Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 7, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 9, 2026, 7:20 PM MDT for Washington County, Colorado. It was in force for 40 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
- May 9, 2026, 7:20 PM MDT (01:20 UTC)
- Expired
- May 9, 2026, 8:00 PM MDT
- In force
- 40 min
- Issued by
- NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
County Washington County, CO
The radar
The Goodland radar (KGLD), 130 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:20 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 severe thunderstorm 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 nearest sounding before it
N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 00:00Z, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 245 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
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1855 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 46 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -87 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 56 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.2
The text
As transmitted.
957
WUUS55 KBOU 100120
SVRBOU
COC121-100200-
/O.NEW.KBOU.SV.W.0007.260510T0120Z-260510T0200Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Denver CO
720 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026
The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southeastern Washington County in northeastern Colorado...
* Until 800 PM MDT.
* At 720 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles northeast
of Elba, or 13 miles southeast of Akron, moving southeast at 60
mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
* Locations impacted include...
Arickaree School, Elba, Anton, Cope and Platner.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds.
&&
LAT...LON 3998 10341 4017 10311 4011 10279 4000 10279
4000 10280 3957 10280 3958 10313
TIME...MOT...LOC 0119Z 316DEG 49KT 4002 10308
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
092 follow-up statements
998
WWUS55 KBOU 100139
SVSBOU
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
739 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026
COC121-100200-
/O.CON.KBOU.SV.W.0007.000000T0000Z-260510T0200Z/
Washington CO-
739 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY...
At 739 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 12 miles northeast
of Arickaree School, or 26 miles southeast of Akron, moving southeast
at 40 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Arickaree School, Cope and Anton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds.
&&
LAT...LON 3981 10329 4005 10303 4011 10279 4000 10279
4000 10280 3957 10280 3958 10313
TIME...MOT...LOC 0120Z 313DEG 36KT 4001 10306
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
09482
WWUS55 KBOU 100158
SVSBOU
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
758 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026
COC121-100208-
/O.EXP.KBOU.SV.W.0007.000000T0000Z-260510T0200Z/
Washington CO-
758 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY...
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However, gusty
winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.
&&
LAT...LON 3981 10329 4005 10303 4011 10279 4000 10279
4000 10280 3957 10280 3958 10313
TIME...MOT...LOC 0139Z 313DEG 36KT 3988 10287
$$
09What 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 May 9, 5:38 PM MDT, 1 hour 42 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Scattered afternoon and evening showers/thunderstorms likely for the northeastern plains this evening.
- Summerlike warmth and drier weather next week, with highs in the 80s for the lower elevations.
Area forecast discussion, May 9, 5:38 PM MDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 538 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Scattered afternoon and evening showers/thunderstorms likely for the northeastern plains this evening. - Summerlike warmth and drier weather next week, with highs in the 80s for the lower elevations. && .DISCUSSION /Through Saturday/... Issued at 134 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026 Latest satellite imagery shows the shortwave of interest for today moving through Montana and Wyoming with cumulus clouds developing across eastern WY. Today will be a bit warmer than yesterday with highs generally in the mid 70s across the plains. A few showers and thunderstorms are expected for this afternoon, especially for the northeast plains, starting around 3pm. These showers/thunderstorms will be associated with the aforementioned mid-level shortwave embedded in the northwest flow aloft as it moves across NE CO. DCAPE values are expected to be between 1000 and 1300 J/kg this afternoon, meaning any stronger storms could produce gusty outflow winds. A low risk for small hail also exists for the northeast plains given strong shear and modest instability in place as noted in model soundings. These areas are in a marginal (1/5) risk for severe storms. The precipitation chances will transition southward throughout the evening as a cold front moves through the forecast area, but storms should decrease in coverage and intensity with the loss of daytime heating as they approach the Denver metro. The highest chances for showers in the Denver metro - between 30 and 40 percent - will be between 10pm and 2am tonight. Wind gusts could briefly reach 35 to 45 mph as the cold front passes through. Despite tonight's cold front, warm air advection should allow high temperatures on Sunday across the plains to return to the upper 60s and low 70s. A strong ridge of high pressure is still on track to setup near or over our forecast area for most of next week leading to well above- average temperatures through the rest of the forecast period. Highs for the work week will be in the mid to upper 80s for the plains with the northeast plains even having the possibility of reaching the low 90s during the middle of week. The hottest temperatures of the week are expected on Wednesday when the ridge is at its strongest. As noted in the previous discussion, the record high for Denver is 90 degrees F and we have an outside chance of tying or breaking that record. Precipitation chances could increase again by the end of the week, but there is disagreement among the global models on the evolution of a potential shortwave pivoting into Colorado. Elevated to critical fire weather conditions are possible through the week given the dry conditions, but there is quite a bit of uncertainty with how much wind there will be on any given afternoon. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS through 00Z Monday/... Issued at 528 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026 Cold front will move across between 0030z and 01z with gusty north to northeast winds behind it. Wind gusts up to 40 mph will occur with its passage for a few hours. Winds will decrease by 03z and have a N/NNE direction. Will see stratus develop after 03z with ceilings down to 1200 ft. There will be a chance of rain showers between 04z and 08z with ceilings down to 500 feet accompanying the rain. Should see 1200 ft ceilings scatter out by 13z Sun. Winds by 08z will be north and then go light and variable by 13z. Winds by 18Z will be light from the NNE. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...MV AVIATION...RPK
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 9, 2:32 PM MDT, 4 hours 48 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
232 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026
COZ048-092115-
Logan County CO-
232 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN LOGAN COUNTY UNTIL
315 PM MDT...
At 232 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 4
miles south of Logan Corners, or 9 miles southwest of Sterling,
moving southeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Merino, Atwood and Logan Corners.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 4061 10343 4064 10334 4057 10305 4044 10304
4044 10339
TIME...MOT...LOC 2032Z 330DEG 13KT 4057 10334
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
09Special weather statement, May 9, 6:08 PM MDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
608 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026
COZ048-100045-
Logan County CO-
608 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN LOGAN COUNTY UNTIL
645 PM MDT...
At 608 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Logan Corners, or 10 miles west of Sterling, moving southeast 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, Atwood, Logan Corners, North Sterling Reservoir and
Pawnee Pass.
This includes Interstate 76 between mile markers 113 and 135.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 4060 10354 4081 10338 4071 10296 4044 10318
4044 10325
TIME...MOT...LOC 0007Z 303DEG 22KT 4068 10337
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
09Local storm report, May 9, 6:32 PM MDT, 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Denver CO
632 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0546 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NNW Briggsdale 40.64N 104.33W
05/09/2026 M68 MPH Weld CO Mesonet
Mesonet station CO043 Briggsdale.
&&Special weather statement, May 9, 6:45 PM MDT, 35 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
645 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026
COZ048-049-100130-
Logan County CO-Washington County CO-
645 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL LOGAN AND
NORTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM MDT...
At 645 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles south of Sterling, moving southeast at 25 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...
Burdett and Lone Star.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 4044 10329 4056 10310 4044 10271 4044 10278
4039 10278 4012 10313
TIME...MOT...LOC 0045Z 299DEG 23KT 4049 10314
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
09Local storm report, May 9, 7:05 PM MDT, 15 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Denver CO
705 PM MDT Sat May 9 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0436 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 7 N Rockport 41.00N 104.77W
05/09/2026 M64 MPH Weld CO Mesonet
Mesonet station CO128 085s30935rws1rhs - 0.2
Mi S Of W.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 6:08 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BOU | Logan | 37 min |
| May 9, 6:45 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BOU | Logan | 45 min |
| May 9, 7:23 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BOU | Washington | 22 min |
| May 9, 8:19 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BOU | Elbert | 41 min |
| May 9, 9:45 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BOU | Lincoln | 45 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.