Alert archive / Colorado / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Goodland, KS

May 21, 2026Kit Carson County, Colorado

NWS Goodland, KS issued this tornado warning at May 21, 2026, 7:18 PM MDT for Kit Carson County, Colorado. It was in force for 42 min. 4 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 21, 2026, 7:18 PM MDT (01:18 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 2026, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Goodland, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.5 in

County Kit Carson County, CO

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 86 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:21 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
May 21, 7:48 PM MDTHAIL 2.512 S Joes, COReport from mPING: Tennis Ball (2.50 in.).
May 21, 7:55 PM MDTHAIL 2.57 Nnw Stratton, CO
May 21, 8:10 PM MDTHAIL 1.755 N Stratton, COTwitter photo and video, message said golf ball size. Time estimated from radar.
May 21, 8:10 PM MDTHAIL 25 N Stratton, COImage on Twitter measuring a hailstone. Time estimated from radar.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 21, 2:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 00:00Z, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 255 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 00:00Z on 2026-05-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 00:00Z on 2026-05-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 14 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1093 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
14 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
149 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

358 
WFUS53 KGLD 220118
TORGLD
COC063-220200-
/O.NEW.KGLD.TO.W.0007.260522T0118Z-260522T0200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Goodland KS
718 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

The National Weather Service in Goodland has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Kit Carson County in east central Colorado...

* Until 800 PM MDT.

* At 718 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 12 miles north of Vona, or 13 miles northwest of
  Stratton, moving east at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  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.

* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  northwestern Kit Carson County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid 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.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3957 10290 3957 10235 3932 10237 3938 10293
TIME...MOT...LOC 0118Z 277DEG 21KT 3948 10272 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Dziewaltowski
2 follow-up statements
476 
WWUS53 KGLD 220135
SVSGLD

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Goodland KS
735 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

COC063-220200-
/O.CON.KGLD.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-260522T0200Z/
Kit Carson CO-
735 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL KIT CARSON COUNTY...

At 734 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 11 miles north of Stratton, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

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.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
north central Kit Carson County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid 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.

This thunderstorm is producing accumulating hail, which will make
driving hazardous, similar to snow or ice. If you must travel, be
aware of rapidly changing road conditions.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3957 10280 3957 10235 3932 10237 3937 10283
TIME...MOT...LOC 0134Z 277DEG 21KT 3947 10259 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Dziewaltowski
019 
WWUS53 KGLD 220148
SVSGLD

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Goodland KS
748 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

COC063-220200-
/O.CON.KGLD.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-260522T0200Z/
Kit Carson CO-
748 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL KIT CARSON COUNTY...

At 747 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 11 miles north of Bethune, or 12 miles northeast of
Stratton, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

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.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
north central Kit Carson County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid 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.

This thunderstorm is producing accumulating hail, which will make
driving hazardous, similar to snow or ice. If you must travel, be
aware of rapidly changing road conditions.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3955 10273 3955 10238 3932 10240 3934 10252
      3937 10277
TIME...MOT...LOC 0147Z 277DEG 21KT 3946 10249 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

Dziewaltowski

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 Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 21, 6:12 PM MDT, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • A few severe storms are possible across eastern Colorado late this afternoon and evening, mainly between 5-10 pm MDT. Large hail, damaging winds and a brief tornado are possible.
  • There is a 30% chance that several rounds of thunderstorms may lead to localized flooding in low lying areas and small streams tonight and early Friday morning.
Area forecast discussion, May 21, 6:12 PM MDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
612 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A few severe storms are possible across eastern Colorado late
  this afternoon and evening, mainly between 5-10 pm MDT. Large
  hail, damaging winds and a brief tornado are possible.

- There is a 30% chance that several rounds of thunderstorms
  may lead to localized flooding in low lying areas and small
  streams tonight and early Friday morning.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 1241 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

Today, we have an approaching 500 mb low moving into the region
from the northwest. Down at 850 mb, a low is strengthening as
it come out of the Northern Rockies and a high over the mid-
Mississippi River Valley work together to push ample moisture
into the area. This is keeping us mostly cloudy to overcast all
day, keeping temperatures capped out in the upper 50s and 60s.
As the 500 mb low moves closer, additional vorticity will cause
showers throughout the day, ahead of the main round of storms.
There is a 25% chance that these showers throughout the day
weaken the environment and storms this evening are not severe.
The main round of storms looks to start forming near the
western CWA border around 22-01Z in two segments. The southern
segment looks to largely remain south of the CWA, but may
briefly be a severe threat in Cheyenne county Colorado. The
northern segment looks to form as isolated cells before morphing
into more of a QLCS or cluster threat. When the storms are
isolated, this will present the greatest potential for hail up
to 2.5 inches and a strong tornado. However, there only looks to
be 1-2 hours where isolated cells will dominate before they
become a cluster or line. If the mode is more of a cluster, hail
up around 1.5 inches and 60-70 MPH winds could become the main
threat. If the storms become a QLCS, the threat for 70-80 MPH
winds and brief spin-up tornadoes increase, but the hail threat
decreases. The strongest storms look to be west of KS 27 and
gradually weaken to the east, but there is a severe threat
across the CWA with these storms. Peak intensity looks to occur
between 0-6Z As mentioned before, the storms will persist
overnight, weakening into widespread showers, lasting to around
sunrise. Temperatures are forecast to cool into the 40s tonight,
but may be closer to 50 depending on how high dewpoints remain.
We are expecting the cold front associated with these lows to
push in from the northwest around 8-10Z. Behind the cold front,
expect winds to be from the northwest at 15 kts gusting to
around 25-30 kts. Tomorrow, any lingering precipitation will be
exiting by 15Z and winds throughout the morning will gradually
be weakening. By the mid afternoon, a weak 850 mb high will be
moving over the CWA, and the winds will slowing become more
northerly, then northeasterly. Temperatures are forecast to warm
into the 60s across the CWA. The high looks to remain over the
CWA tomorrow night, staving off the bulk of any moisture return
for most of the night. Temperatures under the mostly clear
skies will drop to around 40, but if clouds do start moving in,
temperatures may remain in the upper 40s.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 120 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

***Synopsis***

Upper-level troughing looks to be moving through the forecast
region Saturday. A surface low to the south of the forecast area
is favored to establish a southerly return flow. This return
feature may last through the end of the forecast period, as GEFS
and EC ensemble guidance favor ridging overhead with troughing
to the west beginning Sunday, and potentially lasting through
the end of the forecast period. There are indications that
southwesterly flow establishes itself overhead by Tuesday
morning, which could allow some shortwave systems to traverse
the area. GEFS guidance is more in favor with this solution than
the EC, as the GEFS pushes the trough across the Western United
States moves eastward faster. This may allow a cold front to
cross the forecast region as early as Wednesday.

***Discussion***

The southerly return flow appears to favor warm and moist
conditions throughout the long term period. Highs look to center
themselves in the 70s and 80s. LREF guidance also suggests that
dew points are favored in the 40s and 50s. Troughing setting up
to the west may support multiple days of precipitation to occur,
especially if southwesterly upper-level flow can eject shortwave
systems into the area. Ensemble guidance is consistent on
Sunday-Thursday having potential for over 1000 J/kg of CAPE (a
measure of atmospheric instability). This could support
thunderstorm development each day. However, LREF mean 500-mb
winds are not expected to get much higher than 25 kts, which
would indicate a marginal severe potential at best for these
thunderstorms. NBM guidance suggests that the greatest
opportunity for precipitation to occur is on Wednesday and
Thursday, where there are wide zones of 30-45% chances of
greater than 0.1 inches of precipitation across the area. This
may be associated with a faster progression of the trough
eastward toward the forecast region, enhancing how many
thunderstorms are able to develop. Even so, the amount of
precipitation any one location receives will be dependent on
where storms track. Light showers to weak thunderstorms appear
to be the most likely scenario at this time for the long term.
One final point to add is that critical fire weather appears to
be a minimal threat. The one exception to this may be on
Tuesday, not because relative humidity values are low, but
because wind gusts may reach the 40-45 mph range. If this
occurs, existing fires may be capable of spreading rapidly.
Otherwise, hazards look to be kept to a minimum next week.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 608 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

VFR to IFR conditions forecast for the TAFs. The storm activity
in East Central CO is expected to move east of CO this evening.
As it does so ceilings will lower to IFR. The lowest conditions
will occur before 6z then improve as the storm activity shifts
east of the sites. These thunderstorms may also produce strong
wind gusts. Due to the recent rainfall blowing dust is not a
concern with these storms.

&&

.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...None.
CO...None.
NE...None.

&&

SHORT TERM...CA
LONG TERM...Davis
AVIATION...JTL
Hazardous weather outlook, May 21, 3:39 PM MDT, 3 hours 39 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Goodland KS
339 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

COZ090>092-KSZ001>003-013>015-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-222145-
Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne CO-Cheyenne KS-Rawlins-Decatur-Sherman-
Thomas-Sheridan-Wallace-Logan-Gove-Greeley-Wichita-Dundy-Hitchcock-
Red Willow-
339 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026 /439 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026/

This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska...
northwest Kansas and east central Colorado.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for eastern Colorado
until 10 PM MT tonight, with the severe threat gradually decreasing
east of the state line. 70 MPH winds, hail up to 1.75 inches, and a
couple of tornadoes are possible with these storms. There is also a
localized flooding threat from these storms.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions.

KSZ004-016-222145-
Norton-Graham-
439 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for northwest Kansas.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 21, 5:23 PM MDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Goodland KS
523 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

COZ092-212345-
Cheyenne County CO-
523 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN CHEYENNE COUNTY IN
EAST CENTRAL COLORADO THROUGH 545 PM MDT...

At 523 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 16
miles east of Karval, or 42 miles south of Flagler, moving northeast
at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southwestern
Cheyenne County in east central Colorado, including the following
locations... Wild Horse and Aroya.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT for
east central Colorado.

&&

LAT...LON 3869 10317 3869 10316 3886 10316 3895 10301
      3872 10284 3861 10313 3861 10317
TIME...MOT...LOC 2323Z 239DEG 36KT 3869 10324

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

JRM
Local storm report, May 21, 5:57 PM MDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
557 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0531 PM     Hail             11 N Seibert            39.46N 102.88W
05/21/2026  E1.50 Inch       Kit Carson         CO   Storm Chaser

            quarter to half dollar size hail.

&&

JTL
Local storm report, May 21, 6:18 PM MDT, 1 hour before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
618 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0607 PM     Hail             9 SE Thurman            39.53N 103.08W
05/21/2026  M1.50 Inch       Kit Carson         CO   Public

            Report from mPING: Ping Pong Ball (1.50
            in.).

&&

JTL
Local storm report, May 21, 7:15 PM MDT, 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
715 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0711 PM     Hail             12 WSW Joes             39.56N 102.87W
05/21/2026  E1.00 Inch       Kit Carson         CO   Storm Chaser

            reported at this location and continued for
            a mile north.

&&

JTL

The office that day

Everything else NWS Goodland, KS issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 21, 6:27 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatGLDKit Carson48 min
May 21, 6:40 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGLDKit Carson4 hr
May 21, 6:49 PM MDTTornado WarningGLDKit Carson41 min
May 21, 7:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDKit Carson50 min
May 21, 8:40 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatGLDKit Carson39 min
May 21, 9:12 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDKit Carson33 min
May 21, 9:42 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDKit Carson24 min
May 21, 10:54 PM MDTAreal Flood WarningGLDKit Carson, Yuma6 hr
May 21, 11:10 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDYuma35 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.