Colorado, 2003

Tornadoes and Hail in Colorado, April 30, 2003

April 30, 2003 · NWS BOU · 7 events in 3 counties and zones

5 hail, 2 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Apr 30, 2:37 AM MST, 10 hours 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 30, 2:37 AM MST, 10 hours 28 minutes before
NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
ISSUED BY NWS PUEBLO
337 AM MDT WED APR 30 2003

NEEDED TO DO AN EMERGENCY BACKUP FOR THE BOULDER FORECAST OFFICE...
AS THEY LOST POWER.

CURRENT FORECAST PACKAGE LOOKS ON TARGET WITH ONLY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS
NEEDED.  --METZE

.DEN...NONE.
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 30, 4:52 AM MST, 8 hours 13 minutes before
COZ030>051-011200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
ISSUED BY NWS PUEBLO
552 AM MDT WED APR 30 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL
COLORADO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

LOOK FOR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHEAST AND
NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  THE MAIN THREAT
FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HAIL
AROUND 1/4 INCH IN DIAMETER...AND GUSTY WINDS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THERE WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...EACH DAY FROM THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
THE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL REMAIN LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED FOR TODAY OR TONIGHT.

METZE

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 30, 8:45 AM MST, 4 hours 20 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
945 AM MDT WED APR 30 2003

...PRELIMINARY STORM REPORT FOR APRIL 28-29 2003...

TIME(MDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0400 PM    8 W HENDERSON             CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   ADAMS

0443 PM    6 E PARKER                CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   DOUGLAS

0450 PM    GILCREST                  CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   WELD

0513 PM    11 W FLAGLER              CO   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   LINCOLN

0515 PM    5 NE ELIZABETH            CO   2.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   ELBERT

0547 PM    HIGHLANDS RANCH           CO   0.88 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   DOUGLAS

0545 PM    HIGHLANDS RANCH           CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   DOUGLAS

0545 PM    1 SW LONE TREE            CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   DOUGLAS

0550 PM    HIGHLANDS RANCH           CO   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   DOUGLAS

0600 PM    2 N DEERTRAIL             CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   ARAPAHOE

0610 PM    21 N NEW RAYMER           CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   WELD

0652 PM    2 NNE DEER TRAIL          CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   ARAPAHOE

0700 PM    WIGGINS                   CO   60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
04/29/03   MORGAN

0700 PM    WIGGINS                   CO   0.88 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   MORGAN

0711 PM    6 S FORT MORGAN           CO   TORNADO ON GROUND
04/29/03   MORGAN

0830 PM    3 E DEER TRAIL            CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   ARAPAHOE

0832 PM    ANTON                     CO   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   WASHINGTON

0856 PM    2.5 N ARICKAREE SCHOOL    CO   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   WASHINGTON

0858 PM    1 N ARICKAREE SCHOOL      CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   WASHINGTON

0902 PM    2.5 N ARICKAREE SCHOOL    CO   1.25 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   WASHINGTON

0940 PM    13 S LAST CHANCE          CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   LINCOLN

0608 PM    1 E WIGGINS               C0   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   MORGAN

0612 PM    WIGGINS                   CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   MORGAN

0725 PM    12 SE PROSPECT VALLEY     CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ADAMS

0815 PM    ENGLEWOOD                 CO   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ARAPAHOE

0825 PM    GREENWOOD VILLAGE         CO   0.88 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ARAPAHOE

0829 PM    SE AURORA                 CO   1.50 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ARAPAHOE

0840 PM    CENTENNIAL                CO   0.88 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ARAPAHOE

0840 PM    2 E CENTENNIAL            CO   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ARAPAHOE

0900 PM    2 N SHAMROCK              CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ADAMS

1000 PM    10 N BYERS                CO   0.88 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ADAMS

1000 PM    10 N BYERS                CO   61 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
04/28/03   ADAMS

1050 PM    ELBA                      C0   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   WASHINGTON

BENTON/JK
Local storm report, Apr 30, 9:31 AM MST, 3 hours 34 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
945 AM MDT WED APR 30 2003

...PRELIMINARY STORM REPORT FOR APRIL 28-29 2003...

TIME(MDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0400 PM    8 W HENDERSON             CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   ADAMS

0443 PM    6 E PARKER                CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   DOUGLAS

0450 PM    GILCREST                  CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   WELD

0513 PM    11 W FLAGLER              CO   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   LINCOLN

0515 PM    5 NE ELIZABETH            CO   2.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   ELBERT

0547 PM    HIGHLANDS RANCH           CO   0.88 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   DOUGLAS

0545 PM    HIGHLANDS RANCH           CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   DOUGLAS

0545 PM    1 SW LONE TREE            CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   DOUGLAS

0550 PM    HIGHLANDS RANCH           CO   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   DOUGLAS

0600 PM    2 N DEERTRAIL             CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   ARAPAHOE

0610 PM    21 N NEW RAYMER           CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   WELD

0652 PM    2 NNE DEER TRAIL          CO   0.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   ARAPAHOE

0700 PM    WIGGINS                   CO   60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
04/29/03   MORGAN

0700 PM    WIGGINS                   CO   0.88 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   MORGAN

0711 PM    6 S FORT MORGAN           CO   TORNADO ON GROUND
04/29/03   MORGAN

0830 PM    3 E DEER TRAIL            CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   ARAPAHOE

0832 PM    ANTON                     CO   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   WASHINGTON

0856 PM    2.5 N ARICKAREE SCHOOL    CO   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   WASHINGTON

0858 PM    1 N ARICKAREE SCHOOL      CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   WASHINGTON

0902 PM    2.5 N ARICKAREE SCHOOL    CO   1.25 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   WASHINGTON

0940 PM    13 S LAST CHANCE          CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/29/03   LINCOLN

0608 PM    1 E WIGGINS               C0   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   MORGAN

0612 PM    WIGGINS                   CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   MORGAN

0725 PM    12 SE PROSPECT VALLEY     CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ADAMS

0815 PM    ENGLEWOOD                 CO   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ARAPAHOE

0825 PM    GREENWOOD VILLAGE         CO   0.88 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ARAPAHOE

0829 PM    SE AURORA                 CO   1.50 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ARAPAHOE

0840 PM    CENTENNIAL                CO   0.88 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ARAPAHOE

0840 PM    2 E CENTENNIAL            CO   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ARAPAHOE

0900 PM    2 N SHAMROCK              CO   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ADAMS

1000 PM    10 N BYERS                CO   0.88 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   ADAMS

1000 PM    10 N BYERS                CO   61 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
04/28/03   ADAMS

1050 PM    ELBA                      C0   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/03   WASHINGTON

BENTON/JK

The radar

The Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:04 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 hail, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Larimer

When
April 30, 1:05 PM MST
Where
Larimer County, 1 mi S of Ft Collins
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.567, -105.083

Hail, Larimer

When
April 30, 1:15 PM MST
Where
Larimer County, Ft Collins
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.583, -105.083

Hail, Larimer

When
April 30, 1:20 PM MST
Where
Larimer County, 9 mi SE of Red Feather Lakes
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.700, -105.467

Tornado, Weld

When
April 30, 3:00 PM MST to 3:11 PM MST
Where
Weld County, 10 mi E of Hudson
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.067, -104.450

A small tornado touched down but did no damage.

Tornado, Weld

When
April 30, 3:21 PM MST
Where
Weld County, Prospect
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.050, -104.333

A small tornado touched down but did no damage.

Hail, Arapahoe

When
April 30, 5:10 PM MST
Where
Arapahoe County, Aurora Cherry Creek
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
39.633, -104.800

Hail, Arapahoe

When
April 30, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Arapahoe County, Aurora Cherry Creek
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
39.633, -104.800

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Colorado, 2003Warnings in Colorado, April 2003

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: 5353183, 5353184, 5353189, 5353185, 5353186, 5353187, 5353188.