Lightning struck dangerously close to a woman while she watched a youth baseball game. She felt her legs go numb after a lightning bolt struck the ground.
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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 BOU wrote it up.
Lightning struck dangerously close to a woman while she watched a youth baseball game. She felt her legs go numb after a lightning bolt struck the ground.
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 May 6, 9:26 AM MST, 3 hours 54 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 1026 AM MDT Sat May 6 2017 .UPDATE... Issued at 1025 AM MDT Sat May 6 2017 Abnormally warm air beneath a mid/upper level ridge presently over Colorado will gradually shift east today which will allow south- southwest mean layer flow to usher in a band of mid and high level moisture from Utah and Four Corners region. This band is clearly evident on GOES-16 IR/WV imagery. Upstream 12z Raobs and RAP moisture fields indicate the bulk of this moisture residing within the 600-400 mb layer. At its present forward speed, should see the leading edge of this moisture in the form of cirrus/ cirrostratus reaching our n-central mtns in the next hour or two which should begin to slow warming up there. Not too long after that should see this high cloud shield extending eastward over the adjacent high plains which should slow down the rapid warm up noticed this morning. 10 AM temps on the plains already in the low to mid 70s. Should these clouds arrive later than expected, don't see why we won't see new temp records at several locales. Record at Denver is 86. Still believe the Denver max will close very close to tying. This afternoon, with mid-levels continuing to moisten and sfc-500 mb layer dry adiabatic, should see onset of spotty convection in the high country after 19z. Could see 20-40 percent shower/t-storm coverage up there by 21z. Should not see all that much rainfall and gusty winds will be more likely. After 22z...could see a few high based TCU/low top CB clouds drifting off the foothills producing gusty and erratic outflow winds and perhaps a few sprinkles. HRRR and NAM show a weak bndry layer vorticity/ convergence zone setting up southeast of the metro area late this afternoon which would provide the favorable environment for gusty high based and mostly dry showers. Could see outflow gusts to around 30kts from these showers through early evening before dissipation. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 340 AM MDT Sat May 6 2017 Upper ridge axis and warmest air aloft will be over Colorado today. Moisture will increase a bit in light south to southwest flow, enough for some clouds and weak showers and maybe a few thunderstorms over the mountains this afternoon. CAPE looks to be in the 400-800 j/kg range with precipitable water of 0.4 to 0.6 inches, so mainly light rain and moderate wind gusts with the storms today. Interesting that the southerly flow is actually strongest at low levels, which could slow storm motion. Direction and speed of propagation is not favorable for anything to move far from the mountains. Today's temperature forecast with near record highs still looks good. NAM guidance is a couple of degrees warmer and not out of the question. Showers should decay this evening with loss of heating, though there could be some moving out of more moist/unstable western Colorado into our mountains in the early evening. Remnant clouds should persist and maybe spread over the plains a bit more. Again guidance temperatures and forecast all look close. .LONG TERM...(Sunday through Friday) Issued at 340 AM MDT Sat May 6 2017 Sunday and Sunday night, the ridge aloft will shift to the Central Plains with a southerly flow developing over CO. A closed upper low over southern CA at 12z Sunday will remain nearly stationary through 12z Monday. The models do show a weak disturbance embedded in the southerly flow over western CO at 12z Sunday, and lift it northward mainly to the west of the cwa through Sunday aftn. Overall pcpn generated by the models on the light side so do not expect more than typical weak short lived showers/tstms at that time. Surface based soundings show primarily mid level moisture with CAPES in the 300-800 j/kg range, generally weak shear so do not anticipate any severe storms. Temperatures still on the warm side with highs in the lower 80s. Monday and Monday night, the closed upper low near Baja CA shifts slightly eastward through 00z Tuesday, with a generally weak southerly divalent flow over CO. A weak cold front will push into the cwa from the north and east Monday morning, with post frontal easterly winds Monday aftn and evening. More cloud cover through the day with highs in the 70s. Models generating greater qpf Monday aftn/evening, especially along the northern border. Will keep the pops in the scattered to likely range with increasing precipitable water values and easterly upslope winds helping to initiate showers near the higher terrain. Better fuel for thunderstorms with surface based CAPES Monday aftn with values 1800-2200 j/kg, with better directional shear as well. Severe thunderstorms would appear to be a good possibility across the I-25 Corridor and adjacent plains with large hail the primary threat. The boundary layer theta-e ridge which was just clipping the northeast corner of the state on Sunday will be sitting right along the Front Range Foothills and Palmer Divide for Monday afternoon. Tuesday and Tuesday night, the flow aloft will become more southeasterly as the closed upper low over south central AZ at 12z Tuesday slowly lifts northeast along the northern AZ/NM border by 12z. Another round of showers and thunderstorms with mid level qg ascent gradually increasing fm south to north across CO. Easterly sfc winds will continue to keep boundary layer moisture in place across northeast CO on Tuesday. A little cooler with highs around 70 but still a good chance of showers/tstms across the region. Forecast CAPES in the 400-1100 j/kg Tuesday aftn, with severe emphasis focus more on the Palmer Divide where the greatest instability will be. Thunderstorm coverage will be lower across the northern part of the cwa where the airmass is cooler and more stable. Wednesday into Thursday increasing mid level qg ascent with the trajectory of the upper low just south of the Four Corners at 12z Wednesday making its way northeast to around the OK/TX Panhandles by 12z Thursday then wrap around moisture on the west side of the trough as it transitions into open wave trough by the time it reaches eastern KS by 00Z Friday. 24-hr pcpn totals from 12z Wed- 12z Thu range anywhere from 0.25 to 1.20 inches across northeast CO in the ECMWF to 1.5-3.0 inches on the GFS20, highest near the foothills and Palmer Divide. Will echo the previous shifts concern about the potential flooding concern due to developing snowfall runoff coupled with the potential moderate to heavy rainfall from this slow moving system. Friday into Saturday, a ridge of high pressure will allow for a drier pattern to return to the region, with just a Slight chc of aftn/evening showers and tstms. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon) Issued at 1025 AM MDT Sat May 6 2017 VFR conditions are likely through tonight. There is a slight chance of high based showers or thunderstorms moving off the foothills between 21z and 02z. KAPA and KDEN may experience gusty and erratic outflow wind gusts to around 30 knots from these high based convective clouds. Once these clouds move east of the area after 03z...should see setup of our typical drainage wind pattern with speeds generally in the 6-12kt range. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && UPDATE...Baker SHORT TERM...Gimmestad LONG TERM...Cooper AVIATION...Baker
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 1106 AM MDT Sat May 6 2017 COZ030>051-071715- 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 May 6 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected to form over the mountains and high foothills by early to mid afternoon. Most of these showers will produce only light rainfall and wind gusts to 35 mph. By late this afternoon, a few of these high based showers may drift over the nearby plains and Palmer Divide where they may produce gusty outflow winds and probably a few sprinkles. These showers and thunderstorms should either dissipate or move east of the area by late this evening. Otherwise temperatures today will come close to breaking records, with 80s on the plains and 60s and 70s in the mountains. The abnormally warm temperatures, gusty winds and low relative humidity will elevate the wildfire danger on the plains. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Isolated to scattered thunderstorms will occur Sunday afternoon and evening, mainly in and near the mountains. The threat of stronger thunderstorms and some severe weather will be increasing by Monday afternoon and evening. Moisture and instability are expected to build, and sufficient wind shear may allow for the severe thunderstorm development. Large hail would be the primary threat, although an isolated tornado would be possible. The chance for showers and thunderstorms will continue on Tuesday into Wednesday as a spring storm approaches Colorado. Widespread rain and high mountain snow will be possible with this storm system late Wednesday and Thursday. A ridge of high pressure will build into the region on Friday with drier conditions expected at that time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight. Baker/Barjenbruch
The Denver radar (KFTG), 45 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:20 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A nearby lightning strike slightly injured a woman while she was watching a youth |baseball game.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, May 2017
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: 684578.