Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 37, NWS Pueblo, CO

June 12, 2026Las Animas County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 12, 2026, 3:26 PM MDT for Las Animas County, Colorado. It was in force for 34 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
Jun 12, 2026, 3:26 PM MDT (21:26 UTC)
Expired
Jun 12, 2026, 4:00 PM MDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Las Animas County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 162 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:27 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 text

As transmitted.

035 
WUUS55 KPUB 122126
SVRPUB
COC071-122200-
/O.NEW.KPUB.SV.W.0037.260612T2126Z-260612T2200Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
326 PM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  South central Las Animas County in southeastern Colorado...

* Until 400 PM MDT.

* At 326 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles south of
  Cokedale, or 13 miles southwest of Trinidad, moving east at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Starkville and Raton Pass.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3705 10477 3715 10444 3699 10433 3699 10475
TIME...MOT...LOC 2126Z 256DEG 20KT 3701 10465 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

KTS
2 follow-up statements
489 
WWUS55 KPUB 122145
SVSPUB

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
345 PM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

COC071-122200-
/O.CON.KPUB.SV.W.0037.000000T0000Z-260612T2200Z/
Las Animas CO-
345 PM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM MDT
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS COUNTY...

At 345 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Raton Pass, or
9 miles south of Trinidad, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Raton Pass.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3705 10465 3715 10444 3699 10433 3699 10460
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 256DEG 20KT 3704 10452 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

KTS
896 
WWUS55 KPUB 122156
SVSPUB

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
356 PM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

COC071-122206-
/O.EXP.KPUB.SV.W.0037.000000T0000Z-260612T2200Z/
Las Animas CO-
356 PM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS
COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 400 PM MDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However, small
hail and gusty winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.

&&

LAT...LON 3705 10465 3715 10444 3699 10433 3699 10460
TIME...MOT...LOC 2156Z 256DEG 20KT 3705 10446 

$$

KTS

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 Pueblo, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jun 12, 2:35 PM MDT, 51 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Strong to severe storm potential this afternoon/evening across the far southeast Plains.
  • Warmer and breezy today, with continued critical and near critical fire weather conditions over and near the higher terrain.
  • Trending cooler and unsettled for the late weekend into early next week before a warming trend midweek.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 12, 2:35 PM MDT, 51 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
235 PM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Strong to severe storm potential this afternoon/evening across the
 far southeast Plains.

- Warmer and breezy today, with continued critical and near critical
  fire weather conditions over and near the higher terrain.

- Trending cooler and unsettled for the late weekend into early
  next week before a warming trend midweek.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 233 PM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

A stubborn upper level trough continues to linger over the northern
plains. Shortwave disturbances are rippling down from this flow.
These disturbances are causing an increase in westerly flow aloft
leading to critical fire weather conditions due to dry and windy
conditions for the mountains and the foothills near the I-25
corridor. At the same time, a stationary front is meandering into
the forecast area along the CO/NM boarder. Dew points along this
front will cause dryline to develop in the SE corner of the state
this evening. Ample moisture and upper level shear will allow any
thermal updrafts to reach into upper level instability of about 750-
1250j/kg of CAPE over the eastern plains. Storms have the potential
to form in the Raton Mesas before veering towards the corner of
Baca, Bent, Prowers county. Threats for any storms that do form will
be damaging wind gusts of 60-80 mph, large hail up to 1.5 inches.
The latest convective allowing models also support the very slight
probability of tornadoes with increasing Helicity along the
southeastern boarder with OK and KS.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 233 PM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

Tomorrow, temperatures will be ever so slightly cooler in the mid
80s to mid 90s for the plains. A plume of fairly moist air with dew
points in the 40s will enter the area from the north tomorrow. This
air could help initiate thunderstorm development for the terrain on
the Rampart and Wet mtns with the potential for development on the
Sangre de Cristo and Mosquito mtns as well. Late Saturday afternoon,
a shortwave disturbance will infiltrate the region causing a strong
cool down through Sunday and Monday. Increased chances for showers
exists Sunday as moist air fills into the region creating above
average PWAT values for the entire region. A warming trend sets in
midweek as temperatures rebound back into above normal. Wednesday
even has the potential to reach into the 90s for the foothills and
even possibly the 100s farther east and in the lower Arkansas
Valley.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1131 AM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

VFR conditions are expected for the forecast period. Gusty winds
will develop at all terminals this afternoon. Terminals towards
the SE of the state could experience strong outflow gusts from
distant thunderstorms. These gusts are not represented in the
TAFs due to the low confidence on exact timing and location. The
threat is most likely for smaller terminals in Bent, Baca, and
Prowers county between 21-04Z. Overnight, winds will calm and
veer to northerlies before increasing through the morning. Cloud
coverage is expected to increase heading into tomorrow morning,
yet VFR still remains.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 235 PM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

Critical fire weather conditions remain today for many zones due to
strong winds with gusts over 30mph and relative humidities as low as
the single digits. Red Flag warnings were added to COZ229 and 230
due to increased confidence in gap winds for 229 and the potential
for dry lightning and gusty outflow winds down in zone 230 as storms
pass to the east of the zone.

Tomorrow shows a decreased area of critical fire weather as strong
northerly winds push into the region carrying fairly moist air over
the eastern portions of the forecast area. Pueblo County seems to be
in the perfect mix of receiving many of these strong winds yet still
remaining in critical RH values during the daytime hours. The Upper
Arkansas Valley will also experience critical weather as gap and
foehn winds cause Red Flag conditions for zone COZ220.

A cold front passing Sunday will decrease the fire weather risk
early next week yet more critical conditions are forecasted to
return mid next week as a strong warming trend takes effect.

&&

.PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for COZ220-
222>224-229-230.
Red Flag Warning from 11 AM to 7 PM MDT Saturday for COZ220-
228.

&&

SHORT TERM...DS
LONG TERM...DS
AVIATION...DS
FIRE WEATHER...DS
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 12, 12:04 PM MDT, 3 hours 22 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1204 PM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

COZ058>089-093>099-131815-
Western Mosquito Range/East Lake County Above 11000 Feet-
Leadville Vicinity/Lake County Below 11000 Feet-
Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Western Chaffee County Between 9000 and 11000 Feet-
Central Chaffee County Below 9000 Feet-
Western Mosquito Range/East Chaffee County Above 9000 Feet-
Saguache County West of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet-
Saguache County East of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet-
La Garita Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Upper Rio Grande Valley/Eastern San Juan Mountains Below
10000 Feet-Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Del Norte Vicinity/Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Alamosa  Vicinity/Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Southern San Luis Valley-
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 And 11000 Feet-
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 7500 and 11000 Feet-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Northwestern Fremont County Above 8500 Feet-
Western/Central Fremont County Below 8500 Feet-
Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Wet Mountains between 6300 and 10000 Feet-
Wet Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Teller County/Rampart Range Above 7500 Feet/Pikes Peak Between
7500 And 11000 Feet-Pikes Peak Above 11000 Feet-
Canon City Vicinity/Eastern Fremont County-
Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range Below
7500 Feet-
Colorado Springs Vicinity/Southern El Paso County/Rampart Range
Below 7400 Feet-Pueblo Vicinity/Pueblo County Below 6300 Feet-
Walsenburg Vicinity/Upper Huerfano River Basin Below 7500 Feet-
Trinidad Vicinity/Western Las Animas County Below 7500 Feet-
Crowley County-La Junta Vicinity/Otero County-
Eastern Las Animas County-Western Kiowa County-
Eastern Kiowa County-Las Animas Vicinity/Bent County-
Lamar Vicinity/Prowers County-Springfield Vicinity/Baca County-
1204 PM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east
central...south central and southeast Colorado.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Strong to severe storms are possible this afternoon across the
southeast Plains, especially east of US-350. Storm threats
include damaging wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph, large hail up to 1.5
inches in diameter, along with the very slight but non-zero
potential for a tornado in the southeast corner of Colorado.

Elsewhere, dry and windy critical fire weather conditions will
develop across portions of the forecast area. A Red Flag Warning
is in place until 8 PM across the Central and Southwest
mountains, the San Luis Valley and into the gap flow areas of the
middle Arkansas River Valley, Fremont county as well as for the
I-25 corridor in Huerfano and Las Animas County.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

A passing front increases the chances of showers and storms
across Eastern Colorado on Saturday. Dry and breezy conditions
continue to create critical fire weather conditions across the
Central mountains and into the middle Arkansas River Valley once
again.

Much cooler and unsettled weather is predicted for Sunday into
early next week. Warmer and drier conditions return for the entire
area by the middle and end of next week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will
be possible over portions of the region.

DS/DS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 12, 3:04 PM MDT, 22 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
304 PM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

COZ074-088-122130-
Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Between 7500 and 11000 Ft CO-
Trinidad Vicinity/Western Las Animas County Below 7500 Ft CO-
304 PM MDT Fri Jun 12 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS COUNTY
THROUGH 330 PM MDT...

At 304 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles south of Cokedale, or 13 miles southwest of Trinidad, moving
east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Trinidad, Starkville, and Raton Pass.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3708 10480 3721 10435 3699 10427 3699 10480
TIME...MOT...LOC 2104Z 261DEG 30KT 3703 10467

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

KTS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Pueblo, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 12, 2:32 PM MDTRed Flag WarningPUBChaffee, Lake, Pueblo28 hr
Jun 12, 3:04 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBLas Animas26 min
Jun 12, 3:56 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBLas Animas34 min
Jun 12, 4:56 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBLas Animas34 min
Jun 12, 5:45 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBBent30 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.