Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 404, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

September 20, 2026Lincoln County, Colorado

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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Sep 20, 2:37 PM MDTHAIL 1.53 W Genoa, COTime estimated from radar.
Sep 20, 2:45 PM MDTHAIL 1.251.5 Sse Genoa, COHail 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

$$

MV
2 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

$$

MV
523 
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

$$

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 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.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 19, 6:38 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUArapahoe37 min
Sep 19, 7:07 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOULogan53 min
Sep 20, 12:49 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULogan, Phillips41 min
Sep 20, 1:25 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUPhillips50 min
Sep 20, 2:05 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatBOUPhillips32 min
Sep 20, 3:01 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULincoln44 min
Sep 20, 3:41 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatBOULincoln34 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.