Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 6, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this tornado warning at May 30, 2026, 6:04 PM MDT for Phillips County, Colorado. It was in force for 41 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
- May 30, 2026, 6:04 PM MDT (00:04 UTC)
- Expired
- May 30, 2026, 6:45 PM MDT
- In force
- 41 min
- Issued by
- NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Observed
- Hail
- 0.0 in
County Phillips County, CO
The radar
The Goodland radar (KGLD), 143 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:03 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 6:05 PM MDT | TORNADO | Paoli, CO | Near US Highway 6 and County Road 21. |
| May 30, 6:08 PM MDT | TORNADO | 9 Sse Wages, CO |
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 tornado warning; the first came 1 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 2:13 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 171 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
- 2499 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -10 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1248 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 21 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 32 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 130 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 4.4
The text
As transmitted.
925
WFUS55 KBOU 310004
TORBOU
COC095-310045-
/O.NEW.KBOU.TO.W.0006.260531T0004Z-260531T0045Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Denver CO
604 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026
The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southwestern Phillips County in northeastern Colorado...
* Until 645 PM MDT.
* At 604 PM MDT, a confirmed tornado was located 11 miles south of
Paoli, or 10 miles southwest of Holyoke, moving north at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
* Locations impacted include...
Holyoke, Paoli and Highland Center.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4044 10259 4063 10259 4063 10226 4044 10226
TIME...MOT...LOC 0004Z 173DEG 15KT 4046 10241
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
221 follow-up statement
685 WWUS55 KBOU 310040 SVSBOU Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Denver CO 640 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026 COC095-310050- /O.EXP.KBOU.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-260531T0045Z/ Phillips CO- 640 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026 ...TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 645 PM MDT FOR SOUTHWESTERN PHILLIPS COUNTY... The Tornado Warning that was previously in effect has been reissued for Phillips County and is in effect until 730 PM MDT. Please refer to that bulletin for the latest severe weather information. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM MDT for a portion of northeast Colorado. && LAT...LON 4044 10259 4063 10259 4063 10226 4044 10226 TIME...MOT...LOC 0004Z 173DEG 15KT 4046 10241 $$ 22
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at May 30, 5:39 PM MDT, 25 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Strong to severe thunderstorms through early evening with gusty winds and isolated large hail as the primary concerns, over far northeast Colorado.
- Drier weather will prevail for all areas on Sunday.
- A chance for strong thunderstorms returns for Monday and Tuesday afternoon, with locally heavy rain possible on Monday.
Area forecast discussion, May 30, 5:39 PM MDT, 25 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 539 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Strong to severe thunderstorms through early evening with gusty winds and isolated large hail as the primary concerns, over far northeast Colorado. - Drier weather will prevail for all areas on Sunday. - A chance for strong thunderstorms returns for Monday and Tuesday afternoon, with locally heavy rain possible on Monday. && .DISCUSSION /Through Saturday/... Issued at 213 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026 The previous near-term convective environment forecast seems to be on track for this afternoon, with the main difference being the western extent of NNE flow and dewpoints in the 50s. Current observations show a well-defined N-S theta-e boundary or pseudo dryline extending southwards from the Nebraska panhandle through Fort Morgan, down to Limon. Satellite imagery shows an increase in cumulus east of Denver as well as well as convective initiation already taking place over the foothills, I-25 corridor, and high terrain. To the northeast, dewpoints are sitting in the upper 50s, low stratus has begun to dissolve, and SBCAPE is already >1000 J/kg and increasing. The latest SPC convective outlook for this afternoon has placed Colorado's northeastermost counties under a slight (level 2/5) risk for severe storms, as well as a marginal (level 1/5) risk that extends as far west as Weld County and DIA. The primary hazards associated with this risk will be gusty winds and hail, with the strongest storms (and the better chance for large hail) occurring east of Morgan County and far NE Colorado. A few landspouts cannot be ruled out given the surface vorticity present, as well as relatively low (~900-1300ft AGL) LCLs in NE Colorado. Storm motion will initially be northwards, with more organized convection taking on a northeast-east motion component. Tomorrow appears to be uneventful as the shortwave trough dissipates and zonal flow aloft returns. Afternoon temperatures will be near- average, with low 80s over the Denver metro area. An afternoon shower or isolated thunderstorm cannot be ruled out over the highest mountain peaks, as is typical for this time of year. Low-level moisture will return on Monday as easterly winds advect precipitable water (PW) values in the 0.50-0.80 inch range into north central Colorado. There will be 40-60% chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop Monday afternoon. Model soundings suggests a deeply moist and unstable vertical profile, hinting at the potential for locally heavy rainfall, as well as isolated large hail. Tuesday afternoon will bring another chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms although uncertainty remains regarding the development of low level stratus, which would hinder instability. However, if low stratus are able to clear off early enough on Tuesday, there will be plenty of moisture and SBCAPE (>1000 J/kg) for a few strong thunderstorms to develop. Uncertainty enters the picture on Wednesday given that it is unclear if a shortwave trough will develop over the Pacific northwest, or if flow aloft will turn zonal. Nevertheless, there will be additional chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorms through the end of next week. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS through 00Z Monday/... Issued at 539 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026 Thunderstorms have progressed northeast of the Denver area, ending the threat of storms for the rest of today. Outflow from the storms is expected to result in northwest to northeast winds. At DEN and APA, winds are expected to gradually turn to the south- southwest in the 03Z to 06Z time range. Clouds will decrease this evening becoming mostly clear tonight and for Sunday. South- southwest winds continue into Sunday morning and then slowly turn to the west-northwest 16-18Z. Most models show west-northwest winds gusting to 25 knots after 18Z. Though the GFS throws a curve ball with an easterly anti-cyclonic flow after 18Z Sunday. Opted to go with the west-northwest winds that most of the models show. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...AA AVIATION...12
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 30, 3:39 PM MDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
339 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026
COZ042-043-302215-
Northeast Weld County CO-Central and South Weld County CO-
339 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL WELD COUNTY UNTIL 415 PM
MDT...
At 339 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 5
miles east of Kersey, or 15 miles east of Greeley, moving northeast
at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Kersey, Barnesville, Gill, Cornish and Hardin.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 4052 10451 4066 10439 4050 10415 4048 10415
4028 10442 4032 10454 4040 10461
TIME...MOT...LOC 2139Z 219DEG 20KT 4038 10447
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
22Local storm report, May 30, 5:30 PM MDT, 34 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Denver CO
530 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
520 PM Hail 4 SW Holyoke 40.54N 102.34W
05/30/2026 M0.75 in Phillips CO Public
&&Local storm report, May 30, 5:45 PM MDT, 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Denver CO
545 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
540 PM Hail 3 W Akron 40.16N 103.26W
05/30/2026 M1.0 in Washington CO Public
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 6:28 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Logan, Phillips, Sedgwick | 47 min |
| May 30, 6:39 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | BOU | Phillips, Sedgwick | 51 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Colorado, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.