Isolated thunderstorms were possible in the afternoon into mid evening on this day, mainly over and near the mountains. However, the high wind gust report was not associated with the thunderstorms but with a heat burst.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
Isolated thunderstorms were possible in the afternoon into mid evening on this day, mainly over and near the mountains. However, the high wind gust report was not associated with the thunderstorms but with a heat burst. A rapid rise in temperatures and winds occurred at the National Weather Service Office in Pueblo.
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 Jun 17, 1:48 PM MST, 6 hours 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 248 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday) Issued at 248 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021 Currently...satellite imagery shows high pressure sitting over the Four Corners region with weak northwesterly flow across Colorado. Satellite imagery also shows cumulus and a few towering cumulus bubbling over the Mountains, stretching east into El Paso County. Temperatures are once again hot, with upper 90s to lower 100s across the Plains. Winds are generally light and southerly across the Plains. Rest of today...very similar conditions to yesterday, with a dry lower level, and weak instability aloft. Expect continue shower and thunderstorm development over the Mountains, east into the northern I-25 corridor from Pueblo through Monument Hill. LCL heights continue to be high, DCAPE values around 2000 j/kg and very dry low levels (dewpoints currently in the mid 30s to lower 40s) all point to a thunderstorm wind threat as storms move off the higher terrain. The main difference is enhanced low level convergence from near Canon City, northeast across El Paso County, with a northerly shift in where storms are expected. A few outflow wind gust in excess of 50 mph are expected, with a couple coming close to severe potential. The setup also suggests microbursts may be possible as well. Given the dry low levels, not much precipitation is expected, and isolated to scattered dry thunderstorms are possible over the Mountains. Expect thunderstorms to shift northeast off the Mountains, and into the northern I-25 corridor through the late afternoon hours. Locations from eastern Fremont, Pueblo, Teller and El Paso Counties will see the highest risk of strong to near severe winds. Tonight...not much change to the upper pattern with high pressure remaining in place over the Four Corners. Expect thunderstorm activity to shift north and east this evening, dissipating with loss of daytime heating. Dry and mild conditions are expected to prevail overnight into Friday morning. Friday...the upper level high is forecast to shift southwest into Arizona by midday with slightly increased northwesterly flow across Colorado. At the surface, a cold front is forecast to drop south across the Plains by late morning, with low level flow turning easterly upslope. This will also bring slightly better low level moisture to the region, with dewpoints rising into the lower to mid 40s by afternoon. Better moisture will lead to MLCAPE values around 500 to 700 j/kg, and 0-6 km bulk shear will increase to near 30 kts by afternoon. Temperatures will also be slightly cooler, with lower to mid 90s across the region. Given these parameters, a few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible by mid afternoon. Expect initial development over the Mountains, with activity spreading east into the Plains. Across the Plains, hail to near one inch in diameter and wind gusts to near 60 mph will be possible. Over the Mountains, less moisture will be available, and dry thunderstorms will once again be possible. Mozley .LONG TERM...(Friday night through Thursday) Issued at 248 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021 Friday night: Ongoing thunderstorms are expected over the mountains, mountain valleys, and plains at the beginning of the long term forecast period (Friday at 6PM) due to a cold front passage. The thunderstorms are expected to propagate easterly throughout the evening. CAPE values pre-convective initiation are less than 1000 J/kg over the region, with the exception of Kiowa County where value are slightly greater than 1000 J/kg. LCLs are around 550hPa (11kft AGL) with a distinct inverted-V signature in the SkewTs. Overall the main thunderstorm risks will be strong thunderstorm outflow winds. Another concern is flash flooding over the Spring, Decker, Junkins, and Hayden Pass burn scars. Thunderstorms are expected to be fairly numerous over the mountains, so there is a possibility of flash flooding. Low temperatures will be the low to mid 60s over the plains and the 40s to low 50s over the mountain valleys and Teller County. Saturday: The upper level high pressure center is expected to propagate to the southwest, centering over Arizona. The retreat of the high pressure center will allow for shortwaves to initiate thunderstorms over the mountains and propagate over the mountain valley and the plains. CAPE values will exceed 1000 J/kg over parts of the mountains and over the far eastern plains during the afternoon, so there is once again a flash flood risk over the burn scars and a severe thunderstorm risk over the plains. LCLs are still around 10kft but there is weak speed shear and directional shear being observed in the hodographs over the plains. Thunderstorms that develop over the plains will be entering a better environment for intensifying, especially as it reach the further east counties. Main thunderstorm risks will be 1 to 1.5" hail, 60-70 mph, and a low end chance for a brief isolated weak tornado. Dry lightning is possible over the mountains during the afternoon. Fuels are not considered critical over much of the region, but the Sangres have been updated to critical as of June 11th. For now, no fire weather highlights will be added. Sunday: A shortwave is expected to propagate over the northern high plains on Sunday morning which will create a cold front that will reach southern Colorado by Sunday afternoon. The timing is a bit uncertain, but will have wildly different outcomes to how the day's weather would play out. For example, if the the front arrived early, maximum temperatures would be cooler than if the front arrived later. The thunderstorm initiation would be earlier and the thunderstorm potency would be higher with the earlier frontal passage as well. Gusty northerly winds are expected behind the cold front. At this point in time, there are no indications that wind gusts would exceed 30-35 mph. Maximum temperatures will be dependent on the frontal passage timing, but our current forecast is for the highs over the plains to reach the mid 90s, with the potential to reach a few degrees higher or lower. The rest of the region will be around the same as before, with temperatures in the mid to upper 80s over the mountain valleys, and the 70s to low 80s over Teller and Lake County. Monday through Thursday: Cooler temperatures are expected on Monday! Some relief from the early onset of hot temperatures will be dependent on the strength of the cold front reaching the region on Sunday. Currently the forecast is for high temperatures in the 70s to low 80s over the plains. Only slight relief is expected over the mountain valleys, though, as the cold front will primarily affect the plains. A bit of a drier period will return from Tuesday through Thursday as a ridge aloft will slowly make its way over the state. Temperatures will return to the mid to upper 90s throughout the rest of the week. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday evening) Issued at 248 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021 KALS...VFR conditions through much of the next 24 hours. A few thunderstorms may be possible over the San Luis Valley this afternoon, with gusty outflow winds the main risk. At this time, we are not anticipating any storms to impact the terminal. Better chances for thunderstorms are expected on Friday afternoon. KCOS and KPUB...a few thunderstorms may be possible at both terminals this afternoon and evening. Briefly reduced CIGS and VIS will accompany any storms that move across the terminals. In addition, gusty outflow winds to near 40 kts may be possible. Thunderstorms will dissipate and move away from the area by this evening. Another round of thunderstorms, more widespread, are expected on Friday. Mozley && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...MOZLEY LONG TERM...SKELLY AVIATION...MOZLEY
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1131 AM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021 COZ058>089-093>099-181745- 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- 1131 AM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021 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, initially over and near the Mountains this afternoon, spreading east across the Pikes Peak region and Palmer Divide. One of two of these storms could produce strong wind gusts to near 60 mph as they move off the Mountains. Dry low levels over the Mountains, will likely lead to dry thunderstorms this afternoon, with little precipitation, lightning and gusty outflow winds being a concern. Storms should dissipate this evening with loss of daytime heating. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Thunderstorms are possible Friday through Sunday with the highest chances for thunderstorms over the mountains. The thunderstorms will be the most numerous on Saturday. The main threats from the storms will be lightning, gusty winds and potential burn scar flash flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather conditions that meet criteria for spotters may be possible over the Pikes Peak region, Palmer Divide, and Pueblo area. 88/88
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
313 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021
COZ081-172130-
Teller County/Rampart Range above 7500fT/Pike's Peak Between 7500 And
11000 Ft CO-
313 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN TELLER AND
NORTHWESTERN EL PASO COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM MDT...
At 313 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Westcreek, or 27 miles northwest of Colorado Springs, moving east at
15 mph.
Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Woodland Park.
LAT...LON 3913 10500 3905 10497 3897 10530 3911 10533
3913 10533
TIME...MOT...LOC 2113Z 249DEG 13KT 3909 10522
kamSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
425 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021
COZ076-077-081>083-172300-
Western/Central Fremont County Below 8500 Ft CO-
Canon City Vicinity/Eastern Fremont County CO-
Pikes Peak above 11000 Ft CO-
Northwestern Fremont County Above 8500Ft CO-
Teller County/Rampart Range above 7500fT/Pike's Peak Between 7500 And
11000 Ft CO-
425 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN FREMONT...SOUTHERN
TELLER AND WEST CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM MDT...
At 424 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles southwest of Victor, or 28 miles southwest of Colorado Springs,
moving southeast at 10 mph.
Winds of 40 to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Cripple Creek, Victor and Pikes Peak.
LAT...LON 3886 10499 3854 10510 3846 10575 3870 10540
3870 10533 3875 10532
TIME...MOT...LOC 2224Z 306DEG 7KT 3864 10529
HodanishSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Pueblo CO 500 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021 COZ081>083-085-172330- Canon City Vicinity/Eastern Fremont County CO- Colorado Springs Vicinity/Southern El Paso County/Rampart Range Below 7400 Ft CO-Pikes Peak above 11000 Ft CO- Teller County/Rampart Range above 7500fT/Pike's Peak Between 7500 And 11000 Ft CO- 500 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN FREMONT...SOUTHEASTERN TELLER AND SOUTHWESTERN EL PASO COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM MDT... At 500 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9 miles southeast of Victor, or 15 miles southwest of Colorado Springs, moving east at 10 mph. Pea size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Southern Colorado Springs, Fountain, Fort Carson and Security-Widefield. LAT...LON 3857 10504 3876 10504 3873 10466 3854 10477 TIME...MOT...LOC 2300Z 284DEG 10KT 3865 10498 Hodanish
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
538 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021
COZ084-085-180015-
Colorado Springs Vicinity/Southern El Paso County/Rampart Range Below
7400 Ft CO-
Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range Below 7500 Ft
CO-
538 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN EL PASO COUNTY UNTIL
615 PM MDT...
At 537 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking gusty outflow winds
associated with thunderstorms located 8 miles north of Rush, or 32
miles southwest of Limon, moving east at 30 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Calhan and Rush.
LAT...LON 3905 10405 3894 10405 3881 10406 3892 10445
3910 10437
TIME...MOT...LOC 2337Z 286DEG 24KT 3896 10415
HodanishSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Pueblo CO 909 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021 COZ086-180345- Pueblo Vicinity/Pueblo County Below 6300 Feet- 909 PM MDT Thu Jun 17 2021 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... North central Pueblo County in southeastern Colorado... At 9:00 pm this evening, locally strong winds associated with a "heat burst" were occurring across parts of northern Pueblo County. At the weather office at the Pueblo airport, the winds were gusting to over 60 mph and the temperature shot of to 95 degrees. These strong winds should last through around 9:30 affecting mainly the eastern sections of Pueblo and areas east to Boone and Avondale.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A heat burst occurred at the NWS office as winds gusted to 62 mph and the temperature rose to 95 degrees.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, June 2021
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: 970498.