Tornadoes · United States · Colorado · 2019

EF0 tornado, Holyoke, Colorado, May 27, 2019

This EF0 tornado ran 0.0 miles across Phillips County on May 27, 2019, touching down at 5:51 PM MDT and reaching 25 yards wide. It killed nobody.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. EF186 to 110 mph

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. EF2111 to 135 mph

    Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

  4. EF3136 to 165 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. EF5over 200 mph

    Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.

  7. Unrated

    The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating
EF0
Date
May 27, 2019
Touchdown
5:51 PM MDT (23:51 UTC)
Lifted
5:53 PM MDT (23:53 UTC)
On the ground
2 minutes
Path length
0.0 miles (0.0 km)
Path width
25 yards (23 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Phillips County
Touchdown point
40.450, -102.440
Lift-off point
40.450, -102.440
Record number
1905271751-02

What the Weather Service recorded

Severe thunderstorms across the northeast plains of Colorado produced eight short-lived tornadoes. One tornado touched down and caused minor damage to 20,000 bushel capacity grain bins. Ten of 12 grain bins were damaged; some by downed pipes that fell on them. The rest of the tornadoes touched down in open country. In addition, large hail ranging from quarter to tennis ball size was reported. One of the storms produced a wind gust to 61 mph.

A tornado touched down briefly in an open field. No damage was observed.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at May 27, 3:00 PM MDT, 2 hours 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 27, 3:00 PM MDT, 2 hours 51 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
300 PM MDT Mon May 27 2019

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday)
Issued at 255 PM MDT Mon May 27 2019

An upper low over the Arizona/Utah border will slowly move
northeast through Tuesday. The 120kt jet pushing northeast ahead
of it spreads over eastern Colorado tonight, putting the area in
the right exit region allowing for good lift. Increasing
southeasterly surface flow into a low will provide good amount of
shear the rest of the afternoon into the evening, allowing for a
good severe storm environment capable of forming high winds, large
hail and tornadoes. By late this evening, shear will be
decreasing, but moisture involved in this system is still quite
high, and a cold front will spread southeast across the forecast
area after midnight for showers and a few thunderstorms to
continue. Snow levels currently around 10000 feet will lower to
around 9000 feet by midnight, further lowering to around 7500 by
sunrise. Most CAMs showing an increase in shower/storm coverage
after midnight and into sunrise as good lift continues as the cold
front pushes into the area. Moderate to heavy snow is expected
over the northern mountains, with a rain snow mix over the lower
foothills and over the top of the Palmer Divide.

The upper low will be right over the area Tuesday to allow for
scattered to numerous showers across most of the area, with max
temperatures likely only getting into the 50s over the plains,
except low 60s south of the Palmer Divide. Snow will continue,
heavy at times in the northern mountains, especially over the
Front Range Mountains as flow becomes northeast. Hence the warning
for zone 33 (Medicine Bow Mountains and RMNP) and an advisory for
zone 31 (near Rabbit Ears Pass). Good lift over the north-
northeastern part of the area will allow for better precipitation
potential, with 24 hour amounts of 1-2 inches up near the WY/NE
borders. There still will be a little instability around, but will
be limited by the cooler surface temperatures. Cannot rule out a
few weak thunderstorms tomorrow.

.LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday)
Issued at 255 PM MDT Mon May 27 2019

A cut-off trough will linger over Nebraska on Wednesday with
precipitation to its west. Rain showers will be likely across the
northeastern plains. The northern mountains will continue to see
snow as well with north slopes being favored due to the northern
winds. High temperatures will likely be around 20 degrees below
normal as highs in Denver will not make it out of the 60s.

The aforementioned trough begins to drift slowly eastward on
Thursday as upper level flow will be weak and from the west.
Relatively cold air aloft will linger over the area through Friday
which will allow for steep lapse rates in the afternoon due to
the strong heating from the late May sun. Each afternoon, showers
and thunderstorms will form favoring the mountains but they may
drift onto the adjacent plains.

Ridging aloft will move over Colorado on Saturday which will limit
the shower and storm activity. On Sunday, a weak shortwave trough
will move over northern Colorado which will allow for more
widespread showers and storms.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon)
Issued at 255 PM MDT Mon May 27 2019

Weak northeasterly winds continue across the terminals with
scattered to broken ceiling of around 020. Winds will eventually
come out of the northwest later this afternoon into the evening.
Still a chance of more storms around the terminals over the next 3
hours. West/northwest winds expected to develop this evening with
scattered rain showers developing late this evening. VFR
conditions with tempo ILS restrictions this afternoon/evening
with a passing shower or thunderstorm. Cold front to push in
around or after midnight for lowering ceilings to IFR with
showers lasting through much of Tuesday, with a slight chance of
thunder as well Tuesday afternoon.

&&

.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to midnight MDT
Tuesday night for COZ031.

Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to midnight MDT
Tuesday night for COZ033.

&&

SHORT TERM...Kriederman
LONG TERM...Danielson
AVIATION...Kriederman
Hazardous weather outlook, May 27, 10:35 AM MDT, 7 hours 16 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
1035 AM MDT Mon May 27 2019

COZ030>051-281645-
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-
1035 AM MDT Mon May 27 2019

...SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE OVER THE PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...

...MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE OVER THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS
LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING...

This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central
Colorado.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

The potential exists for another round of severe thunderstorms
this afternoon and evening, from areas around Denver north to the
Wyoming border and then east across the northern Colorado plains.
Hail of up to 3 inches in diameter and wind gusts to 60 mph will
be the main threats. Brief but isolated tornadoes are also
possible.

Moderate to heavy snow will begin late tonight and continuing
through Tuesday evening over portions of the northern mountains.
Colder temperatures and numerous showers will spread across the
plains overnight, with a possibility of snow mixing in with rain
over the top of the Palmer Divide.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Rain showers are expected to spread across northeast Colorado
Tuesday and Tuesday night with the heaviest rain over far
northern Colorado. Snow is expected over the mountains with the
snow level falling to 8,000 feet MSL. Snowfall amounts of 6 to 12
inches will be possible in the northern mountains by Wednesday
morning, mainly above 10,000 feet. Up to 16 inches of snow will
be possible over the mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park.

For Wednesday through Sunday, there will be a slight chance for
thunderstorms each day with the best chance being over the
mountains and foothills.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will be needed after 1 pm this afternoon.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 27, 4:59 PM MDT, 52 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
459 PM MDT MON MAY 27 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0457 PM     HAIL             4 N LOCHBUIE            40.06N 104.72W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       WELD               CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0442 PM     HAIL             CROOK                   40.86N 102.81W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0436 PM     TORNADO          5 S CROOK               40.79N 102.80W
05/27/2019                   LOGAN              CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF WEAK TORNADO. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0413 PM     HAIL             ILIFF                   40.76N 103.07W
05/27/2019  M1.75 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL ACCUMULATING TO 3 INCHED DEEP IN TOWN.
            MINOR LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND
            FIELDS. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO VEGETATION IN
            AND AROUND ILIFF.

0334 PM     HAIL             4 N LOGAN CORNERS       40.68N 103.34W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0323 PM     TORNADO          2 ESE WILLARD           40.54N 103.44W
05/27/2019                   LOGAN              CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF NEEDLE TORNADO IN OPEN SPACE. NO
            DAMAGE REPORTED.

0303 PM     TORNADO          4 NNE FORT MORGAN       40.32N 103.77W
05/27/2019                   MORGAN             CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF TOUCHDOWN FOR LESS THAN ONE MINUTE IN
            AN OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0242 PM     HAIL             WIGGINS                 40.23N 104.07W
05/27/2019  M1.25 INCH       MORGAN             CO   PUBLIC

0235 PM     HAIL             WIGGINS                 40.23N 104.07W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       MORGAN             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL RANGING IN SIZE FROM PEAS TO QUARTERS
            MEASURED 3 INCHES DEEP IN THE TOWN OF
            WIGGINS.

0224 PM     HAIL             4 NE WIGGINS            40.28N 104.02W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       MORGAN             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0152 PM     HAIL             11 N STRASBURG          39.89N 104.30W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0143 PM     TORNADO          8 N STRASBURG           39.85N 104.30W
05/27/2019                   ADAMS              CO   STORM CHASER

            WEAK TORNADO WITH A BRIEF TOUCHDOWN IN AN
            OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0113 PM     HAIL             2 WSW MANILA VILLAGE    39.74N 104.55W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORT VIA TWITTER.

0100 PM     HAIL             4 E WATKINS             39.75N 104.52W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&
Local storm report, May 27, 5:05 PM MDT, 46 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
505 PM MDT MON MAY 27 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0458 PM     TORNADO          1 S LOCHBUIE            39.99N 104.72W
05/27/2019                   ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WEAK TORNADO LASTED APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES
            IN OPEN SPACE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST OF
            LOCHBUIE. NO DAMAGE.

0457 PM     HAIL             4 N LOCHBUIE            40.06N 104.72W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       WELD               CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0442 PM     HAIL             CROOK                   40.86N 102.81W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0436 PM     TORNADO          5 S CROOK               40.79N 102.80W
05/27/2019                   LOGAN              CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF WEAK TORNADO. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0413 PM     HAIL             ILIFF                   40.76N 103.07W
05/27/2019  M1.75 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL ACCUMULATING TO 3 INCHED DEEP IN TOWN.
            MINOR LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND
            FIELDS. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO VEGETATION IN
            AND AROUND ILIFF.

0334 PM     HAIL             4 N LOGAN CORNERS       40.68N 103.34W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0323 PM     TORNADO          2 ESE WILLARD           40.54N 103.44W
05/27/2019                   LOGAN              CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF NEEDLE TORNADO IN OPEN SPACE. NO
            DAMAGE REPORTED.

0303 PM     TORNADO          4 NNE FORT MORGAN       40.32N 103.77W
05/27/2019                   MORGAN             CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF TOUCHDOWN FOR LESS THAN ONE MINUTE IN
            AN OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0242 PM     HAIL             WIGGINS                 40.23N 104.07W
05/27/2019  M1.25 INCH       MORGAN             CO   PUBLIC

0235 PM     HAIL             WIGGINS                 40.23N 104.07W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       MORGAN             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL RANGING IN SIZE FROM PEAS TO QUARTERS
            MEASURED 3 INCHES DEEP IN THE TOWN OF
            WIGGINS.

0224 PM     HAIL             4 NE WIGGINS            40.28N 104.02W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       MORGAN             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0152 PM     HAIL             11 N STRASBURG          39.89N 104.30W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0143 PM     TORNADO          8 N STRASBURG           39.85N 104.30W
05/27/2019                   ADAMS              CO   STORM CHASER

            WEAK TORNADO WITH A BRIEF TOUCHDOWN IN AN
            OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0113 PM     HAIL             2 WSW MANILA VILLAGE    39.74N 104.55W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORT VIA TWITTER.

0100 PM     HAIL             4 E WATKINS             39.75N 104.52W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&
Local storm report, May 27, 5:15 PM MDT, 36 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
515 PM MDT MON MAY 27 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0511 PM     HAIL             1 SW OVID               40.95N 102.40W
05/27/2019  M1.75 INCH       SEDGWICK           CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORRENTIAL RAIN.

0457 PM     HAIL             4 N LOCHBUIE            40.06N 104.72W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       WELD               CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0442 PM     HAIL             CROOK                   40.86N 102.81W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0436 PM     TORNADO          5 S CROOK               40.79N 102.80W
05/27/2019                   LOGAN              CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF WEAK TORNADO. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0413 PM     HAIL             ILIFF                   40.76N 103.07W
05/27/2019  M1.75 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL ACCUMULATING TO 3 INCHED DEEP IN TOWN.
            MINOR LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND
            FIELDS. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO VEGETATION IN
            AND AROUND ILIFF.

0334 PM     HAIL             4 N LOGAN CORNERS       40.68N 103.34W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0323 PM     TORNADO          2 ESE WILLARD           40.54N 103.44W
05/27/2019                   LOGAN              CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF NEEDLE TORNADO IN OPEN SPACE. NO
            DAMAGE REPORTED.

0303 PM     TORNADO          4 NNE FORT MORGAN       40.32N 103.77W
05/27/2019                   MORGAN             CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF TOUCHDOWN FOR LESS THAN ONE MINUTE IN
            AN OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0242 PM     HAIL             WIGGINS                 40.23N 104.07W
05/27/2019  M1.25 INCH       MORGAN             CO   PUBLIC

0235 PM     HAIL             WIGGINS                 40.23N 104.07W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       MORGAN             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL RANGING IN SIZE FROM PEAS TO QUARTERS
            MEASURED 3 INCHES DEEP IN THE TOWN OF
            WIGGINS.

0224 PM     HAIL             4 NE WIGGINS            40.28N 104.02W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       MORGAN             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0152 PM     HAIL             11 N STRASBURG          39.89N 104.30W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0143 PM     TORNADO          8 N STRASBURG           39.85N 104.30W
05/27/2019                   ADAMS              CO   STORM CHASER

            WEAK TORNADO WITH A BRIEF TOUCHDOWN IN AN
            OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0113 PM     HAIL             2 WSW MANILA VILLAGE    39.74N 104.55W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORT VIA TWITTER.

0100 PM     HAIL             4 E WATKINS             39.75N 104.52W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&
Local storm report, May 27, 5:28 PM MDT, 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
528 PM MDT MON MAY 27 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0525 PM     HAIL             JULESBURG               40.99N 102.27W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       SEDGWICK           CO   EMERGENCY MNGR

0511 PM     HAIL             1 SW OVID               40.95N 102.40W
05/27/2019  M1.75 INCH       SEDGWICK           CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORRENTIAL RAIN.

0458 PM     TORNADO          1 S LOCHBUIE            39.99N 104.72W
05/27/2019                   ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WEAK TORNADO LASTED APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES
            IN OPEN SPACE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST OF
            LOCHBUIE. NO DAMAGE.

0457 PM     HAIL             4 N LOCHBUIE            40.06N 104.72W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       WELD               CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0442 PM     HAIL             CROOK                   40.86N 102.81W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0436 PM     TORNADO          5 S CROOK               40.79N 102.80W
05/27/2019                   LOGAN              CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF WEAK TORNADO. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0413 PM     HAIL             ILIFF                   40.76N 103.07W
05/27/2019  M1.75 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL ACCUMULATING TO 3 INCHED DEEP IN TOWN.
            MINOR LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND
            FIELDS. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO VEGETATION IN
            AND AROUND ILIFF.

0334 PM     HAIL             4 N LOGAN CORNERS       40.68N 103.34W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0323 PM     TORNADO          2 ESE WILLARD           40.54N 103.44W
05/27/2019                   LOGAN              CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF NEEDLE TORNADO IN OPEN SPACE. NO
            DAMAGE REPORTED.

0303 PM     TORNADO          4 NNE FORT MORGAN       40.32N 103.77W
05/27/2019                   MORGAN             CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF TOUCHDOWN FOR LESS THAN ONE MINUTE IN
            AN OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0242 PM     HAIL             WIGGINS                 40.23N 104.07W
05/27/2019  M1.25 INCH       MORGAN             CO   PUBLIC

0235 PM     HAIL             WIGGINS                 40.23N 104.07W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       MORGAN             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL RANGING IN SIZE FROM PEAS TO QUARTERS
            MEASURED 3 INCHES DEEP IN THE TOWN OF
            WIGGINS.

0224 PM     HAIL             4 NE WIGGINS            40.28N 104.02W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       MORGAN             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0152 PM     HAIL             11 N STRASBURG          39.89N 104.30W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0143 PM     TORNADO          8 N STRASBURG           39.85N 104.30W
05/27/2019                   ADAMS              CO   STORM CHASER

            WEAK TORNADO WITH A BRIEF TOUCHDOWN IN AN
            OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0113 PM     HAIL             2 WSW MANILA VILLAGE    39.74N 104.55W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORT VIA TWITTER.

0100 PM     HAIL             4 E WATKINS             39.75N 104.52W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&
Local storm report, May 27, 5:29 PM MDT, 22 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
529 PM MDT MON MAY 27 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0527 PM     HAIL             2 NE GARDEN CITY        40.41N 104.66W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       WELD               CO   PUBLIC

0525 PM     HAIL             JULESBURG               40.99N 102.27W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       SEDGWICK           CO   EMERGENCY MNGR

0511 PM     HAIL             1 SW OVID               40.95N 102.40W
05/27/2019  M1.75 INCH       SEDGWICK           CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORRENTIAL RAIN.

0458 PM     TORNADO          1 S LOCHBUIE            39.99N 104.72W
05/27/2019                   ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WEAK TORNADO LASTED APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES
            IN OPEN SPACE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST OF
            LOCHBUIE. NO DAMAGE.

0457 PM     HAIL             4 N LOCHBUIE            40.06N 104.72W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       WELD               CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0442 PM     HAIL             CROOK                   40.86N 102.81W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0436 PM     TORNADO          5 S CROOK               40.79N 102.80W
05/27/2019                   LOGAN              CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF WEAK TORNADO. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0413 PM     HAIL             ILIFF                   40.76N 103.07W
05/27/2019  M1.75 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL ACCUMULATING TO 3 INCHED DEEP IN TOWN.
            MINOR LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND
            FIELDS. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO VEGETATION IN
            AND AROUND ILIFF.

0334 PM     HAIL             4 N LOGAN CORNERS       40.68N 103.34W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0323 PM     TORNADO          2 ESE WILLARD           40.54N 103.44W
05/27/2019                   LOGAN              CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF NEEDLE TORNADO IN OPEN SPACE. NO
            DAMAGE REPORTED.

0303 PM     TORNADO          4 NNE FORT MORGAN       40.32N 103.77W
05/27/2019                   MORGAN             CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF TOUCHDOWN FOR LESS THAN ONE MINUTE IN
            AN OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0242 PM     HAIL             WIGGINS                 40.23N 104.07W
05/27/2019  M1.25 INCH       MORGAN             CO   PUBLIC

0235 PM     HAIL             WIGGINS                 40.23N 104.07W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       MORGAN             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL RANGING IN SIZE FROM PEAS TO QUARTERS
            MEASURED 3 INCHES DEEP IN THE TOWN OF
            WIGGINS.

0224 PM     HAIL             4 NE WIGGINS            40.28N 104.02W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       MORGAN             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0152 PM     HAIL             11 N STRASBURG          39.89N 104.30W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0143 PM     TORNADO          8 N STRASBURG           39.85N 104.30W
05/27/2019                   ADAMS              CO   STORM CHASER

            WEAK TORNADO WITH A BRIEF TOUCHDOWN IN AN
            OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0113 PM     HAIL             2 WSW MANILA VILLAGE    39.74N 104.55W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORT VIA TWITTER.

0100 PM     HAIL             4 E WATKINS             39.75N 104.52W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&
Local storm report, May 27, 5:32 PM MDT, 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
532 PM MDT MON MAY 27 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0527 PM     HAIL             2 NE GARDEN CITY        40.41N 104.66W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       WELD               CO   PUBLIC

0525 PM     HAIL             JULESBURG               40.99N 102.27W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       SEDGWICK           CO   EMERGENCY MNGR

0511 PM     HAIL             1 SW OVID               40.95N 102.40W
05/27/2019  M1.75 INCH       SEDGWICK           CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORRENTIAL RAIN.

0505 PM     TORNADO          1 N HUDSON              40.09N 104.64W
05/27/2019                   WELD               CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF WEAK TORNADO.

0458 PM     TORNADO          1 S LOCHBUIE            39.99N 104.72W
05/27/2019                   ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WEAK TORNADO LASTED APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES
            IN OPEN SPACE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST OF
            LOCHBUIE. NO DAMAGE.

0457 PM     HAIL             4 N LOCHBUIE            40.06N 104.72W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       WELD               CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0442 PM     HAIL             CROOK                   40.86N 102.81W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0436 PM     TORNADO          5 S CROOK               40.79N 102.80W
05/27/2019                   LOGAN              CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF WEAK TORNADO. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0413 PM     HAIL             ILIFF                   40.76N 103.07W
05/27/2019  M1.75 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL ACCUMULATING TO 3 INCHED DEEP IN TOWN.
            MINOR LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND
            FIELDS. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO VEGETATION IN
            AND AROUND ILIFF.

0334 PM     HAIL             4 N LOGAN CORNERS       40.68N 103.34W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       LOGAN              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0323 PM     TORNADO          2 ESE WILLARD           40.54N 103.44W
05/27/2019                   LOGAN              CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF NEEDLE TORNADO IN OPEN SPACE. NO
            DAMAGE REPORTED.

0303 PM     TORNADO          4 NNE FORT MORGAN       40.32N 103.77W
05/27/2019                   MORGAN             CO   STORM CHASER

            BRIEF TOUCHDOWN FOR LESS THAN ONE MINUTE IN
            AN OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0242 PM     HAIL             WIGGINS                 40.23N 104.07W
05/27/2019  M1.25 INCH       MORGAN             CO   PUBLIC

0235 PM     HAIL             WIGGINS                 40.23N 104.07W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       MORGAN             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL RANGING IN SIZE FROM PEAS TO QUARTERS
            MEASURED 3 INCHES DEEP IN THE TOWN OF
            WIGGINS.

0224 PM     HAIL             4 NE WIGGINS            40.28N 104.02W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       MORGAN             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0152 PM     HAIL             11 N STRASBURG          39.89N 104.30W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0143 PM     TORNADO          8 N STRASBURG           39.85N 104.30W
05/27/2019                   ADAMS              CO   STORM CHASER

            WEAK TORNADO WITH A BRIEF TOUCHDOWN IN AN
            OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

0113 PM     HAIL             2 WSW MANILA VILLAGE    39.74N 104.55W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORT VIA TWITTER.

0100 PM     HAIL             4 E WATKINS             39.75N 104.52W
05/27/2019  M1.00 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

The air that afternoon

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Denver, CO (KDEN), 12:00Z

11.9 hours before the tornado, 93 km from the path. May 27, 2019.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2019-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -82907, lifted condensation level 1644 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2019-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 18 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 40 knots.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-82907 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1644 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
5 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
18 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
12 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
5.2 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Denver, CO (KDEN), 00:00Z

0.1 hours after it, 93 km from the path. May 28, 2019.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2019-05-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -99, lifted condensation level 2729 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2019-05-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 79 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 34 knots.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-99 J/kg
Surface CAPE
42 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2729 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
79 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
116 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
8.2 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Holyoke (HEQ), 19 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
00:00 UTC

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 136 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 23:51 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2019 tornado in ColoradoEvery tornado in Colorado since 1950Warnings in force in Colorado nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of May 27, 2019

62 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 271:10 AM CDTEF0Potter, TX1.650
May 271:13 AM CDTEF0Mitchell, KS0.025$25,000
May 2712:07 PM CDTEF0Freeborn, MN0.650
May 2712:23 PM CDTEF1Floyd, IA9.8105$625,000
May 271:10 PM CDTEF0Chickasaw, IA4.125$35,000
May 271:23 PM CDTEF0Fillmore, MN0.225$15,000
May 271:25 PM CDTEF1Howard, IA12.695$1.3 million
May 271:25 PM CDTEF3Van Buren, IA7.3100
May 271:29 PM CDTEF0Fillmore, MN0.215$5,000
May 271:36 PM CDTEF1Lee, IA0.520
May 271:40 PM CDTEF0Fillmore, MN0.225$20,000
May 271:47 PM CDTEF0Kendall, IL1.030
May 271:49 PM CDTEF0Howard, IA to MN6.230$202,000
May 272:03 PM CDTEF0Des Moines, IA0.120
May 272:04 PM CDTEF0Will, IL3.2300
May 273:15 PM CDTEF0Knox, IL0.110
May 273:02 PM MDTEF0Morgan, CO0.025
May 273:22 PM MDTEF0Logan, CO0.025
May 274:27 PM CDTEF0Lee, IL0.730
May 274:27 PM CDTEF0Cook, IL0.850
May 274:30 PM CDTEF0Lake, IN1.1100
May 274:38 PM CDTEF0Woodford, IL0.110
May 273:40 PM MDTEF0Elmore, ID0.510
May 274:35 PM MDTEF0Logan, CO0.025
May 274:44 PM MDTEF0Sedgwick, CO0.050
May 274:53 PM MDTEF0Adams, CO0.025
May 275:04 PM MDTEF0Weld, CO0.025
May 275:25 PM MDTUnratedYuma, CO0.010
May 277:34 PM EDTEF1Miami, IN0.650
May 277:51 PM EDTEF3Fulton, IN13.7800
May 278:05 PM EDTEF2Madison, IN5.91001$150,000
May 278:10 PM EDTEF2Grant, IN4.1150
May 278:26 PM EDTEF1Wabash, IN1.950
May 278:29 PM EDTEF1Henry, IN0.250$20,000
May 276:31 PM MDTEF0Phillips, CO0.025
May 278:39 PM EDTEF1Henry, IN2.5200$40,000
May 276:43 PM MDTEF0Chase, NE0.225
May 278:59 PM EDTEF3Wells, IN12.81,2002
May 277:23 PM MDTEF1Chase, NE5.5250$200,000
May 277:37 PM MDTEF0Chase, NE0.150$15,000
May 279:48 PM EDTEF1Darke, OH1.4100$100,000
May 2710:02 PM EDTEF3Mercer, OH10.825018$15 million
May 2710:04 PM EDTEF1Darke, OH0.5200$500,000
May 278:05 PM MDTEF0Chase, NE0.225$15,000
May 2710:25 PM EDTEF3Darke, OH10.51,3201$10 million
May 2710:33 PM EDTEF1Auglaize, OH1.3150$500,000
May 2710:41 PM EDTEF4Dayton tornado, OH18.21,050166$500 million
May 2710:47 PM EDTEF0Auglaize, OH4.0150$50,000
May 2710:47 PM EDTEF0Miami, OH5.6200$50,000
May 2711:01 PM EDTEF0Auglaize, OH0.230$10,000
May 2711:08 PM EDTEF0Miami, OH1.150$10,000
May 2711:12 PM EDTEF3Montgomery, OH9.91,230$51 million
May 2711:19 PM EDTEF0Miami, OH3.050$70,000
May 2711:28 PM EDTEF0Hardin, OH2.050$25,000
May 2711:34 PM EDTEF2Montgomery, OH7.6440$1.0 million
May 2710:45 PM CDTEF0Nuckolls, NE0.075$75,000
May 2711:48 PM EDTEF1Greene, OH5.8250$53,000
May 2712:23 AM EDTEF0Greene, OH4.2250$200,000
May 2712:57 AM EDTEF1Pickaway, OH3.8150$1.0 million
May 271:09 AM EDTEF1Pickaway, OH1.675$1.5 million

All 63 of them

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.