Hail, Elbert
- When
- July 20, 3:55 PM MST
- Where
- Elbert County, 9.71 mi WSW of Agate
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 39.420, -104.120
Hail and Damaging Winds in Colorado, July 20, 2013
Severe thunderstorms produced large hail, ranging in size from nickels to golfballs, across portions of Arapahoe, Denver, Elbert and Weld Counties. In addition, damaging wind gusts snapped large tree branches.
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
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 10
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 BOU wrote it up.
Severe thunderstorms produced large hail, ranging in size from nickels to golfballs, across portions of Arapahoe, Denver, Elbert and Weld Counties. In addition, damaging wind gusts snapped large tree branches.
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 Jul 20, 2:18 PM MST, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 20, 2:18 PM MST, 1 hour 37 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO 318 PM MDT SAT JUL 20 2013 .SHORT TERM...EARLY CONVECTION HAS FIRED OVER THE FOOTHILLS...WITH LARIMER COUNTY FAVORED FOR THE MOST PERSISTENT ACTIVITY. PROBABLY A BIT MORE UNSTABLE THERE IN ADDITION TO HAVING BETTER CONVERGENCE WITH THE ESE LOW LEVEL FLOW. INITIAL ACTIVITY HAS GENERATED CLOUD COVER WHICH MAY LIMIT FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS SOUTH OF BOULDER...ESPECIALLY THE JEFFERSON/PARK COUNTY AREA WHERE DRIER LOW LEVEL AIR APPEARS TO BE SPREADING. ON THE PLAINS TEMPERATURES ARE A FEW DEGREES SHY OF CONVECTIVE TEMPERATURE WHILE MOISTURE HAS BEGUN TO MIX OUT NEAR THE MOUNTAINS. ESE WINDS SHOULD HELP THE MOISTURE HOLD ON BETTER FURTHER EAST. ALL THIS IS ABOUT AS EXPECTED...WILL HOLD ON TO THE SCATTERED STORMS EAST OF THE FRONT RANGE CITIES...PALMER DIVIDE MAY WIND UP A BIT OVERDONE IF NOTHING FIRES ON THE OUTFLOW COMING OUT OF THE PIKES PEAK REGION SOON. STILL A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS WITH CAPES EXPECTED TO WIND UP AROUND 1500-2000 J/KG AND ABOUT 30 KT OF 0-6 KM SHEAR...THOUGH TEMPERATURES WILL STILL LIMIT HAIL SIZE. CONVECTION SHOULD END FAIRLY EARLY IN THE DRIER AIR OVER THE WESTERN PART OF OUR AREA...WITH GRADUAL EASTWARD PROGRESSION OVER THE PLAINS. SLIGHT CHANCE OF ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT NORTH OF US MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHEAST CORNER LATE TONIGHT. FOR SUNDAY...DRIER AIR MOVES IN THOUGH THERE WILL STILL BE SHALLOW LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ON THE PLAINS. MOST OF THIS SHOULD MIX OUT AND THERE SHOULD BE LITTLE ACTIVITY OVER THE WESTERN PART OF THE AREA. RICHER MOISTURE WILL BE LIMITED TO THE EASTERN PART OF THE PLAINS. WE HAD A LITTLE COOLING FORECAST...BUT I SEE NO REASON FOR IT ESPECIALLY WITH MORE SUN EXPECTED...SO I RAISED HIGHS TO BE A LITTLE WARMER THAN TODAY. .LONG TERM...THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL BE CENTERED NEAR THE FOUR CORNERS REGION THROUGH TUESDAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN A DRY...STABLE AND WARM NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT OVER THE CWFA. ANY POTENTIAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE OVER THE FAR NORTHEASTERN CORNER OF THE CWFA IN THE LATE AFTN/EVNG PERIOD. BY THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK...THE CENTER OF THE RIDGE STARTS TO SHIFT TO THE EAST. AS IT DOES... SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE WILL START TO MAKE ITS WAY INTO WRN CO AND PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES WILL CLIMB BACK UP AGAIN. IN THE LOWER LEVELS...A COLD FRONT WILL PROGGED TO PUSH INTO NERN CO ON FRIDAY WITH INCREASING MOISTURE DEVELOPING BEHIND THE FRONT RESULTING IN COOLER AND WETTER CONDITIONS. THE COMBINATION OF THESE TWO FEATURES SHOULD HELP TO ELEVATE THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWFA FOR FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. && .AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH SUNDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY REMAIN AWAY FROM THE DENVER AREA...WITH MORE NUMEROUS STORMS NORTH AND NORTHEAST OF DENVER. THERE IS STILL A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SOME IMPACT AT THE TERMINALS DUE TO OUTFLOW WINDS GUSTING TO 35 KNOTS THROUGH AROUND 03Z. LITTLE TO NO STORM ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED ON SUNDAY. && .HYDROLOGY...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE FOOTHILLS OF LARIMER AND BOULDER COUNTIES THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON. THE STRONGEST COULD PRODUCE AN INCH OF RAIN IN LESS THAN AN HOUR WHICH WOULD CAUSE FLOODING IN BURN AREAS. STORMS IN THE FOOTHILLS SHOULD DIMINISH BY EARLY EVENING. THE STORMS MAY ALSO CAUSE LOCALIZED HEAVY RAIN ON THE NORTHEAST PLAINS THROUGH THE EVENING...BUT STORM MOVEMENT SHOULD BE FAST ENOUGH TO LIMIT THE FLOOD THREAT. RAINFALL FROM THE HEAVIEST STORMS MAY BE UP TO TWO INCHES WHICH COULD CAUSE MINOR FLOODING. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...GIMMESTAD LONG TERM....COOPER AVIATION...GIMMESTAD
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 20, 10:07 AM MST, 5 hours 48 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO 1107 AM MDT SAT JUL 20 2013 COZ030>051-211715- JACKSON COUNTY BELOW 9000 FEET- WEST JACKSON AND WEST GRAND COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET- GRAND AND SUMMIT COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET- SOUTH AND EAST JACKSON/LARIMER/NORTH AND NORTHEAST GRAND/ NORTHWEST BOULDER COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET- SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST GRAND/WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST BOULDER/ GILPIN/CLEAR CREEK/SUMMIT/NORTH AND WEST PARK COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET-LARIMER AND BOULDER COUNTIES BETWEEN 6000 AND 9000 FEET- JEFFERSON AND WEST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET/GILPIN/CLEAR CREEK/NORTHEAST PARK COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET- CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY- LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTHWEST WELD COUNTY- BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET/WEST BROOMFIELD COUNTY- NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY- ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET- NORTHEAST WELD COUNTY-CENTRAL AND SOUTH WELD COUNTY-MORGAN COUNTY- CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES- NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN COUNTY- SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY- LOGAN COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY-SEDGWICK COUNTY-PHILLIPS COUNTY- 1106 AM MDT SAT JUL 20 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHEASTERN COLORADO THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...GENERALLY EAST OF BRIGGSDALE...FORT MORGAN...AND LIMON. THE MAIN THREATS FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND MOVE SOUTHEASTWARD. IN AREAS FURTHER WEST THERE WILL STILL BE SOME THUNDERSTORMS BUT WITH LESS MOISTURE THE STORMS WILL BE LESS NUMEROUS AND LESS INTENSE. THUNDERSTORMS WILL END IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE AREA THIS EVENING...BUT THERE IS STILL A SLIGHT CHANCE OF STORMS IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE HIGH COUNTRY AND THE FAR NORTHEASTERN PLAINS SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. SUNDAYS STORMS OVER THE FAR EASTERN PLAINS MAY CONTAIN HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. THE CHANCES FOR STORMS WILL INCREASE EACH DAY WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA AS SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE MOVES INTO THE STATE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF COLORADO AFTER 3 PM. GIMMESTAD/COOPER
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 2:15 PM MST, 1 hour 40 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO 315 PM MDT SAT JUL 20 2013 COZ033-035-038-202130- LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTHWEST WELD COUNTY-SOUTH AND EAST JACKSON/LARIMER/NORTH AND NORTHEAST GRAND/NORTHWEST BOULDER COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET-LARIMER AND BOULDER COUNTIES BETWEEN 6000 AND 9000 FEET- 315 PM MDT SAT JUL 20 2013 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LARIMER COUNTY UNTIL 330 PM MDT. AT 315 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER GLEN HAVEN...OR 20 MILES WEST OF FORT COLLINS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO... ESTES PARK...GLEN HAVEN...DRAKE AND MASONVILLE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. && LAT...LON 4027 10548 4054 10557 4061 10524 4033 10515 TIME...MOT...LOC 2115Z 334DEG 16KT 4046 10543 RPK
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:18 PM MST, 37 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO 418 PM MDT SAT JUL 20 2013 COZ039-040-043-202245- CENTRAL AND SOUTH WELD COUNTY-NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY-BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET/WEST BROOMFIELD COUNTY- 418 PM MDT SAT JUL 20 2013 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN WELD...EXTREME NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON...NORTHWESTERN ADAMS...BROOMFIELD AND SOUTHEASTERN BOULDER COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM MDT. AT 418 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER ERIE...OR 19 MILES NORTH OF DENVER...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO... THORNTON...NORTHEASTERN WESTMINSTER...BROOMFIELD...NORTHGLENN... BRIGHTON...LAFAYETTE...ERIE...FEDERAL HEIGHTS...FREDERICK...DACONO AND NIWOT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 3987 10502 4007 10519 4016 10503 3996 10483 TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 313DEG 23KT 4001 10506 RPK
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:43 PM MST, 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO 443 PM MDT SAT JUL 20 2013 COZ040-202315- NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY- 443 PM MDT SAT JUL 20 2013 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN ARAPAHOE...WESTERN ADAMS AND NORTHEASTERN DENVER COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM MDT. AT 443 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTHWESTERN COMMERCE CITY...OR 11 MILES NORTH OF DENVER...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO... NORTHEASTERN DENVER...NORTHWESTERN AURORA...THORNTON...COMMERCE CITY...NORTHGLENN...BRIGHTON...FEDERAL HEIGHTS...DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...D.I.A. TERMINAL AND CONCOURSES AND BARR LAKE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 3970 10489 3989 10503 4000 10478 3984 10457 TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 309DEG 14KT 3988 10488 RPK
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:45 PM MST, 10 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO 445 PM MDT SAT JUL 20 2013 COZ041-046-202315- NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN COUNTY-ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET- 445 PM MDT SAT JUL 20 2013 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ELBERT COUNTY UNTIL 515 PM MDT. AT 445 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF AGATE...OR 25 MILES WEST OF LIMON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHWESTERN NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN COUNTY AND EAST CENTRAL ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET COUNTIES. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 3938 10434 3954 10406 3933 10389 3915 10416 TIME...MOT...LOC 2245Z 309DEG 13KT 3936 10415 RPK
The radar
The Denver radar (KFTG), 55 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:55 UTC.
Event by event
7 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Weld
- When
- July 20, 4:11 PM MST
- Where
- Weld County, 2.6 mi SW of Hereford
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 40.940, -104.330
Thunderstorm Wind, Arapahoe
- When
- July 20, 4:40 PM MST
- Where
- Arapahoe County, 2.62 mi NE of Aurora Cherry Creek
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 39.660, -104.770
Damaging thunderstorm winds snapped tree limbs, up to 1.5 inches in diameter.
Hail, Weld
- When
- July 20, 4:52 PM MST
- Where
- Weld County, 6.82 mi E of Briggsdale
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 40.630, -104.190
Hail, Weld
- When
- July 20, 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Weld County, 6 mi NE of Briggsdale
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 40.691, -104.239
Hail, Adams
- When
- July 20, 5:05 PM MST
- Where
- Adams County, 0.87 mi NE of Bennett
- Measured
- 1.5 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 39.760, -104.420
Hail, Adams
- When
- July 20, 5:15 PM MST
- Where
- Adams County, Bennett
- Measured
- 1.5 in hail
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 39.750, -104.430
Thunderstorm Wind, Adams
- When
- July 20, 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Adams County, 0.87 mi SE of Northglenn
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 39.890, -104.960
An intense thunderstorm wind downed a tree.
Thunderstorm Wind, Denver
- When
- July 20, 6:16 PM MST
- Where
- Denver County, 12.49 mi NNE of Lowry Afb
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 39.870, -104.670
Hail, Elbert
- When
- July 20, 6:53 PM MST
- Where
- Elbert County, 0.53 mi E of Kiowa
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 39.350, -104.460
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- 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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Rip Currents in Florida, July 20, 2013
- Rip Current in Florida, July 20, 2013
- Tornado and Flash Flood in Ohio, July 20, 2013
- Flood and Heat in Rhode Island, July 20, 2013
- Hail in South Dakota, July 20, 2013
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in California, July 20 to 22, 2013
- Tornado and Flash Flood in Missouri, July 20 to 23, 2013
- Hail and Damaging Wind in South Dakota, July 20, 2013
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in California, July 20 to 22, 2013
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Ohio, July 20, 2013
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Massachusetts, July 20, 2013
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Indiana, July 20, 2013
More
Every storm in Colorado in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, July 2013
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: 454479, 454480, 454484, 454481, 454486, 454482, 454487, 457366, 454485, 454483.