Colorado, 1997

Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in Colorado, July 8, 1997

July 8, 1997 · NWS BOU · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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

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The toll

Deaths
1
Injuries
2
Property damage
$100,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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.

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 35 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:59 UTC.

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Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Douglas

When
July 8, 1:00 PM MST
Where
Douglas County, 4 mi NW of Parker
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
39.550, -104.820

One construction worker was killed, two others injured, when a strong wind gust caused the scaffolding they were standing on to collapse.

Lightning, Weld

When
July 8, 2:00 PM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where
Weld County, Roggen
Property damage
$100,000
Coordinates
40.555, -104.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The owners of a Roggen area farm suspect lightning triggered a blaze that caused an estimated $100,000 in damage. Lightning apparently sparked the fire which was then spread by gusty winds. The fire destroyed a work shed, a semitrailer and a farm truck. The exact time of the incident was unknown.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Thunderstorm Wind, Douglas1997-07-0837MaleOutside/Open AreasDirect

What these are

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.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, July 1997

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: 5607182, 5607183.