Scattered storms were possible over and near the mountains, northern El Paso county, and far eastern plains on this day. Widespread severe weather was not expected, however, a few stronger storms did develop and one storm across El Paso county did produce a funnel cloud.
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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.
Scattered storms were possible over and near the mountains, northern El Paso county, and far eastern plains on this day. Widespread severe weather was not expected, however, a few stronger storms did develop and one storm across El Paso county did produce a funnel cloud.
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 Sep 12, 11:21 AM MST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1221 PM MDT Sun Sep 12 2021 .UPDATE... Issued at 1221 PM MDT Sun Sep 12 2021 No real big change with the forecast for this afternoon and evening, with scattered storms still possible over and near the mountains, northern El Paso county, and far eastern plains. Latest radar trends showing scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms already beginning to develop over and near the mountains. The rather weak instability is helping to keep any development on the weaker side. While similar development will be possible this afternoon over/near the mountains, a continued weak trend is expected at this time. Additional development around the Palmer Divide and northern El Paso area is expected by mid afternoon and continue through early evening. Daytime mixing of dry air is helping to limit instability in this location, and that is expected to remain through the day. This limited instability should keep any development sub-severe, though stronger low/mid level convergence and upslope flow could help to support a stronger storm or two. By early this evening, focus for any additional development will shift to the eastern plains mainly along and north of Highway 50. Forecast soundings continue to show some really dry air in place, that could be another limiting factor. However, surface trough and low/mid level baroclinic zone along with an instability axis trying to inch its way west could be enough support/focus to provide at least an isolated storm or two. If any storm does develop this evening, it will have the potential to become strong to severe given the much higher shear and instability in place. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 343 AM MDT Sun Sep 12 2021 ...A strong storm or two possible over the plains this afternoon/evening.... Currently... A weak cool front was pushing south over the eastern plains. This diffuse boundary was located roughly along the US-50 corridor and was gradually pushing southward. A few weak showers were noted over far NE CO, with a more stout round of shower over the higher terrain of NW CO. Today... Somewhat cooler weather is expected today over the forecast area and we will likely see some showers by late in the day, generally N of US50. Max temps today will be about 4 to 8F degrees cooler than yesterday and we will likely not see any records broken on the plains. However, KALS may once again see another record broken as the forecasted high is 86 and the record for the date is 84. As for precip, I am pretty confident we will see some scattered storms over parts of the region by late today, with the best chance of one or two storms over N El Paso county after 4 pm. Cant rule out a strong storm given the favorable CAPE (500-1000 J/kg) and shear (~30 knts), and a marginal severe storm will be possible. Expect max temps this afternoon over the plains ranging from the mid 80s to mid 80s, with L/M80s over the valleys. Tonight... A better chance of a strong storm or two will develop over the far eastern pains, generally N and E of a line roughly from KLHX to N of KSPD. CAM guidance shows 1 or 2 storms over this region roughly during the 02-04 UTC time frame. A better chance of severe will be possible given higher CAPE and a bit better shear over this region, Likewise wouldn't be too surprised to see some hail up to 1.5" and winds up to 60-65 mph. SPC has parts of the area outlooked today; roughly from KCOS to KLHX and then to the KLAA region. It will be noticeably "moister" over the plains by this evening as dewpts are likely to recover into the 50s to L60s most, if not all of the plains. this in turn will keep the min temps up, with readings by morning in the M50s to L60s plains. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday) Issued at 343 AM MDT Sun Sep 12 2021 Monday: Upper level zonal flow is expected over southern Colorado on Monday, which will lead to relatively dry conditions across the entire state. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected over the Pikes Peak Region and the eastern plains north of Highway 50. Main hazards will be gusty winds up to 35 mph. The westerly flow will aid heating up temperatures on Monday due to downslope flow off of the Rockies leading to compressional heating. Expect temperatures in the mid to upper 90s over the plains, the mid to upper 80s over the mountain valleys and the 70s over Lake and Teller Counties. Tuesday: Tuesday still is on track to being our best shot at a more widespread shower and thunderstorm event across the eastern mountains and the plains. A strong positively tilted trough will pass over the region and its associated cold front will pass over the plains by midday. As the front passes over the plains, around 800-1000 J/kg of CAPE and 40-50 kts of 0-6km bulk shear will be present. Strong to severe storms will definitely be in play over the Palmer Divide and over the eastern plains. Main hazards will be 60mph winds, 1 inch hail, and and possibly an isolated tornado, especially if the front stalls anywhere. Expect high temperatures to be in the low to mid 80s over the plains, the upper 70s to low 80s over the mountain valleys, and the 60s over Lake, Teller, and northern El Paso County. Wednesday through Saturday: Wednesday is a transition day from northwesterly upper level flow to southwesterly upper level flow. Both flow orientations will be dry, but the switch will result in above average temperatures from Thursday through Saturday. Critical fire weather conditions are possible over the San Luis Valley, upper Arkansas River Valley, and the I-25 corridor on Thursday and Friday. The upper level ridge propagates over southern Colorado on Saturday resulting in weak surface flow, therefore fire weather is less of a concern. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday afternoon) Issued at 1145 AM MDT Sun Sep 12 2021 Mainly VFR conditions with dry weather expected across the TAF sites this period. Showers and a few thunderstorms are once again possible around COS this afternoon through early evening though. Do think there is a high chance for a few light showers to move across the terminal, while the higher chances for thunder should stay to the northeast and east. Relatively light winds, though a period of gusty winds are expected this afternoon. Additional gusty and variable winds will be possible across COS with any precip development. && .CLIMATE... Issued at 343 AM MDT Sat Sep 11 2021 Here are the records high temperatures for the next few days. Record Highs for 9/12 ALS 84 degrees set in 1990 COS 91 degrees set in 2018 PUB 97 degrees set in 2018 Record Highs for 9/13 ALS 87 degrees set in 1990 COS 94 degrees set in 1990 PUB 100 degrees set in 1990 && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...RODRIGUEZ SHORT TERM...HODANISH LONG TERM...SKELLY AVIATION...RODRIGUEZ CLIMATE...SKELLY
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1144 AM MDT Sun Sep 12 2021 COZ058>089-093>099-131745- 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 Sun Sep 12 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east central...south central and southeast Colorado. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A strong storm or two will be possible over parts of El Paso county, mainly northern El Paso county late this afternoon and early evening. Later this evening, one or two severe storms will be possible mainly east of a line from La Junta to Springfield. Winds of 60 to 65 mph and hail to 1.0 to 1.5 inches will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible over the Pikes Peak Region and over the eastern plains, north of Highway 50 on Monday afternoon and evening. Main hazards will be wind gusts up to 35 mph and cloud to ground lightning. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible over the Palmer Divide and the eastern plains on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Main hazards will be 60 mph winds, 1 inch hail, cloud to ground lightning, and an isolated tornado if the cold front stalls over the plains. Flash flooding is also possible over the burn scars on Tuesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will be possible over parts of the plains late this afternoon and evening. RODRIGUEZ
The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 71 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:10 UTC.
1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Pilot reported funnel cloud on their way in to Colorado Springs airport, but could not be seen from the ground.
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, September 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: 985242.