Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 404, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 20, 2026, 2:30 PM MDT for Lincoln County, Colorado. It was in force for 45 min. 2 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
- Sep 20, 2026, 2:30 PM MDT (20:30 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 20, 2026, 3:15 PM MDT
- In force
- 45 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 Pueblo radar (KPUX), 114 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:30 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 2:37 PM MDT | HAIL 1.5 | 3 W Genoa, CO | Time estimated from radar. |
| Sep 20, 2:45 PM MDT | HAIL 1.25 | 1.5 Sse Genoa, CO | Hail rapidly accumulating. |
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 2 storm reports 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 text
As transmitted.
129
WUUS55 KBOU 202030
SVRBOU
COC073-202115-
/O.NEW.KBOU.SV.W.0404.260920T2030Z-260920T2115Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Denver CO
230 PM MDT Sun Sep 20 2026
The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Northeastern Lincoln County in east central Colorado...
* Until 315 PM MDT.
* At 230 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Genoa, or 9
miles east of Limon, 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. Hail may accumulate on roadways
causing hazardous travel.
* Locations impacted include...
Arriba and Genoa.
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 3925 10362 3932 10362 3943 10315 3927 10316
3912 10316
TIME...MOT...LOC 2029Z 278DEG 20KT 3928 10353
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
MV2 follow-up statements
530
WWUS55 KBOU 202049
SVSBOU
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
249 PM MDT Sun Sep 20 2026
COC073-202115-
/O.CON.KBOU.SV.W.0404.000000T0000Z-260920T2115Z/
Lincoln CO-
249 PM MDT Sun Sep 20 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM MDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY...
At 249 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 4 miles east of
Genoa, or 14 miles east of Limon, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Trained spotters reported half dollar size hail 2 miles
south of Genoa at 1:45pm.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
roofs, siding, and trees. Hail may accumulate on roadways
causing hazardous travel.
Locations impacted include...
Arriba and Genoa.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and has
produced large hail.
&&
LAT...LON 3923 10356 3934 10355 3943 10315 3935 10316
3912 10316
TIME...MOT...LOC 2030Z 283DEG 20KT 3928 10355
HAIL THREAT...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
MV523
WWUS55 KBOU 202111
SVSBOU
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
311 PM MDT Sun Sep 20 2026
COC073-202121-
/O.EXP.KBOU.SV.W.0404.000000T0000Z-260920T2115Z/
Lincoln CO-
311 PM MDT Sun Sep 20 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 315 PM MDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY...
The Severe Thunderstorm Warning that was previously in effect has
been reissued for Lincoln County and is in effect until 345 PM MDT.
Please refer to that bulletin for the latest severe weather
information.
&&
LAT...LON 3923 10356 3934 10355 3943 10315 3935 10316
3912 10316
TIME...MOT...LOC 2049Z 283DEG 20KT 3926 10342
$$
MVWhat 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 Sep 20, 1:42 PM MDT, 48 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- A chance for thunderstorms this afternoon through tonight, mainly over the eastern plains. A few strong to severe storms are possible.
- Expect cooler conditions linger Monday, with more limited shower and thunderstorm coverage.
- Gradual warming returns Tuesday onwards, with generally isolated precipitation chances each day.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 20, 1:42 PM MDT, 48 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 142 PM MDT Sun Sep 20 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - A chance for thunderstorms this afternoon through tonight, mainly over the eastern plains. A few strong to severe storms are possible. - Expect cooler conditions linger Monday, with more limited shower and thunderstorm coverage. - Gradual warming returns Tuesday onwards, with generally isolated precipitation chances each day. && .DISCUSSION /Through Sunday/... Issued at 142 PM MDT Sun Sep 20 2026 It has become unstable over the Palmer Divide and eastern plains with SBCAPE of 400-1000 J/kg. This combined with good shear is expected to produce a few strong to severe thunderstorms. Main area of concern is from the Palmer Divide northeast to Akron to Sterling and eastward. Farther west, subsidence is expected to limit convective activity this afternoon, but this may change this evening. Models have been trending towards scattered to numerous thunderstorms developing over southeast Colorado tonight, after sunset. This activity appears to be triggered by the left exit region of a jet streak moving through. The uncertainty in the forecast is how far north the thunderstorms will develop. The 12Z NAMNest and some of the HRRR runs show storms as far north as the Denver metro area in the 02-04Z time frame. Hail will be the main threat given the steep lapse rates and cooler mid level temperatures. The thunderstorms are expected to continue after midnight over southeast Colorado and then exit the state. Weak riding builds over Colorado Monday bringing dry conditions. Temperatures will be a little cooler than what we have recently seen, but they will be near normal with highs in the mid 70s across northeast Colorado. Models show light precipitation forming over the eastern plains (south of I-76) Monday night. Confidence isn't the highest that we will see rain showers or thunderstorms Monday night, but we have enough moisture and instability for them. If we get enough lift, some showers or storms could develop. The models do show an increasing jet over the area. Therefore, we will include some PoPs in the forecast for this. A closed low will be over southern Nevada on Monday. It weakens and lifts northeast across Utah and Wyoming Tuesday and Tuesday night in the southwest flow aloft. Best lift with this feature is on track to be later on Tuesday with Tuesday evening seeing the best chance for showers/storms. Temperatures warm with highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s. On Wednesday, temperatures will be a few degrees warmer with highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s. Chances for showers and thunderstorms look low at this time, but they can't be ruled out with slightly above-normal moisture lingering around. For Thursday through Sunday, an upper level high will be over Texas and northern Mexico with an upper level trough roughly centered over the Pacific Northwest. This will maintain a southwest flow aloft over the Central Rockies. Models hint at some sort of shortwave trough lifting northward out of the subtropics for Thursday. The timing and location of the trough and its associated precipitation are not agreed upon by the models. However, models are starting to show it will be moist with precipitable water values climbing well above normal reaching 130-180 percent of normal and slightly higher on the GFS. Precipitable water values will stay near or slightly above normal Friday through the weekend. Main chance for showers/storms will be over the mountains, but we could see them spread onto the plains if we get a disturbance or two to help with lift. Temperatures during this period are expected to be slightly above normal, with highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s. Temperatures will be closer to normal on the days with more moisture/cloud cover. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday/... Issued at 1108 AM MDT Sun Sep 20 2026 Expect VFR conditions thru the period. Light and variable winds will gradually become NE in the 19z-20z time period. By 01z winds will become more easterly and then turn more SE by 04z. Overnight winds will go light and variable by 08z. There is a very low chc (5%) of an isold shower at APA and DIA between 03z and 06z. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...BM AVIATION...RPK
The office that day
Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 6:38 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BOU | Arapahoe | 37 min |
| Sep 19, 7:07 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BOU | Logan | 53 min |
| Sep 20, 12:49 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Logan, Phillips | 41 min |
| Sep 20, 1:25 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Phillips | 50 min |
| Sep 20, 2:05 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Phillips | 32 min |
| Sep 20, 3:01 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Lincoln | 44 min |
| Sep 20, 3:41 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Lincoln | 34 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.