Tornado and Hail in Colorado, June 15, 2004

Name: Tornado and Hail in Colorado, June 15, 2004
Start: 2004-06-15T17:30
End: 2004-06-15T19:23
Location: Colorado

June 15, 2004 · NWS GLD · 9 events in 3 counties and zones

6 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 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: 9

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 Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 15, 5:25 PM MST, 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 15, 5:25 PM MST, 5 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
625 PM MDT TUE JUN 15 2004

.DISCUSSION...HAVE UPDATED TO INCLUDE ENTIRE AREA IN SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH. TWO IN EFFECT...ONE FOR FAR EAST CO UNTIL 9 PM
MDT AND ONE FOR NW KS AND EXTREME SW NEB UNTIL 11 PM MDT (MIDNIGHT
CDT). CURRENTLY LINES FORMING IN FAR EAST CO AND HEADING SLOWLY TO
THE EAST. LOOKS LIKE A VERY BUSY NIGHT WITH LOTS OF WX.

&&

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

&&

RJC

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 15, 9:40 AM MST, 7 hours 50 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1040 AM MDT TUE JUN 15 2004

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-161200-
CHEYENNE CO-CHEYENNE KS-DECATUR-DUNDY-GOVE-GRAHAM-GREELEY-HITCHCOCK-
KIT CARSON-LOGAN-NORTON-RAWLINS-RED WILLOW-SHERIDAN-SHERMAN-THOMAS-
WALLACE-WICHITA-YUMA-
1040 AM MDT (1140 AM CDT) TUE JUN 15 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST KANSAS...EXTREME
SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA...AND EAST CENTRAL COLORADO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE HIGH PLAINS LATE THIS AFTERNOON. THE
FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE SOUTHEAST TO A CHEYENNE WELLS COLORADO TO
MCCOOK NEBRASKA LINE THIS EVENING AND BECOME NEARLY STATIONARY.
NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP NEAR THIS FRONT FROM
LATE AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT. THE AIR MASS WILL BE
QUITE UNSTABLE...SO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY. THE PRIMARY
THREATS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.
SOME LOCATIONS LAST NIGHT RECEIVED AROUND TWO INCHES OF
RAIN...ESPECIALLY IN SHERIDAN AND GOVE COUNTIES. SINCE HEAVY RAIN IS
EXPECTED THERE AGAIN...THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY SOUTH OF A HILL CITY
KANSAS TO CHEYENNE WELLS COLORADO LINE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

FS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 15, 12:32 PM MST, 4 hours 58 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
132 PM MDT TUE JUN 15 2004

COZ090>092-160300-
CHEYENNE CO-KIT CARSON-YUMA-
132 PM MDT TUE JUN 15 2004

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR EAST CENTRAL COLORADO UNTIL 9 PM MDT.
THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES ARE IN THE WATCH...YUMA...KIT CARSON
...AND CHEYENNE. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT
CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP
IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

HAIL TO 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS
TO 70 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY OF THE THUNDERSTORMS.
IF SEVERE WEATHER IS OBSERVED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED...
TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY.

BULLER

Local storm report, Jun 15, 12:47 PM MST, 4 hours 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
147 PM MDT TUE JUN 15 2004

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

0922 PM     TSTM WND GST     ST. FRANCIS             39.77N 101.80W
06/14/2004  58 MPH           CHEYENNE           KS   PUBLIC

1026 PM     TSTM WND GST     SHARON SPRINGS          38.89N 101.75W
06/14/2004  60 MPH           WALLACE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1030 PM     HAIL             9 S ATWOOD              39.68N 101.04W
06/14/2004  0.75 INCH        RAWLINS            KS   PUBLIC

1130 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 E HOXIE               39.36N 100.42W
06/14/2004                   SHERIDAN           KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWER POLE DOWN

1130 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 W HOXIE               39.36N 100.48W
06/14/2004                   SHERIDAN           KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWER POLES DOWN...POWERLINES ON HIGHWAY...LARGE STORAGE
            BUILDING DESTROYED

1138 PM     HAIL             TRIBUNE                 38.47N 101.75W
06/14/2004  0.75 INCH        GREELEY            KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

1159 PM     TSTM WND GST     HOXIE                   39.36N 100.44W
06/14/2004  62 MPH           SHERIDAN           KS   MESONET

1200 AM     TSTM WND DMG     11 SW HOXIE             39.24N 100.58W
06/15/2004                   SHERIDAN           KS   PUBLIC

            THREE GRAIN BINS DAMAGED...IRRIGATION SYSTEM TURNED
            OVER...APPROXIMATELY 100,000 DOLLAR DAMAGE

1200 AM     TSTM WND DMG     HOXIE                   39.36N 100.44W
06/15/2004                   SHERIDAN           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            POWER LINES DOWN. TREES DOWN. METAL SHED DESTROYED.

1200 AM     TSTM WND GST     HOXIE                   39.36N 100.44W
06/15/2004  74 MPH           SHERIDAN           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1245 AM     TSTM WND DMG     5 E ANGELUS             39.19N 100.60W
06/15/2004                   SHERIDAN           KS   PUBLIC

            IRRIGATION PIVOT TURNED OVER...GRAIN BINS DAMAGED.

0100 AM     HAIL             9 SE GOVE               38.87N 100.37W
06/15/2004  0.75 INCH        GOVE               KS   PUBLIC

&&

DN/JD

Special weather statement, Jun 15, 4:47 PM MST, 43 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
547 PM MDT TUE JUN 15 2004

KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-160500-
CHEYENNE KS-DECATUR-DUNDY-GOVE-GRAHAM-GREELEY-HITCHCOCK-LOGAN-NORTON-
RAWLINS-RED WILLOW-SHERIDAN-SHERMAN-THOMAS-WALLACE-WICHITA-
547 PM MDT (647 PM CDT) TUE JUN 15 2004

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
FOR NORTHWEST KANSAS AND EXTREME SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA UNTIL 11 PM MDT
(MIDNIGHT CDT). THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES ARE IN THE WATCH...IN
KANSAS...CHEYENNE...RAWLINS...DECATUR...NORTON...SHERMAN...THOMAS...
SHERIDAN...GRAHAM...WALLACE...LOGAN...GOVE...GREELEY AND WICHITA. IN
NEBRASKA...DUNDY...HITCHCOCK AND RED WILLOW.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS
TO 70 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY OF THE THUNDERSTORMS.
IF SEVERE WEATHER IS OBSERVED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED...
TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY.

RJC

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 83 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:31 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cheyenne

When: June 15, 5:30 PM MST
Where: Cheyenne County, Cheyenne Wells
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.817, -102.350

Zero visibility in blowing dirt.

Hail, Cheyenne

When: June 15, 5:42 PM MST
Where: Cheyenne County, Wild Horse
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.817, -103.000

Thunderstorm Wind, Kit Carson

When: June 15, 6:00 PM MST
Where: Kit Carson County, Bethune
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.233, -102.467

Trees and large limbs down. Shingles blown off roofs, power out for 2 hours.

Hail, Yuma

When: June 15, 6:03 PM MST
Where: Yuma County, 4 mi N of Eckley
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.167, -102.483

Thunderstorm Wind, Kit Carson

When: June 15, 6:30 PM MST
Where: Kit Carson County, Burlington Arpt
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.317, -102.283

Thunderstorm Wind, Cheyenne

When: June 15, 6:30 PM MST
Where: Cheyenne County, 12 mi S of Arapahoe
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.683, -102.167

Power outage, small hail and 1.60 inches of rain with minor flooding.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cheyenne

When: June 15, 6:30 PM MST
Where: Cheyenne County, 12 mi S of Arapahoe
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 38.683, -102.167

Thunderstorm Wind, Kit Carson

When: June 15, 6:34 PM MST
Where: Kit Carson County, Burlington
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.300, -102.267

Large limbs down and power poles snapped.

Tornado, Cheyenne

When: June 15, 7:20 PM MST to 7:23 PM MST
Where: Cheyenne County, 8 mi NE of Cheyenne Wells
Rating: F0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 38.900, -102.250

Tornado on the ground for 2-3 minutes. No known damage. tornado close to intersection of CR54 and CR Z.

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.
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

Every storm in Colorado in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Colorado, 2004 Warnings in Colorado, June 2004

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: 5404583, 5404584, 5404585, 5404586, 5404587, 5404588, 5404589, 5404590, 5404591.