Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 340, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

August 19, 2026Lincoln County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 19, 2026, 7:19 PM MDT for Lincoln County, Colorado. It was in force for 35 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
Aug 19, 2026, 7:19 PM MDT (01:19 UTC)
Expired
Aug 19, 2026, 7:54 PM MDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.25 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Lincoln County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 113 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:23 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
Aug 19, 7:26 PM MDTHAIL 38 Ssw Thurman, COTrained spotter reported hail mostly within the 1 inch range, however there were a few 3 inch hail stones that hit their property. Time estimated based on radar data.

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 7 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, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 289 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 2026-08-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1208 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 2026-08-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 50 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1208 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-52 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1580 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
50 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
200 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
4.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

750 
WUUS55 KBOU 200119
SVRBOU
COC073-200200-
/O.NEW.KBOU.SV.W.0340.260820T0119Z-260820T0200Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Denver CO
719 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northeastern Lincoln County in east central Colorado...

* Until 800 PM MDT.

* At 719 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 15 miles north of
  Genoa, or 20 miles northeast of Limon, moving northeast 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 Northeastern Lincoln County.

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 3957 10316 3955 10315 3942 10315 3942 10350
      3957 10350
TIME...MOT...LOC 0119Z 246DEG 27KT 3949 10345

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

$$

MV
2 follow-up statements
911 
WWUS55 KBOU 200127
SVSBOU

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
727 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

COC073-200200-
/O.CON.KBOU.SV.W.0340.000000T0000Z-260820T0200Z/
Lincoln CO-
727 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY...

At 727 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles southwest of
Thurman, or 25 miles northeast of Limon, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Golf ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
         damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind
         damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
  Mainly rural areas of Northeastern Lincoln County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Anyone outdoors should move to shelter inside a well-built structure
and stay away from windows. This storm is capable of producing
dangerous hail and damaging winds.

&&

LAT...LON 3957 10316 3956 10315 3942 10315 3942 10346
      3957 10346
TIME...MOT...LOC 0119Z 253DEG 31KT 3948 10341

THUNDERSTORM DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

MV
975 
WWUS55 KBOU 200154
SVSBOU

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
754 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

COC073-200204-
/O.CAN.KBOU.SV.W.0340.000000T0000Z-260820T0200Z/
Lincoln CO-
754 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHEASTERN LINCOLN
COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the warned area
into Kit Carson County. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. A
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in southwestern Lincoln County
until 8:15 PM.

&&

LAT...LON 3957 10316 3956 10315 3942 10315 3942 10346
      3957 10346
TIME...MOT...LOC 0127Z 253DEG 31KT 3950 10332

$$

MV

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 Aug 19, 6:04 PM MDT, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Isolated to scattered storms into the evening, with a couple severe storms still possible mainly Palmer Divide area into southern Lincoln County.
  • Summer heat and drier Thursday into Friday, although isolated showers/storms in the mountains.
  • Monsoon moisture returns this weekend and holds into early next week, with increasing chance of storms.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 19, 6:04 PM MDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
604 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Isolated to scattered storms into the evening, with a couple
  severe storms still possible mainly Palmer Divide area into
  southern Lincoln County.

- Summer heat and drier Thursday into Friday, although isolated
  showers/storms in the mountains.

- Monsoon moisture returns this weekend and holds into early next
  week, with increasing chance of storms.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Wednesday/...
Issued at 1242 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

Main concern in the short term is development and strength of
convection this afternoon into early evening. We are seeing drying
in the mid and upper levels spread southward across the forecast
area, but low level moisture is hanging on across the plains. Best
MLCAPE is developing pretty much as expected over the Palmer
Divide through Lincoln County, where MLCAPE has grown to 1000-1500
J/kg. Farther north, the drying will limit overall MLCAPE to just
a few hundred J/kg. Thus, the main threat of any severe weather
would be from the crest of the Palmer Divide through central/
southern Lincoln County through early evening. Farther north,
mainly isolated and less intense storms are expected as there is
still some weak support/instability along and south of the upper
level jet axis.

Convection is expected to end latest over the far southern portion
of our forecast area by mid to late evening, with clearing skies
and temperatures a few degrees above normal overnight.

Thursday and Friday will feature very warm and mostly dry weather
as the upper level ridge starts to amplify and a drier northwest
flow aloft holds over the forecast area. The amplification of the
ridge will support a return of full summer heat, with highs
pushing into the lower to mid 90s across all of the plains and
I-25 Corridor on Thursday. Friday will see even further warming,
with mid to upper 90s well agreed upon by guidance.

Looking into this weekend, ensembles were still in good agreement
that monsoonal moisture arrives as the upper level ridge migrates
ever so slowly eastward. That would put the forecast area in
southwest flow aloft and increased moisture advection. Precipitable
water (PW) values climb to around 150% of normal on average. That
will support scattered to numerous storm coverage in the
mountains each day, at least once the ridge axis shifts slightly
eastward - which should be by Sunday at the latest. That's when a
shortwave moves over the northern U.S./Canada border area,
leading to a little more westerly component aloft. That component
would also aid an increase in showers/storms drifting eastward
onto the plains.

That same relative weather pattern holds through early next week,
which supports daily chances of showers and storms along with
slightly cooler (but still above normal) temperatures. A couple
weak backdoor fronts are possible during this period, which means
a day or two should see highs settle back into the mid to upper
80s across the plains and I-25 Corridor.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday/...
Issued at 547 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

VFR conditions expected through the TAF period. Current radar
imagery still shows showers around all TAF sites so have kept the
PROB30 till 01Z, but most convection should be out of the area by
before 02Z. Winds are currently transitioning to the east and
should gradually turn southeast this evening before returning to
drainage flow by 06/07Z. For tomorrow, expect a typical diurnal
wind pattern. No precipitation or ceiling issues expected.

&&

.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

DISCUSSION...20
AVIATION...MAI

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 19, 7:01 PM MDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Denver CO
701 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

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

0621 PM     Hail             8 SW Deer Trail         39.53N 104.14W
08/19/2026  M1.00 Inch       Elbert             CO   Trained Spotter

            Time estimated based on radar data.

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 19, 6:16 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUElbert44 min
Aug 19, 6:52 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUElbert38 min
Aug 19, 7:24 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUElbert, Lincoln51 min
Aug 19, 8:16 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUElbert, Lincoln35 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.