Severe storms were scattered across much of the area again on this day, as an upper low remained to the west and with high amounts of instability in place. While there were a few severe hail reports, the main concern was tornadic development across far southern Colorado.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Severe storms were scattered across much of the area again on this day, as an upper low remained to the west and with high amounts of instability in place. While there were a few severe hail reports, the main concern was tornadic development across far southern Colorado. Another large tornado dropped southeast across open country in far southern Las Animas County, very near the track of the previous nights storm.
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 May 29, 10:21 PM MST, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1121 PM MDT Sat May 29 2021 .UPDATE... Issued at 702 PM MDT Sat May 29 2021 Dropping the tornado watch for Pueblo/El Paso/Crowley/Otero counties. Still some low end severe in the area, though surface air mass has likely become too chopped up by outflows to support a tornado risk. Suspect supercell dropping into the OK Panhandle likely the main show, though will hold onto watch for a little while longer in the less disturbed air mass over the far southeast. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday) Issued at 257 PM MDT Sat May 29 2021 ...Severe storms and heavy rain across southeast Colorado this evening... Thunderstorms developing across the plains this afternoon, with surface low spinning up south of La Junta and trough/boundary roughly extending from Teller County se through the low to eastern Las Animas County. Focus for stronger convection will be along the trough, with some hints of increasing tornado potential into this evening ahead of current activity over nrn El Paso County, as e-se low level flow strengthens. Behind the boundary over the eastern mountains and I-25 corridor, still a threat of outflow driven convection into the evening, though storm strength may be weaker here. Just some high based weak convection farther west where drier air remains in place. Storms congeal into more of an MCS/heavy rainfall threat toward 06z over the plains, with some CAMs suggesting over 2 inches of rainfall across Baca County by early Sunday morning. Farther west, some residual showers/weak tsra likely overnight as moist upslope flow continues and upper level lift ahead of the western U.S. low slowly strengthens. On Sunday, showers and thunderstorms will become widespread over the eastern mountains, I-25 corridor and southeast plains by afternoon, as vertical motion increases and moisture remains plentiful. Looks more like a heavy rain set-up than severe, as clouds and cool surface temps limit instability, especially on the plains. May see enough CAPE develop over the eastern mountains with some partial clearing for stronger storms by afternoon, with some marginal severe hail possible, especially over the southern Sangres. Farther west, scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms look possible, though rainfall amounts will be lighter here as low level moisture is limited. Max temps area-wide will be way below seasonal averages at most locations, with warmest readings in the San Luis Valley where some sunshine will boost maxes into the 70s. .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday) Issued at 257 PM MDT Sat May 29 2021 ...Slight chance of strong to severe thunderstorms possible over the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains, some of these could also move over the San Luis Valley. Large hail of up to 2" in diameter, along with strong and gusty winds of 70 mph or greater, and dangerous lightning will be possible with some of these storms. Best chance of severe thunderstorms will be further south over the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Raton Mesa... ...Winter Weather Advisory conditions may be possible for elevations over 10,500 feet for Sunday evening through early Tuesday morning... Sunday evening through Monday night... As the cyclogenesis continues with the low propagating a little further south over NE New Mexico, it will begin to usher in more moisture that will be wrapped around on the backside of the deformation zone, right over much of the plains and overrunning occuring as far west as the San Juan Mountains, therefore it looks to be very possible that most of the CWA will experience periods of rain showers with embedded thunderstorms throughout much of the evening on Sunday. Lower levels will become more saturated with higher dewpoints extending westward along the I-25 corridor, with dewpoints in the 50s and even low 60s over parts of the plains. Most of the instability will have shifted over the central and western portions of the CWA and there could potentially be some strong to severe thunderstorms over the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains as forcing and lapse rates appear to be more favorable in these areas, along with higher theta-e values of over 340 K and MLCAPE values over 1000 J/Kg. There is also a chance that some of these stronger to severe storms could move over the San Luis Valley and potentially impact locations such as Alamosa. Main threat for this reason will be possible flooding over the burn scars, especially if some of these storms become stationary, and with some of them becoming very strong, they could put down a substantial amount of rain in a short period of time. Both surface and mixed layer CIN values of On Monday, the very positively tilted axis in the long wave trough over the southwestern US is going to cause the low to become cutoff south of California, which will help to keep the surface low remaining in place over New Mexico into Monday, and this will allow for a very similar setup for more continuous showers and isolated thunderstorms possible over much of the CWA, although the low to mid levels will be much more stable in comparison to Sunday and therefore most of the precipitation will be on the lighter to moderate side. However, there could be some brief periods of heavier rain, especially over the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains due to upslope enhancement from orographic lifting, and there will still be a slight risk of flooding over the burn scar areas. There will be cooler temperatures advected in from the north over the plains, so this, along with extensive could coverage, will keep max temperatures well below the seasonal average, by as much as 25 degrees in some locations. This cooler air at the surface could also help to enhance overrunning and provide a continuous amount of rain over the plains for most of the afternoon and into the evening hours. The rain showers will become more spotty later in the night on Monday into early Tuesday morning as the system finally begins to exit the region. Also, with snow levels dropping on Monday as colder air moves in, peaks above 10,500 feet could get anywhere from a dusting to a few inches of new snowfall, and possibly even as much as a foot is possible on the highest peaks, and therefore a Winter Weather Advisory may be necessary. Lows for Monday night will be cooler as well, and slightly below the seasonal average for most locations, from the 40s over the plains, to the upper 20s and 30s for high country. Tuesday through Wednesday... The surface low will begin to exit the region by early Tuesday morning and allow for clearing to finally take place for most locations throughout the late part of the morning on Tuesday. Afternoon thunderstorms will develop later in the day over the mountains with some residual moisture and the long wave trough axis still overhead. The U/L cutoff low over the southwest will eventually detach itself from the trough and allow it to begin to fill and shift further eastward on Wednesday, although with a jet maxima upstream over the Dakotas, and a sharply positive tilted axis, this will still put southeastern Colorado in the divergent quadrant, so thunderstorms look to develop over the mountains during the afternoon on Wednesday as well. The ECMWF has backed off the possible developing line of convection over the far eastern plains as there was a potential dryline setting up that the model runs displayed yesterday. In the most recent run, it now keeps this boundary further to the south and east and out of the CWA. There is now some agreement with the GFS also showing the boundary on Wednesday being much further to the south and east as well, and since both models show the CWA being in the convergent quadrant later in the evening as the jet maxima shifts further south, and therefore this should help to hinder further thunderstorm development over the mountains towards the evening hours on Wednesday, with all other locations in the CWA remaining dry. It will be quite warmer on Wednesday as well, with temperatures returning to right around the seasonal average for most locations. Thursday through Saturday... The deterministic models and ensembles are in fair good agreement that a well amplified ridge will begin to build back in over the entire western region with much warmer temperatures returning, slightly above the seasonal average for many locations. The U/L cutoff low off the coast of Baja California will begin to propagate eastward over northern Mexico, and this will help to feed up a substantial amount of mid level moisture from the south over the region due to this and keep the instability around for this reason. Therefore, there will still exist the chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorm development over the mountains, and a slight chance over the plains as well, especially for Saturday, as both models allude to the ridge beginning to break down as a trough upstream over the northwestern US begins to progress eastward and towards the region. Friday appears to be the warmest as the ridge is amplified the most, with high temperatures reaching into the low 90s over much of the plains, and even low 80s for the San Luis Valley. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Sunday night) Issued at 1121 PM MDT Sat May 29 2021 KCOS and KPUB...Easterly component flow continues over the plains and eastern mountains advecting moisture into the region. Main challenge for tonight is the ceilings at KCOS and KPUB. Believe there will be enough of a northerly component to have VFR ceilings, but they may go into MVFR. On Sunday, low level moisture continues with showers developing during the day. There may be some thunder in the afternoon. Amount of thunder is too low and timing is not precise enough to include in the TAFS. A front passes in the early evening with increased northerly flow. KALS...VFR. There will be some scattered convection in the afternoon but coverage is not high enough to include thunder in the TAFs. --PGW-- && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...PETERSEN SHORT TERM...PETERSEN LONG TERM...STEWARD AVIATION...PGW
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1144 AM MDT Sat May 29 2021 COZ058>089-093>099-301745- 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- 1144 AM MDT Sat May 29 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east central...south central and southeast Colorado. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Severe thunderstorms will be possible across the southeast plains this afternoon and early evening. The best chance of severe storms will be generally east of a line from Colorado Springs to Kim. Large hail to 2 inches in diameter, damaging wind gusts to 70 mph and an isolated tornado will all be possible. In addition to the severe weather potential, the storms will be capable of producing very heavy rain, leading to the potential for flash flooding, especially across the far southeast plains later this evening and into early Sunday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will be possible across south central and southeast Colorado Sunday and Monday. A few strong to severe storms will be possible across the southeast mountains, Wet Mountain Valley and upper Arkansas River valley on Sunday where hail up to around 1 inch in diameter and wind gusts up to 60 mph will be possible with the stronger storms. Otherwise, lightning and locally heavy rainfall will be possible with all storms both days. This could lead to an elevated risk for flash flooding, particularly on burn scars, though urban areas could also be impacted. Heavy wet snow can be expected at times across the higher peaks above 11000 feet through Monday. Local accumulations of up to a foot will be possible, especially for Pikes Peak and the Sangre De Cristo mountains. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible each day for Tuesday through Friday. A strong storm or two will be possible across the mountains Tuesday and Wednesday with lightning, small hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph possible. Locally heavy rainfall will also be possible with the more intense storms which will keep at least a low end risk for flash flooding on the more susceptible burn scars each day. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will be likely across the southeast plains this afternoon and evening. 10/31
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pueblo CO 911 PM MDT Sat May 29 2021 COZ084-085-300345- 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- 911 PM MDT Sat May 29 2021 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTY UNTIL 945 PM MDT... At 911 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Truckton, or 30 miles east of Colorado Springs, moving northeast at 20 mph. Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Truckton, Yoder and Rush. LAT...LON 3876 10405 3869 10427 3877 10435 3896 10405 TIME...MOT...LOC 0311Z 245DEG 19KT 3876 10426 Hodanish
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pueblo CO 938 PM MDT Sat May 29 2021 COZ094-099-300415- Springfield Vicinity/Baca County CO-Eastern Las Animas County CO- 938 PM MDT Sat May 29 2021 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN BACA AND SOUTHEASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTIES UNTIL 1015 PM MDT... At 937 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8 miles north of Kenton, or 33 miles southwest of Springfield, moving east at 20 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southwestern Baca and southeastern Las Animas Counties. LAT...LON 3710 10310 3720 10261 3699 10258 3700 10308 TIME...MOT...LOC 0337Z 261DEG 18KT 3703 10299 Hodanish
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1006 PM MDT SAT MAY 29 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0951 PM HAIL LA JUNTA 37.98N 103.54W
05/29/2021 E1.00 INCH OTERO CO LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1209 AM MDT Sun May 30 2021 COZ097-300700- Las Animas Vicinity/Bent County CO- 1209 AM MDT Sun May 30 2021 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL BENT COUNTY UNTIL 100 AM MDT... At 1209 AM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10 miles south of Las Animas, or 18 miles east of North La Junta, moving east at 20 mph. Penny size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Hasty, John Martin Reservoir and Caddoa. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. 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. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service office in Pueblo. && LAT...LON 3783 10325 3798 10331 3813 10290 3783 10276 TIME...MOT...LOC 0609Z 254DEG 19KT 3791 10320
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1218 AM MDT Sun May 30 2021 COZ097-098-300700- Lamar Vicinity/Prowers County CO-Las Animas Vicinity/Bent County CO- 1218 AM MDT Sun May 30 2021 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL PROWERS AND EAST CENTRAL BENT COUNTIES UNTIL 100 AM MDT... At 1218 AM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 15 miles southwest of Lamar, moving east at 20 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Lamar. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. 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. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service office in Pueblo. && LAT...LON 3782 10281 3795 10287 3812 10259 3782 10245 TIME...MOT...LOC 0618Z 251DEG 16KT 3790 10280
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pueblo CO 108 AM MDT Sun May 30 2021 COZ098-300745- Lamar Vicinity/Prowers County CO- 108 AM MDT Sun May 30 2021 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN PROWERS COUNTY UNTIL 145 AM MDT... At 108 AM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13 miles north of Two Buttes Reservoir, or 16 miles south of Lamar, moving east at 20 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southwestern Prowers County. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. 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. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service office in Pueblo. && LAT...LON 3776 10268 3791 10269 3795 10236 3772 10235 TIME...MOT...LOC 0708Z 267DEG 16KT 3784 10261
The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:14 UTC.
2 tornado, 1 flash flood, 1 heavy rain, 1 flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
High water flowing across State Highway 109, with car stranded.
Heavy rain of 1.66 inches.
Homes on Bradish Avenue flooded. Arroyos draining into Arkansas River have caused river levels to rise above flood levels.
Cone shaped tornado spotter over rural Las Animas County.
Chasers reported tornado touched down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Colorado, 2021Warnings in Colorado, May 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: 963190, 963197, 963195, 980610, 1047451, 963196.