A severe thunderstorm produced large hail from quarter to ping pong ball size. Four men were struck by lightning and one injured in NE Elbert County.
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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.
A severe thunderstorm produced large hail from quarter to ping pong ball size. Four men were struck by lightning and one injured in NE Elbert County.
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, 8:18 AM MST, 5 hours 40 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 918 AM MDT Mon May 6 2019 .UPDATE... Issued at 919 AM MDT Mon May 6 2019 A shallow cold front which brought low level clouds and patchy fog into NE CO this morning will gradually diminish along the Front Range Urban Corridor and Palmer Ridge region by midday, then eventually over the rest of the plains by early afternoon. Latest short term models still indicating showers and a few storms developing over the central mountains, southern foothills and western Palmer by 21z due to increase surface heating and increasing ascent from approaching trough over southern NV. Still expecting thunderstorms later this afternoon, primarily focused near and along the Palmer Divide, a few of which could reach strong to potentially severe levels. Showers and storms will diminish by early evening. Persistent easterly flow at the surface will be expected for the late evening and overnight period with a return of the low level clouds and patchy fog. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 407 AM MDT Mon May 6 2019 Upper level low will move onto the California coast today and slowly move inland tonight. Over Colorado, westerly flow aloft will back to the southwest and become increasingly diffluent. At the surface, cold front has surged south across eastern Colorado. This has increased low level moisture with dew points in the 40s. Low clouds have formed and are expected to prevail across the Front Range and eastern plains this morning. The low clouds should erode west to east this morning and eventually this afternoon over far northeast Colorado. The amount of clearing will factor how warm and unstable we get this afternoon. Models generally showing ML CAPE 500-1000 J/kg later this afternoon where temperatures are able to climb into the mid 60s. The diffluent flow aloft, easterly upslope flow, and unstable airmass should result in scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Best chance for storms, possibly nearing severe threshold, will be south of I-70 where the warmest temperatures and best instability is expected to reside. For tonight, the easterly low level flow will keep moisture over the area with low clouds, fog, and drizzle expected. Appears the ECMWF, NAM4K, and HRRR, are picking up on a short wave triggering showers and storms late this evening and after midnight. Exact location of this late night convection still uncertain, so will keep high scattered PoPs in the forecast through the night. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Sunday) Issued at 407 AM MDT Mon May 6 2019 An unsettled weather pattern will be in place from Tuesday through Thursday. On Tue, an upper level low will move from srn California into west central Arizona with south to southwest flow aloft across the area. An upper level jet max will move into the area during the day with some weak mid level ascent. Meanwhile, at the sfc, low pres will probably end up over the Palmer Divide with a stationary front extending down into srn Lincoln county. Thus most of nern CO will have easterly low level flow with considerable low cloud cover through the day. As the upper level jet max moves into the area, should see an increase in showers across the plains with a few tstms. Any threat for stronger storms, would be over the Palmer Divide into Lincoln county, near the stalled frontal boundary, where MLCAPE values range from 500- 1000 j/kg. Across the higher terrain, decent lapse rates will remain in place so will see a good chc of showers and tstms. Snow levels will be above 10500 feet. As for highs, readings over nern CO will range from near 50 over the far nern plains with 55 to 60 elsewhere. For Tue night thru Wed the upper level low will move east northeast. There are still some differences with the track, as the ECMWF has it near the CO-NM border, while the GFS is further north across east central CO. At this point, it's not clear where it will track, however, a further northward movement would bring widespread rainfall across the plains. Meanwhile with increasing upslope flow along the front range could see decent rainfall possibly back into the foothills with accumulating snow in the mtns. As for temps, highs across nern CO will likely not get out of the 40s on Wed. By Wed night, the upper level low will move east northeast of the area, however, a second upper level trough will move south southwest from the nrn Rockies. Pcpn will decrease by early Wed evening as the first trough moves away from the area. However, by late Wed night into Thu, the second upper level trough will impact the area along with the passage of a cold front. As a result, with increasing upslope flow and some minor mid level ascent, should see lighter pcpm develop overnight into Thu with the main focus along the front range into the higher terrain. Soundings show temps will be cold enough for snow overnight into Thu morning at lower elevations. Due to timing of changeover it wouldn't be a total surprise if there was some accumulating snow across the front range urban corridor late Wed night through Thursday morning. The foothills and mountains could see some decent snow accumulations as well. Highs on Thu will likely stay mostly in the 40s over nern CO. For Thu night, both the ECMWF and GFS still show light pcpn lingering over the higher terrain and front range urban corridor, as the upper level trough continues to dig to the southwest. By Fri, should see drier conditions as the upper level trough moves into the swrn US with moderating temps. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Tuesday morning) Issued at 919 AM MDT Mon May 6 2019 Low level clouds will continue to diminish from west to east through early afternoon with ceilings gradually lifting. Will expect KDEN to trend toward scattered coverage by 18Z, with sooner erosion of low level coverage at KBJC and KAPA. Scattered thunderstorms will develop after 20Z and track east across the area. Main time frame for storms will be 21Z to 02Z across the Denver area. Low clouds, fog, and drizzle set in after 06Z tonight. There will also be a slight chance for a thunderstorm through the night. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && UPDATE...Fredin SHORT TERM...Meier LONG TERM...RPK AVIATION...Fredin
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 1051 AM MDT Mon May 6 2019 COZ030>051-071700- 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- 1051 AM MDT Mon May 6 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Low clouds will continue to diminish across the northeast plains through the afternoon. Scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms will develop over the foothills and western portion of the Palmer Divide with a few storms may reaching severe threshold, mainly south of I-70 with one inch hail and 60 mph winds. Rain showers, low clouds, patchy fog, and a possibly a few thunderstorms can be expected for tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday From Tuesday into Wednesday, rain showers will be likely along with a few thunderstorms. Areas of heavier rainfall may occur over the northeast plains on both days. Accumulating snow will become likely for the mountains and foothills Wednesday night through Thursday. Light accumulations of snow will also be possible over the Urban corridor late Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Improving conditions with a gradual warming trend are expected from Friday through Sunday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
144 PM MDT Mon May 6 2019
COZ041-046-062030-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet CO-
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County CO-
144 PM MDT Mon May 6 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN ELBERT COUNTY UNTIL
230 PM MDT...
At 143 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6
miles east of Kiowa, or 35 miles west of Limon, moving northeast at
25 mph.
Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Agate.
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 3927 10440 3947 10435 3953 10410 3950 10391
3927 10393
TIME...MOT...LOC 1943Z 247DEG 22KT 3935 10434
COOPERSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
212 PM MDT Mon May 6 2019
COZ041-046-062100-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet CO-
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County CO-
212 PM MDT Mon May 6 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN ELBERT COUNTY UNTIL
300 PM MDT...
At 211 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles southwest of Agate, or 25 miles west of Limon, moving east at
25 mph.
Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Agate.
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.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM MDT for
east central Colorado.
LAT...LON 3931 10424 3943 10424 3948 10414 3950 10391
3927 10393
TIME...MOT...LOC 2011Z 258DEG 20KT 3937 10414
COOPERThe Denver radar (KFTG), 84 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:56 UTC.
2 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Four men were struck by lightning and one was injured while standing near a wrought iron fence at the Riverbend Cemetery. Age of the injured was 39 and the uninjured were 65, with two in their 80s.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, May 2019
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: 865676, 813516, 813517.