Tornadoes and Hail in Colorado, July 16, 1994

July 16, 1994 · 36 events in 5 counties and zones

19 hail, 12 tornado, 5 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 35 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $3.7 million
Crop damage: $911,000
Events: 36

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

Event by event

19 hail, 12 tornado, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, El Paso

When: July 16, 2:10 PM MST
Where: El Paso County, Ellicott
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.832, -104.526 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, El Paso

When: July 16, 2:20 PM MST
Where: El Paso County, Rush
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.832, -104.526 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Larimer

When: July 16, 2:20 PM MST to 2:30 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Virginia Dale
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Golf ball-size hail caused considerable damage to crops and gardens east northeast of Virginia Dale (23 miles north northwest of Fort Collins).

Hail, Larimer

When: July 16, 2:33 PM MST to 2:40 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Virginia Dale
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Golf ball-size hail covered the ground east northeast of Virginia Dale, causing considerable crop damage.

Hail, Larimer

When: July 16, 2:53 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Virginia Dale
Measured: 2 in hail
Property damage: $500,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail up to baseball-size caused considerable damage to buildings and vehicles, as well as crops, over portions of Larimer County.

Hail, Larimer

When: July 16, 2:55 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Fort Collins
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $500
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail up to baseball-size caused considerable damage to buildings and vehicles, as well as crops, over portions of Larimer County.

Hail, Larimer

When: July 16, 2:55 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Virginia Dale
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail up to baseball-size caused considerable damage to buildings and vehicles, as well as crops, over portions of Larimer County.

Hail, Larimer

When: July 16, 3:00 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Wellington
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $500,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail up to baseball-size caused considerable damage to buildings and vehicles, as well as crops, over portions of Larimer County.

Hail, Larimer

When: July 16, 3:00 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Wellington
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Property damage: $500,000
Crop damage: $500,000
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail up to baseball-size caused considerable damage to buildings and vehicles, as well as crops, over portions of Larimer County.

Tornado, Larimer

When: July 16, 3:00 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Wellington
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported two brief tornado touchdowns north and west of Wellington (nine miles northeast of Fort Collins). The tornadoes touched down in open fields, with no damage or injuries reported.

Tornado, Larimer

When: July 16, 3:24 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Wellington
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported two brief tornado touchdowns north and west of Wellington (nine miles northeast of Fort Collins). The tornadoes touched down in open fields, with no damage or injuries reported.

Hail, Larimer

When: July 16, 3:36 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Wellington
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Weld

When: July 16, 3:40 PM MST
Where: Weld County, Eaton
Measured: 2 in hail
Property damage: $500,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.555, -104.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail up to two inches in diameter caused considerable damage to buildings and vehicles as well as crops over portions of Weld and Larimer Counties.

Hail, Weld

When: July 16, 3:45 PM MST
Where: Weld County, Eaton
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $500,000
Coordinates: 40.555, -104.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail up to tennis ball-size caused considerable damage to homes and businesses as well as vehicles in Eaton (20 miles east southeast of Fort Collins).

Tornado, Larimer

When: July 16, 3:45 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Fort Collins
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported a brief tornado touchdown in an open field northwest of Fort Collins. No damage or injuries was reported.

Hail, Prowers

When: July 16, 3:55 PM MST
Where: Prowers County, Holly
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Coordinates: 37.955, -102.393 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Larimer

When: July 16, 3:56 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Wellington
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $500,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Larimer

When: July 16, 3:59 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Fort Collins
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Weld

When: July 16, 4:12 PM MST
Where: Weld County, Kersey
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.555, -104.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail up to tennis ball-size pummeled portions of Larimer and Weld Counties, causing considerable damage to buildings and vehicles as well as crops.

Tornado, Weld

When: July 16, 4:13 PM MST
Where: Weld County, Kersey
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 40.555, -104.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported a brief tornado touchdown in an open field south of Kersey (37 miles east southeast of Fort Collins). No damage or injuries was reported.

Hail, Weld

When: July 16, 4:17 PM MST to 4:45 PM MST
Where: Weld County, Windsor
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Property damage: $500,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.555, -104.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Half dollar-size hail caused major damage to homes and businesses as well as vehicles and crops in Windsor (14 miles southeast of Fort Collins).

Thunderstorm Wind, Larimer

When: July 16, 4:25 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Loveland
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm winds overturned a boat on Horsetooth Bay (6 miles west of Fort Collins). Two people were aboard, no one was injured.

Thunderstorm Wind, Larimer

When: July 16, 4:26 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Horsetooth Bay
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm winds overturned a boat on Horsetooth Bay (6 miles west of Fort Collins). Two people were aboard, no one was injured.

Tornado, Weld

When: July 16, 4:29 PM MST
Where: Weld County, Fort Lupton
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 40.555, -104.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported a brief tornado touchdown in an open field north of Fort Lupton (24 miles south southwest of Greeley). No damage or injuries was reported.

Tornado, Weld

When: July 16, 4:37 PM MST to 4:47 PM MST
Where: Weld County, Prospect Valley
Rating: F0
Path length: 4 mi
Path width: 440 yd
Coordinates: 40.555, -104.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported a tornado three miles south of Prospect Valley (28 miles south southeast of Greeley). The tornado was on the ground for 10 minutes and traveled to 5 miles southeast of Prospect Valley before dissipating. The tornado traveled across open field, so no damage occurred. Spotters estimated that the tornado was 0.25 mile wide at its biggest point. Based on the width of the tornado, it is estimated that the tornado could have caused F3 type damage. The tornado could be seen up to 25 miles away.

Tornado, Weld

When: July 16, 4:45 PM MST
Where: Weld County, Prospect Valley
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 40.700, -105.230

Spotters reported a brief tornado touchdown in an open field east of Prospect Valley. No injuries or damage were reported. This tornado was seen simultaneously with the above tornado.

Hail, Larimer

When: July 16, 4:45 PM MST
Where: Larimer County, Loveland
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 40.666, -105.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail up to golf ball-size broke windows of several homes and vehicles in Loveland (12 miles south southeast of Fort Collins).

Tornado, Weld

When: July 16, 4:59 PM MST
Where: Weld County, Fort Lupton
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 40.555, -104.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A small short-lived tornado was observed by spotters in an open field north of Fort Lupton (24 miles south southwest of Greeley). No damage or injuries was reported.

Tornado, Weld

When: July 16, 5:03 PM MST
Where: Weld County, Platteville
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 40.555, -104.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported a brief tornado touchdown in an open field south of Platteville (28 miles north northeast of Denver). No damage or injuries was reported.

Tornado, Adams

When: July 16, 5:10 PM MST to 5:25 PM MST
Where: Adams County, Shamrock to to Shamrock
Rating: F0
Path length: 6 mi
Path width: 440 yd
Coordinates: 39.874, -104.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters and the public observed a tornado 20 miles west of Shamrock (53 miles east northeast of Denver). The tornado traveled across open field for 15 minutes, to 17 miles west southwest of Shamrock before dissipating. The tornado was estimated at 0.25 mile wide at its biggest point and could have caused F3 type damage.

Tornado, Adams

When: July 16, 5:34 PM MST to 5:44 PM MST
Where: Adams County, Byers to to Byers
Rating: F0
Path length: 4 mi
Path width: 880 yd
Property damage: $500
Coordinates: 39.874, -104.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported a tornado 10 miles east northeast of Byers (31 miles east of Denver). The tornado traveled in open country to 6 miles east of Byers before dissipating. The tornado downed several power poles northeast of Byers. Spotters estimated the tornado to be 0.5 mile wide at its biggest point, and could have caused up to F4 type damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Weld

When: July 16, 5:50 PM MST
Where: Weld County to Keenesburg
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 40.555, -104.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Weld

When: July 16, 5:55 PM MST
Where: Weld County, Keenesburg
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 40.555, -104.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Adams

When: July 16, 6:00 PM MST
Where: Adams County, Last Chance
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 39.874, -104.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotters reported a brief tornado touchdown in an open field west of Last Chance (27 miles north of Limon). No damage or injuries was reported.

Hail, Prowers

When: July 16, 6:00 PM MST
Where: Prowers County, Lamar
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.955, -102.393 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When: July 16, 6:15 PM MST
Where: Adams County, Last Chance
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 39.874, -104.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 1994 Every state in 1994 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Colorado, 1994 Warnings in Colorado, July 1994

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10318396, 10318397, 10318691, 10318692, 10318693, 10318694, 10318695, 10318696, 10318697, 10318698, 10318699, 10318746, 10318288, 10318289, 10318747, 10318714, 10318748, 10318749, 10318290, 10318291, 10318335, 10318750, 10318751, 10318293, 10318294, 10318295, 10318752, 10318296, 10318297, 10316658, 10316663, 10318298, 10318299, 10316664, 10318715, 10316665.