Lightning started the wildfire, which eventually burned nearly 500 acres north and west of Highway 96, southwest of Wetmore.
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.
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 episode as NWS PUB wrote it up.
Lightning started the wildfire, which eventually burned nearly 500 acres north and west of Highway 96, southwest of Wetmore.
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 Pueblo, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 26, 2:04 PM MST, 1 hour 56 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 304 PM MDT TUE APR 26 2011 .SHORT TERM... (TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY) ...HEAVY SHOWER AND STORM ACTIVITY TONIGHT ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS... RADAR IS REALLY ACTIVE THIS AFTERNOON...MOST TS IVE SEEN THIS YEAR WITH NUMRS SHWRS AND EMBEDDED TS ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWA. A FEW REPORTS OF PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL WITH THESE CORES...AND PROBABLY WILL STAY THAT WAY WITH MOST STORMS FAIRLY LOW-TOPPED AND DEWPOINTS ONLY IN THE 30S TO LOWER 40S AT BEST. LOOKS LIKE STORMS/SHWRS WILL CONSOLIDATE LATE THIS AFTERNOON E OF I-25 AND WILL BRING WIDESPREAD PRECIP TO KIOWA...BENT...PROWERS...AND BACA COUNTIES TONIGHT. QPF SHOULD BE IN THE .25 TO .50 RANGE...WITH SOME HIGHER BULLSEYES IN HEAVIER TS. SHOULD REALLY HELP THE DROUGHT SITUATION OUT THERE. LESS ACTIVITY TO THE W AS THE TROUGH AXIS SLIDES EWD...BUT STILL A GOOD CHANCE OF SHWR ACTIVITY THRU AT LEAST EVE. MOST OF THE PRECIP SHOULD REMAIN AS RAIN BELOW 7000 FEET OR SO...AND SHWR ACTIVITY WILL WIND DOWN OVR THE I-25 CORRIDOR BEFORE TEMPS FALL INTO THE LOWER 30S TONIGHT. BUT ANY LEFT OVR ISOLD SHWRS WILL BE ALL SNOW TONIGHT...WITH SOME LIGHT ACCUMS POSSIBLE FOR THE FOOTHILLS AND HYR TRRN. WILL GET PRETTY CHILLY FOR END OF APRIL BY EARLY WED MORNING WITH TEMPS IN THE UPPER 20S FOR A FEW SPOTS. OVR THE MTNS...INTERMITTENT MODERATE SNOW SHOWERS STILL POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS EVENING...AND ADVISORY FOR THE SAWATCH AND MOSQUITO RANGES LOOKS GOOD SO WILL ALLOW THAT TO CONTINUE WITH NO REAL CHANGES IN THE FORECAST AMOUNTS OR TIMING. WILL SEE THE SHSN SLOWLY WIND DOWN LATER THIS EVE AND OVERNIGHT...WITH AN ADDITIONAL 2 TO 8 INCHES POSSIBLE FOR THE DVD AND ELEVATIONS ABOVE 10K FEET. WED...SHOULD BE CLEARING UP PRETTY GOOD WITH ONLY A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS OVER THE DVD AND OVER THE FAR ERN PLAINS. HAVE COOLED THE MAX T GRIDS DOWN A COUPLE OF DEGREES...IN ANTICIPATION OF CONTINUED NRLY SURFACE WINDS AND H7 TEMPS IN THE MINUS 4 TO MINUS 6 RANGE...WILL BE TOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE 50S. PRECIP SHOULD PRETTY MUCH BE OVR ALL SPOTS BY LATE AFTERNOON. ROSE .LONG TERM... (WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY) FAIRLY QUIET WEATHER WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY AS FLAT UPPER RIDGE MIGRATES ACROSS THE ROCKIES. WINDS WILL SWING AROUND TO THE SOUTH-SOUTHEAST THU AFTERNOON AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE DRIFTS EASTWARD INTO THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY...THOUGH SPEEDS DON'T LOOK TOO STRONG AS LEE TROUGH IS FAIRLY WEAK THROUGH THU EVENING. UPPER TROUGH OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST DEEPENS THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY...WITH STRENGTHENING SOUTHWEST FLOW ACROSS COLORADO BY MIDDAY FRIDAY. SUSPECT WE'LL SEE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR SEVERAL HOURS FRIDAY AFTERNOON OVER MUCH OF THE AREA...THOUGH AMOUNT OF RAIN THAT FALLS TODAY WILL IMPACT FUEL CONDITIONS SO WILL HOLD OFF ON ANY HIGHLIGHT FOR NOW. UPPER TROUGH DROPS SOUTHEAST INTO COLORADO SATURDAY...DRIVING A FAIRLY STRONG COLD FRONT SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA BY SUNRISE. COMBINATION OF UPPER DYNAMICS AND AT LEAST SOME WEAK POST-FRONTAL UPSLOPE FLOW SHOULD PRODUCE SNOW OVER MOST MOUNTAIN AREAS...WITH RAIN SHOWERS OVER THE PLAINS EAST OF I-25. GIVEN 12Z MODELS LOOKS SLIGHTLY DEEPER/SLOWER WITH THE UPPER TROUGH...NUDGED UP POPS OVER THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING. WEAK DYNAMICS/UPSLOPE LINGER INTO SUNDAY...WHICH MAY PRODUCE SOME LIGHT SHOWERS BY AFTERNOON AS LAPSE RATES STEEPEN. SHOULD SEE FAIRLY MILD TEMPS THU...WITH WARMEST DAY FRIDAY AS DOWNSLOPE BOOSTS TEMPS. MUCH COLDER SATURDAY BEHIND THE FRONT WITH SOME RECOVERY SUNDAY. LOOKS LIKE A RETURN TO WARM AND WINDY WEATHER NEXT WEEK...AS FAST WESTERLY FLOW DEVELOPS. --PETERSEN && .AVIATION...THE KALS...KCOS AND KPUB TAF SITES SHOULD EXPERIENCE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON...WITH MVFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY IN THE VICINITY OF THE STRONGER STORMS. THE HIGHEST PROBABILITIES OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON SHOULD BE AT THE KCOS AND KPUB TAF SITES THROUGH ABOUT 00Z. WILL SEE CLEARING THIS EVE EXCEPT FURTHER TO THE EAST....WHERE SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH WED MORNING. SOME ACTIVITY NR THE KS BORDER COULD BE HEAVY AT TIMES WITH SOME SMALL HAIL POSSIBLE. N TO NE SURFACE WINDS WILL PERSIST OVR THE PLAINS THRU WED AFTERNOON. ROSE && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM MDT WEDNESDAY FOR COZ058-060. && 44/10
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 1218 PM MDT TUE APR 26 2011 COZ058>089-093>099-271300- WESTERN MOSQUITO RANGE/EAST LAKE COUNTY ABOVE 11000 FT- LEADVILLE VICINITY/LAKE COUNTY BELOW 11000 FT- EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT- WESTERN CHAFFEE COUNTY BETWEEN 9000 AND 11000 FT- CENTRAL CHAFFEE COUNTY BELOW 9000 FT- WESTERN MOSQUITO RANGE/EAST CHAFFEE COUNTY ABOVE 9000 FT- SAGUACHE COUNTY WEST OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BELOW 10000 FT- SAGUACHE COUNTY EAST OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BELOW 10000 FT- LA GARITA MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT- UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY/EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS BELOW 10000 FT- EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT- DEL NORTE VICINITY/NORTHERN SAN LUIS VALLEY BELOW 8500 FT- ALAMOSA VICINITY/CENTRAL SAN LUIS VALLEY BELOW 8500 FT- SOUTHERN SAN LUIS VALLEY- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 8500 AND 11000 FT- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FEET- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 7500 AND 11000 FT- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT- NORTHWESTERN FREMONT COUNTY ABOVE 8500 FT- WESTERN/CENTRAL FREMONT COUNTY BELOW 8500 FT- WET MOUNTAIN VALLEY BELOW 8500 FEET- WET MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 6300 AND 10000 FT- WET MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT- TELLER COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE ABOVE 7500 FT/PIKES PEAK BETWEEN 7500 AND 11000 FT-PIKES PEAK ABOVE 11000 FT- CANON CITY VICINITY/EASTERN FREMONT COUNTY- NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/MONUMENT RIDGE/RAMPART RANGE BELOW 7500 FT- COLORADO SPRINGS VICINITY/SOUTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE BELOW 7400 FT-PUEBLO AND VICINITY/PUEBLO COUNTY BELOW 6300 FT- WALSENBURG VICINITY/UPPER HUERFANO RIVER BASIN BELOW 7500 FT- TRINIDAD VICINITY/WESTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY BELOW 7500 FT- 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- 1218 PM MDT TUE APR 26 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A VIGOROUS UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVING ACROSS THE AREA TODAY AND TONIGHT IS EXPECTED TO BRING SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES...TO THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. HIGHER ELEVATIONS IN THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF EXPERIENCING AN ADDITIONAL 2 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW BY SUNRISE WEDNESDAY. MOUNTAIN AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW BY SUNRISE WEDNESDAY. IN ADDITION...FROM THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING... THUNDERSTORMS ARE ANTICIPATED OVER SOUTHERN COLORADO. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL ALSO BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY ISOLATED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE PLAINS AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS EARLY WEDNESDAY. UP TO AN INCH OF ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS THROUGH THE DAY. DRY AND WARMER WEATHER IS EXPECTED FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...WITH GUSTY WEST WINDS EXPECTED TO SPREAD ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO DURING THE DAY ON FRIDAY. WINDS WILL GUST UP TO 35 TO 40 MPH ACROSS THE PLAINS...AND 50 TO 60 MPH ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS FRIDAY AFTERNOON. COMBINED WITH UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES...HIGH FIRE DANGER WILL BE A THREAT ONCE AGAIN...ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE AREAS THAT HAVE MISSED OUT ON RECENT PRECIPITATION. THE NEXT ROUND OF SNOW WILL IMPACT THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOWFALL CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE SAWATCH AND MOSQUITO RANGES DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS WILL SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED RAIN AND EARLY MORNING SNOW SHOWERS ON SATURDAY BEHIND ANOTHER COLD FRONT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT MEET REPORTING CRITERIA FOR SPOTTERS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH TONIGHT AS WELL AS THE REMAINDER OF THE REGION FROM LATER THIS MORNING INTO THIS EVENING. 44/10
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 425 PM MDT TUE APR 26 2011 COZ098-262300- LAMAR VICINITY/PROWERS COUNTY- 425 PM MDT TUE APR 26 2011 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... EAST CENTRAL PROWERS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO... AT 423 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES SOUTH OF HOLLY...OR 27 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LAMAR...WHICH WAS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH AT 15 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... HOLLY. HARTMAN. PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WINDS AROUND 50 MPH...AND HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN THE EVENT THESE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE...OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. KAM
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 444 PM MDT TUE APR 26 2011 COZ074-087-088-094-262315- EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY-SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 7500 AND 11000 FT-TRINIDAD VICINITY/WESTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY BELOW 7500 FT-WALSENBURG VICINITY/UPPER HUERFANO RIVER BASIN BELOW 7500 FT- 444 PM MDT TUE APR 26 2011 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... SOUTHEASTERN HUERFANO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO... WESTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO... THIS INCLUDES...TRINIDAD. AT 441 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES EAST OF AGUILAR...OR 15 MILES NORTH OF TRINIDAD...WHICH WAS MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... TYRONE. HOEHNE. TRINIDAD. MODEL. PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WINDS AROUND 50 MPH...AND HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN THE EVENT THESE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE...OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. KAM
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, April 2011
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: 303665.