Funnel Cloud, Custer
- When
- July 22, 3:28 PM MST to 3:36 PM MST
- Where
- Custer County, 4.15 mi N of Westcliffe
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 38.190, -105.470
Spotter reported a funnel cloud near Lake DeWeese.
Tornado in Colorado, July 22, 2019
A rather rare event took place on July 22, 2019 in the town of Westcliffe, CO, a tornado touched down. The last time a tornado touched down in Westcliffe, elevation of 8,500 feet, was back in the mid 1980s, per anecdotal evidence from the local population.
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
- 2
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.
A rather rare event took place on July 22, 2019 in the town of Westcliffe, CO, a tornado touched down. The last time a tornado touched down in Westcliffe, elevation of 8,500 feet, was back in the mid 1980s, per anecdotal evidence from the local population.
The tornado touched down near William Avenue traveling in a southeast to northwest direction. A continuous path of damage was seen for one-third of a mile before lifting as it crossed Vista Dr. No further visible damage was seen beyond this point |but witnesses said the tornado touched down again before nearing Wolf Street and then lifted for a final time. Much of the damage included canopies, carports, RVs, and gazebos. No primary residence damage was seen outside of a few missing |shingles, peeled up metal roofing, and a few blown in windows by flying debris. One carport awning was lifted off the ground nearly 100 feet and then carried nearly 100 yards before it was dropped onto a nearby roof. No injuries were reported.
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 Jul 22, 1:58 PM MST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 22, 1:58 PM MST, 1 hour 30 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 258 PM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday) Issued at 257 PM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019 Storms this afternoon have been mainly focused over the mtns along the Continental Divide, with a few also over the Sangre de Cristo Mtns. The HRRR and NAM continue to show the focus for thunderstorms mainly staying over the mountains and high valleys this evening. However, they do have a few storms making their way out over the I- 25 corridor. The HRRR and NAM Nest shows the potential for heavy rain over the Hayden Pass and Spring burn scars this evening, so will have to monitor this possibility. By midnight, most or all of the convection is expected to end. There could be a few strong storms as well this evening, with hail and strong wind gusts. On Tue, the upper ridge center will be over eastern UT and far western CO. There will still be plenty of moisture over the area, and similar to today, the mtns and high valleys should see the most showers and thunderstorm activity. With the I-25 corridor and eastern plains probably not seeing any activity through at least midafternoon. By late afternoon a couple storms may try to move off the mtns and into the I-25 corridor, especially over El Paso County. Temps acrs the southeast plains on Tue are expected to be a little warmer, with highs in the 80s, with maybe some lower 90s, while the high valleys should mostly be in the lower 80s. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday) Issued at 257 PM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019 .Tuesday night into Wednesday...Upper high over the Four Corners region begins to move southward. Flow aloft becomes more westerly on Wednesday with a shortwave moving across the northern Rockies. Precipitable waters decrease over the plains as surface high moves to the east and a weak lee trough develops. Still enough moisture for diurnal thunderstorms to develop over the mountains. Flow aloft remains northerly and thunderstorms will be less likely to move off of the mountains. Like the NBM grids with the higher PoPs and modest QPF as expect thunderstorms to be fairly widespread but with light QPF. Temperatures continue to increase over the plains to be near average. .Thursday...As the trough moves to the east into the northern High Plains, a weak cold front can may into the eastern plains. Weak upslope behind the front will increase low level moisture. Higher QPF along the eastern mountains in the NBM hints add the more abundant low level moisture along with an increase in moisture aloft. Temperatures remain near seasonal values. .Friday through Monday...Upper high drifts southward to be centered over Arizona. Flow aloft becomes more westerly with drier air aloft gradually moving into the region. Still enough moisture for diurnal convection to develop over the mountains. With westerly flow aloft, convection has a better chance of moving off of the mountains. Will have to watch for another weak cold front passage over the plains as the upper trough moves into the northern High Plains over the weekend. Upslope behind a cold front could bring increased moisture to the plains. -PGW-- && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon) Issued at 257 PM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019 KCOS could see some showers/tstms in the vicinity early this evening, otherwise VFR conditions are expected thru the next 24 hrs. KPUB could see some showers/tstms move close to the vicinity between about 02Z and 05Z, but chances look fairly low at this time. Otherwise, KPUB should see VFR conditions the next 24 hrs. KALS cloud see some showers/tstms in the vicininty through about 04Z this evening, and then again late Tue afternoon, otherwise VFR conditions are expected. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...28 LONG TERM...PGW AVIATION...28
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 22, 10:01 AM MST, 5 hours 27 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1101 AM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019 COZ058>089-093>099-231715- Western Mosquito Range/East Lake County Above 11000 Feet- Leadville Vicinity/Lake County Below 11000 Feet- Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Feet- Western Chaffee County Between 9000 and 11000 Feet- Central Chaffee County Below 9000 Feet- Western Mosquito Range/East Chaffee County Above 9000 Feet- Saguache County West of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet- Saguache County East of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet- La Garita Mountains Above 10000 Feet- Upper Rio Grande Valley/Eastern San Juan Mountains Below 10000 Feet-Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Feet- Del Norte Vicinity/Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet- Alamosa Vicinity/Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet- Southern San Luis Valley- Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 And 11000 Feet- Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet- Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 7500 and 11000 Feet- Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet- Northwestern Fremont County Above 8500 Feet- Western/Central Fremont County Below 8500 Feet- Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Feet- Wet Mountains between 6300 and 10000 Feet- Wet Mountains Above 10000 Feet- Teller County/Rampart Range Above 7500 Feet/Pikes Peak Between 7500 And 11000 Feet-Pikes Peak Above 11000 Feet- Canon City Vicinity/Eastern Fremont County- Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range Below 7500 Feet- Colorado Springs Vicinity/Southern El Paso County/Rampart Range Below 7400 Feet-Pueblo Vicinity/Pueblo County Below 6300 Feet- Walsenburg Vicinity/Upper Huerfano River Basin Below 7500 Feet- Trinidad Vicinity/Western Las Animas County Below 7500 Feet- 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- 1101 AM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east central...south central and southeast Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered to numerous thunderstorms will develop across the mountains today, with a few storms moving off into the I-25 corridor late this afternoon and evening. The main threats with thunderstorms will be locally heavy rainfall, and lightning. One or two strong to severe storms will be possible along and west of I-25, where hail up to the size of half dollars, and wind gusts up to 60 mph will be possible with the more rapidly developing and intense storms. Flash flooding will be possible across the new burn scars today, particularly Hayden Pass, Junkins and Spring, if a stronger storm impacts these areas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Scattered to numerous thunderstorms will be possible each day over the mountains, with thunderstorm activity increasing for the southeast plains by mid to late week, as another front moves through the region. The main threat with thunderstorms each day will be locally heavy rainfall and lightning, with localized flash flooding possible on burn scars if they are directly impacted by a stronger storm. Some brief small hail and gusty winds up to 50 mph, will be possible with the stronger storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will be possible across the southeast mountains and Interstate 25 corridor this afternoon and evening. 28/28
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 22, 12:08 PM MST, 3 hours 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
108 PM MDT MON JUL 22 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0107 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 W WOODLAND PARK 38.99N 105.07W
07/22/2019 M1.67 INCH TELLER CO PUBLIC
RAIN TOTAL FROM JULY 21ST.
&&Special weather statement, Jul 22, 1:32 PM MST, 1 hour 56 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
232 PM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019
COZ076-077-222115-
Western/Central Fremont County Below 8500 Ft CO-
Northwestern Fremont County Above 8500Ft CO-
232 PM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN CHAFFEE AND
NORTHWESTERN FREMONT COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM MDT...
At 231 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles east of Nathrop, or 30 miles north of Hayden Pass Burn Scar,
moving southeast at 20 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Waugh Mountain.
LAT...LON 3869 10568 3856 10554 3844 10580 3856 10589
3859 10589 3861 10588 3862 10589 3863 10592
3865 10591 3867 10593 3868 10592 3869 10595
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 330DEG 16KT 3873 10589
HeavenerSpecial weather statement, Jul 22, 2:11 PM MST, 1 hour 17 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pueblo CO 311 PM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019 COZ081-222200- Teller County/Rampart Range above 7500fT/Pike's Peak Between 7500 And 11000 Ft CO- 311 PM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN TELLER COUNTY UNTIL 400 PM MDT... At 310 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Westcreek, or 23 miles northwest of Colorado Springs, moving south at 10 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Woodland Park, Florissant and Divide. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3913 10524 3910 10505 3891 10504 3894 10532 TIME...MOT...LOC 2110Z 008DEG 8KT 3907 10515 Heavener
Special weather statement, Jul 22, 2:43 PM MST, 45 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pueblo CO 343 PM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019 COZ078>080-222230- Wet Mountains between 6300 and 10000Ft CO- Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Ft CO-Wet Mountains above 10000 Ft CO- 343 PM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN CUSTER COUNTY UNTIL 430 PM MDT... At 342 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12 miles west of Junkins Burn Scar, moving southeast at 5 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Silver Cliff and Rosita. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3813 10543 3818 10530 3803 10517 3795 10535 TIME...MOT...LOC 2142Z 335DEG 5KT 3810 10533 Heavener
Special weather statement, Jul 22, 3:07 PM MST, 21 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
407 PM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019
COZ078-079-222300-
Wet Mountains between 6300 and 10000Ft CO-
Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Ft CO-
407 PM MDT Mon Jul 22 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN FREMONT AND NORTH
CENTRAL CUSTER COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM MDT...
At 407 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 15
miles west of Junkins Burn Scar, moving southeast at 5 mph.
Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Silver Cliff and Westcliffe.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3811 10543 3820 10557 3826 10542 3826 10534
3818 10522
TIME...MOT...LOC 2207Z 314DEG 6KT 3817 10539
HeavenerThe radar
The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 116 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:29 UTC.
Event by event
1 funnel cloud, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Tornado, Custer
- When
- July 22, 3:30 PM MST to 3:35 PM MST
- Where
- Custer County, 4.87 mi N of Westcliffe
- Rating
- EF0
- Path length
- 0.5 mi
- Path width
- 20 yd
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 38.200, -105.460
A tornado touched down near William Avenue in |Westcliffe, CO on the evening of July 22, 2019, traveling in|a southeast to northwest direction. A continuous path of damage |was seen for one-third of a mile before lifting as it crossed |Vista Dr. No further visible damage was seen beyond this point |but witnesses said the tornado touched down again before |nearing Wolf Street and then lifted for a final time. |Much of the damage included canopies, carports, RVs, and gazebos.|No primary residence damage was seen outside of a few missing |shingles, peeled up metal roofing, and a few blown in windows by |flying debris. One carport awning was lifted off the ground nearly|100 feet and then carried nearly 100 yards before it was dropped |onto a nearby roof. No injuries were reported.
What these are
- Funnel Cloud
- A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
- 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
- Damaging Winds in Virginia, July 22, 2019
- Damaging Winds in Maryland, July 22, 2019
- Flash Flood in Arizona, July 22, 2019
- Flash Flood and Debris Flow in California, July 22 to 24, 2019
- Hail and Damaging Winds in New Jersey, July 22 to 23, 2019
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in New York, July 22, 2019
- Dust Storm and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 22, 2019
- Damaging Winds in Virginia, July 22, 2019
- Flash Flooding in Mississippi, July 22, 2019
- Flash Flood and Flooding in Pennsylvania, July 22, 2019
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, July 22 to 23, 2019
- Flash Flooding in California, July 22 to 25, 2019
More
Every storm in Colorado in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Colorado, 2019Warnings in Colorado, July 2019
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: 847785, 847786.