Overall, dry weather was noted across southern Colorado, however, the environment was supportive of strong and gusty winds.
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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 PUB wrote it up.
Overall, dry weather was noted across southern Colorado, however, the environment was supportive of strong and gusty winds.
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 20, 11:17 AM MST, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1217 PM MDT Mon Jul 20 2020 .UPDATE... Issued at 1140 AM MDT Mon Jul 20 2020 No real big change in thinking for thunderstorm potential this afternoon into the evening, with highest chances for strong to severe development expected across far east/southeast CO. Daytime heating quickly eroding much of the CIN this morning, with showers currently developing across the higher terrain. Any remaining CIN will erode here in the near term as weak to moderate CAPE expected to be in place this afternoon, with the highest values across east/southeast CO. In this location, surface trough/low is helping to advect 60 degree dewpoint air into CO. Outside of here, daytime mixing is lowering dewpoints, especially across the Pikes Peak region. This may help to limit thunderstorm development or intensity of any storm in this location, though latest RAP analysis is showing 500-1000 j/kg of CAPE and with short term guidance indicating this remaining in place this afternoon. Generally, flow is relatively weak with limited bulk shear values. Do think pockets of stronger flow and higher shear will be possible this afternoon, especially closer to the Colorado/Kansas border. Should see coverage and intensity of showers and storms increase over the next couple of hours across the higher terrain and then begin to spill into parts of the I-25 corridor. Pikes Peak region once again possibly observing isolated storms closer to mid afternoon. Can't completely rule out an isolated stronger storm in this location, but the previously mentioned lower dewpoints and instability could be limiting factor. Think there might be slightly higher focus for development from around Pueblo and to the east, where surface trough and moisture axis extend back to. This could help to bring about more stronger development this afternoon. Once again, highest risk for strong to severe storms will be across east/southeast CO along and ahead of surface trough where moisture, instability, and shear will be the highest. Timing for this location will be closer to mid to late afternoon through mid evening. Main hazards will continue to be large hail and strong winds. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 400 AM MDT Mon Jul 20 2020 Currently... Except for a few clouds over the southeast sections of the CWA, skies were clear across the region. Temps were in the 60s at 2 am across the plains while they were in the 50s in the larger valleys. As for surface moisture, dewpts were in the L60s over the far eastern plains,50s along the I-25 corridor and 40s valleys; 20s and 30s mtns. Today... Rather dry day expected across the fcst area. Latest hi res runs dont have much in the way of precip in the mtns, and not all that much over the plains. Attm, it appears best chance of heavier precip will be over the far se CO plains late this afternoon and evening. SPC has areas east of the I-25 corridor in a marginal risk, and this appears reasonable as there will be about 25-30 knts of shear this afternoon with about 500-1000 J/kg of CAPE. Expect we may see some locally gusty winds with the stronger cells. It should be noted that the guidance does have some -tsra forming relatively early over the Palmer Divide this afternoon, with storms forming on the plains as early as 2 pm. Max temps should peak out in the 90s across the plains, with M/U90s across the lower ark rvr valley and L90s divides. M80s are expected in the valleys with 70s mtns. Tonight... High country is expected to dry out quickly with not much of the way of precip in the mtns this evening or tonight. Storms on the plains are also expected to be only widely scattered and end relatively early. Mins should be in the 60s tonight plains with U50s divides. U40s in the valleys. \/Hodanish .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Sunday) Issued at 400 AM MDT Mon Jul 20 2020 Tuesday-Tuesday night...Weak westerly flow aloft persists across the region with a minor embedded wave progged to translate through the upper ridge axis across the southern Rockies and into the central Rockies through the day Tuesday. Moisture associated with this wave, will work with strong solar heating to produce scattered to numerous afternoon showers and thunderstorms for areas over the higher terrain on Tuesday, with storms slowly pushing east across the immediate adjacent plains through the late afternoon and evening hours. Further east, generally light upslope flow will persist across the southeast plains, keeping low level moisture and dew pts in the mid 40s to mid 50s in place through the afternoon. Latest models are also indicating a ribbon of 1500-2500 j/kg of CAPE along and north of the Palmer Dvd, with just enough westerly flow aloft to produce 20-30kts of bulk shear for the potential of a few strong to marginally severe storms across the Pikes Peak region and northern portions of the southeast plains, north of Highway 50, Tuesday afternoon and evening. Severe storm risks would be mainly winds to around 60 mph and hail to near an inch in diameter, with locally heavy rain and frequent cloud to ground lightning likely with all storms on Tuesday. The weak steering flow aloft across the area will also lead to the potential for flash flooding, especially for storms developing or moving across area burn scars. Temperatures on Tuesday look to be around seasonal levels, with highs in the mid 80s to mid 90s across the plains, and in the 60s to lower 80s across the mountains and high mountain valleys. Wednesday-Thursday...Models continue to indicate flow aloft becoming more south to southwest through the middle of the week, as a broad upper trough developing across the West Coast, shunts the upper high south and east of the Rockies. This will open the door to more subtropical moisture to filter into western and central Colorado leading to increasing coverage of daily showers and storms through the period, with the best chances of wetting rains over the higher terrain. Further east, convection looks to be capped through most of the day, with the potential for more isolated storms through the late afternoon and early evening hours. With generally weak steering flow aloft, locally heavy rainfall and the potential for flash flooding will remain the main risks with storms. Temperatures through the middle of the week will be at to slightly above seasonal averages. Friday-Sunday...A broad upper trough across the West Coast will send waves across the Intermountain West through the Northern Tier of States, keeping generally weak southwest flow aloft across the Rockies. This will keep bouts of monsoonal moisture and daily chances of storms across the region through next weekend. With ebbs and flows of available moisture and location of upper level high pressure, the main forecast challenges will be the coverage of storms, especially across the eastern plains. Temperatures through the extended period to be around seasonal levels. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon) Issued at 1140 AM MDT Mon Jul 20 2020 No real big changes to the forecast for the TAFs, as the main concern/challenge will continue to be with shower and thunderstorm development this afternoon through early evening. Already seeing isolated showers develop across the higher terrain, and think thunderstorms will become more possible within the next few hours across the terminals. Highest confidence for thunder is at COS and PUB, and did keep a tempo group for a window of thunder this afternoon. However, did also add a VCTS to ALS as I do think there will be a window this afternoon that some development could come near the site. Precip chances look to quickly lower by early evening, as any additional showers or storms should be focused well east of the sites. VFR and dry conditions then expected tonight into Tuesday morning. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...RODRIGUEZ SHORT TERM...HODANISH LONG TERM...MW AVIATION...RODRIGUEZ
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1202 PM MDT Mon Jul 20 2020 COZ058>089-093>099-211815- 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- 1202 PM MDT Mon Jul 20 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east central...south central and southeast Colorado. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected over southern Colorado this afternoon and evening. A few strong to severe storms will be possible, mainly east of the I-25 corridor this afternoon through early evening. Highest chances for severe storms look to be for areas closer to the Colorado and Kansas border. However, can't rule out an isolated stronger storm along the I-25 corridor this afternoon. Primary hazards today will be winds to 60 mph and quarter size hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms can be expected across the region Tuesday afternoon and evening, with the best coverage of storms over the higher terrain. There is the potential for a few strong to marginally severe storms across the Pikes Peak region and portions of the southeast plains, north of Highway 50. Severe storm risks would be gusty winds to around 60 mph and hail up to an inch in diameter, with locally heavy rain and frequent cloud to ground lightning likely with all storms on Tuesday. Weak steering flow aloft across the area will produce slow moving storms, which could also lead to the potential for flash flooding, especially for storms developing or moving across area burn scars. For Wednesday through Sunday, there will be daily chances of afternoon and evening thunderstorms across all of south central and southeast Colorado. The best coverage of storms will be over and near the higher terrain through the afternoon hours, with some storms spreading east across the far southeast plains through the late afternoon and evening. With generally weak steering flow aloft, storms will be slow moving and capable of producing locally heavy rainfall. This will also lead to the potential for flash flooding, especially for area burn scars. Other storm risks will be frequent cloud to ground lightning, with small hail and gusty outflow winds to around 45 mph possible with the strongest storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will be possible over the far eastern plains late this afternoon and early evening. RODRIGUEZ
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Colorado Springs Airport.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, July 2020
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: 913977.