterling, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
         roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
  Mainly rural areas of West Central Logan and East Central Weld
  Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large
hail.

&&

LAT...LON 4070 10384 4090 10373 4087 10354 4064 10357
TIME...MOT...LOC 0301Z 291DEG 25KT 4083 10384

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

63
789 
WWUS55 KBOU 210330
SVSBOU

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
930 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

COC075-123-210340-
/O.EXP.KBOU.SV.W.0101.000000T0000Z-260621T0330Z/
Logan CO-Weld CO-
930 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR WEST CENTRAL LOGAN AND
EAST CENTRAL WELD COUNTIES...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning has
been allowed to expire.

&&

LAT...LON 4070 10384 4090 10373 4087 10354 4064 10357
TIME...MOT...LOC 0316Z 291DEG 25KT 4079 10370

$$

63

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jun 20, 5:53 PM MDT, 3 hours 8 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Critical fire weather conditions are expected for the mountains and high valleys today.
  • Strong to severe storms possible across the eastern plains today and Sunday. For today, very large hail, damaging wind gusts, and a couple of tornados possible across the far northeast plains.
  • Scattered coverage of showers and storms on Monday and most of next week across the plains.
  • Elevated fire weather conditions possible for the mountains and high valleys most of next week.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 20, 5:53 PM MDT, 3 hours 8 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
553 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Critical fire weather conditions are expected for the mountains
  and high valleys today.

- Strong to severe storms possible across the eastern plains
  today and Sunday. For today, very large hail, damaging wind
  gusts, and a couple of tornados possible across the far
  northeast plains.

- Scattered coverage of showers and storms on Monday and most of
  next week across the plains.

- Elevated fire weather conditions possible for the mountains and
  high valleys most of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Saturday/...
Issued at 1259 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

Visible satellite imagery shows mid level clouds over the
northern and central mountains of Colorado indicating mid level
instability. Some weak showers have develop mainly over the
foothills with some briefly making it onto the plains before
dissipating. While a couple of these showers could grow strong
enough to create some lightning, they will stay below severe
limits across all of the foothills and I-25 corridor.

There are two other significant features to note in the
observations and satellite data. One is a DCVZ that has setup over
the far southeast side of the Denver metro. Winds remain from the
northwest to northeast to the north of this boundary with dew
points staying in the low 50s. To the south of this boundary,
southwest winds have developed with much warmer temperatures and
dew points in the 30s. This is the boundary that will create the
initial strong to severe storms today. Storms will begin in Elbert
and Arapahoe Counties and as they encounter much greater
instability in Lincoln and Washington Counties, they will grow
strong to severe. Large hail and strong winds will be the primary
threat from these storms although a tornado cannot be ruled out.

The other feature worth noting is a warm front-like feature that
is an east-west oriented boundary over the border of
Washington/Logan Counties and Phillips/Yuma Counties. Low clouds
have persisted for the entire morning to the north of this
boundary keeping temperatures in the low 70s to upper 60s and dew
points in the low 60s. To the south of this boundary, temperatures
are in the upper 80s to low 90s with dew points in the 50s. The
parameter space near and just north of this boundary is
exceptional for Colorado standards. Mixed-layer CAPE is forecast
to be around 2,500-3,000 j/kg. Deep layer shear will be above 50
knots to the north of this boundary and may approach 60 knots.
Plus, the boundary has greatly increased the low level helicity
with effective helicity values forecast to be 300-400 m2/s2. Any
storm that forms in this area will be capable of very large hail
up to baseball size, damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, and a
supercell tornado. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted
this area in an enhanced risk of severe weather for good reason. A
convective watch will be needed later this afternoon for this
area. The one factor that may limit the chance of severe weather
in this area is a lack of a lifting mechanism during the
afternoon. There is a somewhat significant cap on soundings and
convective initiation this afternoon is uncertain. Storms may not
form until later this evening when storms that initiate north of
Cheyenne, WY reach that area. If storm initiation doesn't occur
until this evening, the main risk would be very large hail.

A shortwave trough will move through our forecast area tonight
and there will be slight subsident flow tomorrow morning. West
winds will mix down in the morning hours which will clear any fog
or low clouds that develop across the eastern plains tonight. A
dryline will setup roughly from Sterling to Limon which may
initiate storms. Mixed-layer CAPE values around 1,500 j/kg will
support the formation of a couple of strong to severe storms to
the east of the dryline. The main threats would be large hail and
damaging wind gusts. Otherwise, temperatures will be slightly
above normal in the Denver metro with a limited chance of rain.

Low level winds will have an easterly component Monday through
Thursday of this upcoming week. This will keep healthy moisture in
place over the eastern plains of Colorado. The moisture and
upslope flow will generate daily afternoon/evening showers and
thunderstorms. This will also keep temperatures below normal most
days. There may be a severe threat from some of these storms but
any details about this threat is unknown at this time.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS through 00Z Monday/...
Issued at 545 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

As forecasted, outflow boundaries have been moving through KDEN
and KAPA causing gusty winds at times. An outflow boundary pushed
through KDEN in the last hour bringing E to NE winds. Just to the
west of the airport, NW winds are occurring (including at KBJC and
KAPA) where a boundary is set up. This boundary could briefly
bring NW winds to KDEN as depicted by some models, but it will be
a close call.

Later tonight, winds will stay gusty with a slight lean to the NNE
as a front pushes through around 04 to 05z. Low stratus clouds
are still in the forecast for tonight impacting all three TAF
sites with ceilings as low as 1000 to 1500 feet starting as early
as 05z and lingering as late as 14z. Ceilings will likely lift
around sunrise as winds briefly turn to drainage. Tomorrow
afternoon, the winds should be out of the NW to N and gusty with
some gusts up to 25 kts looking likely for most of the afternoon.
There is a very low chance of showers/thunderstorms tomorrow
afternoon, but are currently expected to stay south and east of
the terminals.

&&

.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for COZ211>214-217-
218.

&&

DISCUSSION...Danielson
AVIATION...MV

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 20, 3:56 PM MDT, 5 hours 5 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
356 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

COZ051-202230-
Phillips County CO-
356 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN PHILLIPS COUNTY
UNTIL 430 PM MDT...

At 356 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles south of Holyoke, moving northeast 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...
  Holyoke and Pleasant Valley.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 4044 10236 4051 10242 4069 10214 4057 10205
      4044 10205
TIME...MOT...LOC 2156Z 226DEG 18KT 4043 10230

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

63
Local storm report, Jun 20, 4:19 PM MDT, 4 hours 42 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Denver CO
419 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

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

0410 PM     Hail             7 SE Holyoke            40.50N 102.20W
06/20/2026  M1.00 Inch       Phillips           CO   Trained Spotter

&&

KEB
Special weather statement, Jun 20, 5:30 PM MDT, 3 hours 31 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
530 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

COZ044-045-210000-
Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties CO-Morgan County CO-
530 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN MORGAN AND
NORTHEASTERN ADAMS COUNTIES UNTIL 6 PM MDT...

At 530 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Hoyt, or 24 miles southwest of Fort Morgan, moving northeast at 20
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny 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...
  Hoyt, Adena, Leader and Hoyt Beet Dump.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 4000 10415 4011 10415 4019 10393 3996 10378
      3988 10407 4000 10416
TIME...MOT...LOC 2330Z 238DEG 17KT 3999 10408

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

63
Local storm report, Jun 20, 7:58 PM MDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Denver CO
758 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

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

0754 PM     Hail             7 NNW Pawnee Buttes     40.92N 104.02W
06/20/2026  M1.75 Inch       Weld               CO   Storm Chaser

&&

KEB
Local storm report, Jun 20, 8:31 PM MDT, 30 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Denver CO
831 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

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

0821 PM     Hail             8 NE Grover             40.96N 104.12W
06/20/2026  E1.25 Inch       Weld               CO   Public

            Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).

&&

KEB
Special weather statement, Jun 20, 8:41 PM MDT, 20 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
841 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

COZ048-210330-
Logan County CO-
841 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL LOGAN COUNTY UNTIL
930 PM MDT...

At 841 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles south of Westplains, or 17 miles northwest of Sterling, moving
east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny 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...
  Sterling, North Sterling Reservoir, Padroni and Westplains.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 4064 10356 4087 10353 4087 10313 4062 10317
TIME...MOT...LOC 0241Z 272DEG 21KT 4075 10347

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

63

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 20, 7:17 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWeld43 min
Jun 20, 7:35 PM MDTTornado WarningBOUWeld28 min
Jun 20, 7:52 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWeld38 min
Jun 20, 8:03 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWeld27 min
Jun 20, 8:26 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWeld34 min
Jun 20, 8:41 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOULogan49 min
Jun 20, 9:37 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULogan38 min
Jun 20, 10:22 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWeld38 min
Jun 20, 10:46 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan, Weld35 min
Jun 21, 1:19 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUWashington26 min
Jun 21, 1:34 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUPhillips41 min
Jun 21, 1:38 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUWashington37 min
Jun 21, 1:41 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUMorgan49 min
Jun 21, 1:53 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWashington37 min
Jun 21, 2:15 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOULincoln45 min
Jun 21, 2:25 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWashington35 min
Jun 21, 2:28 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULincoln32 min
Jun 21, 4:50 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWashington40 min
Jun 21, 4:52 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWashington22 min
Jun 21, 5:39 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUMorgan36 min
Jun 21, 5:46 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUArapahoe44 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Colorado, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

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.