Hail, Crowley
- When
- May 23, 6:46 PM MST to 6:51 PM MST
- Where
- Crowley County, Ordway
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 38.220, -103.760
Hail and Lightning Strike in Colorado, May 23, 2012
Severe storms produced hail up to the size of golf balls. Lightning in Kiowa County caused a large fire at Brandon.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 6
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 happened
The episode as NWS PUB wrote it up.
Severe storms produced hail up to the size of golf balls. Lightning in Kiowa County caused a large fire at Brandon.
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 Pueblo, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 23, 2:37 PM MST, 4 hours 9 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 23, 2:37 PM MST, 4 hours 9 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 337 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2012 .SHORT TERM... (TONIGHT AND THURSDAY) SHORT-TERM METEOROLOGICAL CONCERNS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO POPS(INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING...ESPECIALLY FAR NORTHERN SECTIONS)...TEMPERATURES AND WINDS. FORECAST DISTRICT CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING INCREASING CLOUDS OVER NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS WITH SOME SHOWERS DEVELOPING OVER NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY AS WELL AS GUSTY WINDS AND ABOVE LATE MAY SEASONAL TEMPERATURES DISTRICT-WIDE. RECENT REAL-TIME DATA...FORECAST SOUNDINGS AND COMPUTER SIMULATIONS SUGGEST THAT CURRENT RELATIVELY MEAGER ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE LEVELS AS NOTED BY MID-AFTERNOON DEW-POINT READINGS GENERALLY IN THE 30S TO MID 40S OVER MANY EASTERN PORTIONS WILL INCREASE AS NORTHERLY SURGE PUSHES ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS THIS EVENING. IT STILL APPEARS THAT EL PASO...CROWLEY AND KIOWA COUNTIES WILL HAVE THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL OF EXPERIENCING STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS(IF DEEP ENOUGH ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE CAN DEVELOP???) THIS EVENING AS PROJECTED 0 TO 6 KM BULK SHEAR VALUES OF 70 KNOTS COMBINE WITH LOCALIZED CAPES/LIS VALUES AROUND 800 J/KG AND -4C RESPECTIVELY AND PV WAVE IMPACTS FAR NORTHERN SECTIONS. WFO PUEBLO WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR CLOSELY. IN ADDITION TO THE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL TONIGHT...GUSTY WINDS(NEAR TO IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH AT TIMES) ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER SECTIONS OF THE SAN LUIS VALLEY AND MOUNTAINS(ESPECIALLY SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS) THIS EVENING...WITH WINDS EXPECTED TO TAPER OFF AROUND MIDNIGHT. HAVE ALSO DEPICTED A FEW INCHES OF SNOW OVER PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...GENERALLY ABOVE 10000 FEET TONIGHT. FINALLY...ANTICIPATE THAT COOLER MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES WILL BE NOTED ON THURSDAY WHEN COMPARED TO THIS AFTERNOON...WITH MAXIMUMS SOME 10F TO 15F COOLER EASTERN SECTIONS AND SOME 5F TO 10F COOLER WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST DISTRICT. .LONG TERM... (THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY) THU NIGHT...SFC HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE PUSHING SOUTHWARD INTO THE SERN PLAINS...WITH A SLIGHT INCREASE IN LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND POSSIBLY A FEW LOW CLOUDS. ON FRI...AS AN UPR LOW MOVES INTO WRN NV...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL INCREASE OVR THE FORECAST AREA...WITH MANY LOCATIONS SEEING BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS...ALONG WITH VERY LOW HUMIDITIES. THESE CONDITIONS WILL INCREASE THE FIRE DANGER...HOWEVER SINCE FUELS ARE NOT CRITICAL...NO FIRE WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS WILL BE ISSUED. FRI WL ALSO BE A DRY AND WARM DAY...WITH HIGHS BEING SEVERAL DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. FRI NIGHT AND SAT...THAT UPR LOW OVR NV IS EXPECTED TO LIFT NORTHEASTWARD...MOVING INTO SERN ID BY 00Z SUN. THIS CONTINUES TO KEEP A STRONG GRADIENT OVR THE FORECAST AREA...AND THUS WINDY AND GENERALLY DRY CONDITIONS...ALONG WITH WELL ABOVE NORMAL HIGH TEMPS. THIS IS ANOTHER DAY WHEN THE FIRE DANGER WILL BE HIGH WITH THE WINDY CONDITIONS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITIES...BUT IF THE FUELS REMAIN NOT CRITICAL...A FIRE WEATHER HIGHLIGHT WILL NOT BE ISSUED. THERE IS SOME CHANCE THAT SHOWERS AND TSTMS WL DEVELOP OVR THE CENTRAL CO MTS...INCLUDING LAKE AND CHAFFEE COUNTIES IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. AT THIS TIME...THE NAM12 KEEPS THE DRY LINE TO THE EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA...WITH DEW POINTS NR THE ERN CO BORDER BEING IN THE LOW 30S. HOWEVER...THE GFS HAS THE DRY LINE OVR THE FAR SERN CO PLAINS...WITH DEW POINTS IN THE UPR 40S TO LOW 50S. WL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW THIS PANS OUT. THAT UPR LOW CONTINUES MOVING NORTH AND EAST SAT NIGHT AND SUN...WITH A TRAILING UPR TROF MOVING OVR THE STATE SUN. AS A RESULT THE WINDS BECOME MORE WESTERLY AND THEN NWRLY AS THE UPR TROF PASSES...AND HIGH TEMPS WL BE A LITTLE COOLER. IF THIS TIMING OF THE UPR TROF ACRS THE FORECAST AREA WORKS OUT...IT LOOKS LIKE ANY PCPN CHANCES WL LIKELY BE CONFINED TO THE CENTRAL CO MTS. MON AND TUE GENERALLY LOOK LIKE DRY DAYS WITH LIGHTER FLOW OVR THE AREA. THE GFS SHOWS SOME SFC S TO SE WINDS DRAWING SOME LOW LEVEL MSTR INTO THE FAR SERN PLAINS ON TUE...BUT THE ECMWF KEEPS THIS TO OUR EAST. ON WED A PASSING SHORTWAVE TROF OVR ERN PORTIONS OF THE STATE...WILL BRING A FRONT THRU THE AREA AND POSSIBLY SOME PCPN. && .AVIATION... A NORTHERLY SURGE IS PROJECTED TO PUSH ACROSS EASTERN COLORADO THIS EVENING. AS THIS NORTHERLY SURGE PUSHES SOUTH...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME POSSIBLY SEVERE...ARE STILL EXPECTED TO DEVELOP...ESPECIALLY OVER FAR NORTHERN SECTIONS OF THE FORECAST DISTRICT INTO THIS EVENING. AT THIS TIME...IT STILL APPEARS THAT THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT WILL BE HAIL AROUND 1 INCH IN DIAMETER AND HAZARDOUS LIGHTNING. LOCAL MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS ARE ANTICIPATED IN AND NEAR THE THUNDERSTORMS. THE NORTHERLY SURGE IS PROJECTED TO BE NEARING THE COLORADO/NEW MEXICO BORDER AROUND MIDNIGHT WITH THE THREAT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF HIGHWAY 50. IN ADDITION...SNOW SHOWERS ACROSS THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...PRIMARILY ABOVE 10000 FEET SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED WITH LOCAL MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS PROJECTED IN AREAS OF CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && 77/28
Hazardous weather outlook, May 23, 10:23 AM MST, 8 hours 23 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 1123 AM MDT WED MAY 23 2012 COZ058>089-093>099-241730- 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- 1123 AM MDT WED MAY 23 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME POSSIBLY SEVERE...ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER TELLER AND EL PASO COUNTIES AFTER 1 PM...AND THEN POSSIBLY SPREAD SOUTH INTO CROWLEY AND KIOWA COUNTIES FROM LATER IN THE AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. AT THIS TIME...THE PRIMARY METEOROLOGICAL THREATS WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE HAIL AROUND 1 INCH IN DIAMETER AND HAZARDOUS LIGHTNING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO EXPECTED ACROSS THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PRIMARY THREATS WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE 1/2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL AND LIGHTNING. IN ADDITION... LOCAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 2 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY ABOVE 10000 FEET. ANOTHER CONCERN ACROSS SOUTHERN COLORADO TODAY WILL BE THE WIND. STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL AFFECT MUCH OF THE AREA TODAY... ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SAN LUIS VALLEY AND SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN AREAS WHERE SPEEDS MAY TOP 50 MPH AT TIMES. BLOWING DUST MAY BECOME A CONCERN IN THESE AREAS DURING THE AFTERNOON...WITH AIRBORNE DUST VISIBLE IN MANY AREAS BY LATE IN THE DAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS DURING THE DAY THURSDAY. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. A FEW STRONG STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE PALMER DIVIDE REGION LATE THURSDAY AND THURSDAY EVENING. WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...AND HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ONE OR TWO OF THESE STORMS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS. AT THIS TIME...THERE IS STILL TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY TO KNOW IF THESE STORMS WILL BE SEVERE OR NOT. IN ANY EVENT...ANY THUNDERSTORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT MEET REPORTING CRITERIA FOR SPOTTERS WILL BE POSSIBLE AFTER 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 23, 3:52 PM MST, 2 hours 54 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 452 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2012 COZ084-085-232330- COLORADO SPRINGS VICINITY/SOUTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE BELOW 7400 FT-NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/MONUMENT RIDGE/RAMPART RANGE BELOW 7500 FT- 452 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2012 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... EAST CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO... AT 448 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ELLICOTT...OR 24 MILES EAST OF COLORADO SPRINGS...WHICH WAS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT 50 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... RUSH. PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH 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.
Special weather statement, May 23, 5:40 PM MST, 1 hour 6 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 640 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2012 COZ086-240115- PUEBLO VICINITY/PUEBLO COUNTY BELOW 6300 FEET- 640 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2012 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... NORTHEASTERN PUEBLO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO... THIS INCLUDES...NORTHEASTERN PUEBLO. AT 637 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF PUEBLO...WHICH WAS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT 25 MPH. WINDS AT THE PUEBLO AIRPORT WERE GUSTING TO OVER 50 MPH AT 638 PM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... AVONDALE. PUEBLO DEPOT. BOONE. WINDS AROUND 50 MPH CAN BE 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.
Special weather statement, May 23, 5:57 PM MST, 49 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 657 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2012 COZ085-240115- COLORADO SPRINGS VICINITY/SOUTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE BELOW 7400 FT- 657 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2012 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... SOUTHEASTERN EL PASO COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO... AT 656 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR TRUCKTON...OR 35 MILES EAST OF COLORADO SPRINGS...WHICH WAS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT 45 MPH. THE STRONG STORM WILL IMPACT MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF EXTREME EAST CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTY. PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH 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.
The radar
The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 45 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:45 UTC.
Event by event
5 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning, Kiowa
- When
- May 23, 7:30 PM MST to 10:30 PM MST
- Where
- Kiowa County, 0.48 mi WSW of Brandon
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 38.447, -102.438
Lightning struck a local oil company's holding tanks, igniting 350 barrels holding 15,000 gallons.
Hail, Prowers
- When
- May 23, 7:50 PM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Prowers County, Lamar
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 38.080, -102.620
Hail, Prowers
- When
- May 23, 7:55 PM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Prowers County, 5.61 mi ENE of Wiley
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 38.170, -102.620
Hail, Prowers
- When
- May 23, 8:06 PM MST to 8:11 PM MST
- Where
- Prowers County, 5.31 mi ENE of Lamar
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 38.110, -102.530
Hail, Prowers
- When
- May 23, 8:26 PM MST to 8:31 PM MST
- Where
- Prowers County, 2.28 mi ENE of Hartman
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 38.130, -102.180
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- 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
- Wildfire in Texas, May 23, 2012
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Nebraska, May 23, 2012
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, May 23, 2012
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Iowa, May 23, 2012
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, May 23, 2012
- Flash Flood and Lightning Strike in Minnesota, May 23 to 24, 2012
- Flash Flood and Hail in North Carolina, May 23, 2012
- Tornado and Damaging Wind in Louisiana, May 23, 2012
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Nebraska, May 23, 2012
- Hail in Minnesota, May 23, 2012
- Hail in South Carolina, May 23, 2012
- Hail in North Carolina, May 23, 2012
More
Every storm in Colorado in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, May 2012
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: 377922, 377929, 377923, 377924, 377925, 377926.