Severe Thunderstorm Warning 96, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
104 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 /18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday/...
Issued at 1152 AM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

Current GOES-19 satellite imagery show cumulus clouds forming and
moving over all three sites. Additionally, current observations
show a boundary along the Palmer Divide as well as a weak cyclone
centered to the south of KAPA over Douglas County.

Winds are light and near northerly at all three sites with winds
expected to pick up in speed over the next few hours. As the
boundary shifts north and eastward this afternoon, showers and
thunderstorms will fire off starting as early as 19z with the
highest chances continuing to look to be east of KDEN and KAPA. A
shower/thunderstorm over these two terminals cannot be ruled out,
especially early this afternoon. Nevertheless, there is a chance
for wind gusts of about 25 to 30 kts from any outflow boundaries
that could impact these two terminals.

Tonight, winds will stay gusty with a slight lean to the NW
before a front pushes through between 02z and 05z turning winds
to NNE. This front will increase gusts once again for a few hours
at all three TAF sites. Low stratus clouds are in the forecast
again for tonight impacting all three TAF sites with ceilings as
low as 1000 to 1500 feet starting as early as 5z and lingering as
late as 14z. Ceilings will lift by late morning as winds briefly
turn to drainage. Tomorrow afternoon, the winds should be out of
the NW and gusty with some gusts up to 25 kts looking likely for
most of the afternoon.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...Danielson
AVIATION...MV

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
113 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

COZ041-045-046-202000-
Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties CO-North and
Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln County CO-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet CO-
113 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT ARAPAHOE...SOUTH
CENTRAL ADAMS...NORTHWESTERN ELBERT AND EAST CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTIES
UNTIL 2 PM MDT...

At 113 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of convergence
extending from near Byers to near Elizabeth, or extending from 39
miles east of Denver to 34 miles southeast of Denver, moving
southeast at 15 mph.  Brief landspouts may form along this line.

HAZARD...Landspouts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Elizabeth, Kiowa, Strasburg, Byers and Ponderosa Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3935 10470 3962 10440 3982 10430 3973 10404
      3950 10415 3923 10449
TIME...MOT...LOC 1911Z 300DEG 13KT 3976 10421 3957 10428 3934 10453

LANDSPOUT...POSSIBLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

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Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
127 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

COZ045-202000-
Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties CO-
127 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT ARAPAHOE AND SOUTHEASTERN ADAMS
COUNTIES UNTIL 2 PM MDT...

At 127 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles north of Deer Trail, or 38 miles south of Fort Morgan, moving
east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Landspouts, wind gusts up to 40 mph, and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Gusty winds
         could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured
         objects.

Locations impacted include...
  Mainly rural areas of Arapahoe and Southeastern Adams Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3965 10410 3985 10415 3990 10387 3969 10379
TIME...MOT...LOC 1927Z 252DEG 17KT 3974 10406

LANDSPOUT...POSSIBLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

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Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
203 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

COZ045-202030-
Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties CO-
203 PM MDT Sat Jun 20 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT ARAPAHOE AND SOUTHEASTERN ADAMS
COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM MDT...

At 203 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6
miles west of Cottonwood Valley, or 29 miles northwest of Limon,
moving northeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Landspouts, wind gusts up to 50 mph, and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Gusty winds
         could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured
         objects.

Locations impacted include...
  Cottonwood Valley.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3957 10387 3974 10402 3986 10377 3977 10371
      3964 10371
TIME...MOT...LOC 2003Z 235DEG 21KT 3966 10392

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

63