Tornadoes · United States · Colorado · 2024

Unrated tornado, Vernon, Colorado, August 11, 2024

This Unrated tornado ran 0.5 miles across Yuma County on August 11, 2024, touching down at 4:41 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 mph

    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. Unratedthis tornado

    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
Unrated
Date
August 11, 2024
Touchdown
4:41 PM MDT (22:41 UTC)
Lifted
4:43 PM MDT (22:43 UTC)
On the ground
2 minutes
Path length
0.5 miles (0.7 km)
Path width
25 yards (23 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Yuma County
Touchdown point
39.951, -102.313
Lift-off point
39.945, -102.310
Record number
2408111641-01

What the Weather Service recorded

In the early afternoon of the 11th, a single thunderstorm formed in northeastern Colorado and moved southeast. As the storm moved across Yuma county, it produced winds up to 70 MPH, 3 inch hail, and a brief tornado.

Storm chaser relayed a photo to us of a shed in Vernon that appeared to be thrown to the west about 75 feet. The direction of the storms were to the southeast. Tornado rated EF-U because we were un able to determine how structurally sound the shed was before the tornado occurred.

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 Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Aug 11, 2:07 PM MDT, 2 hours 34 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Medium confidence for strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. All hazards are possible including wind gusts up to 70 mph and up to 2" hail. There is low confidence for tornadoes this afternoon.
  • Low confidence for severe weather occurring Monday afternoon/evening over the west half of the forecast area.
  • High rainfall chances Monday night.
  • Rain chances continue through most of the week and temperatures gradually warm.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 11, 2:07 PM MDT, 2 hours 34 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
207 PM MDT Sun Aug 11 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Medium confidence for strong to severe thunderstorms this
  afternoon and evening. All hazards are possible including wind
  gusts up to 70 mph and up to 2" hail. There is low confidence
  for tornadoes this afternoon.

- Low confidence for severe weather occurring Monday
  afternoon/evening over the west half of the forecast area.

- High rainfall chances Monday night.

- Rain chances continue through most of the week and
  temperatures gradually warm.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 204 PM MDT Sun Aug 11 2024

Latest upper air analysis shows the ridge over the Great Basin.  The
flow over the ridge is almost zonal.  Within the flow are small
scale short wave troughs.  The strongest of these troughs is over
Eastern Wyoming.  Satellite imagery shows cumulus clouds forming
ahead of this trough.  Further east a large area of stratus
continues to be in place over the Plains.

For the rest of today the current storm activity over Southeast
Wyoming will continue to progress east-southeastward.  As the storms
move southeast they will encounter higher instability and deep layer
shear.  As such, am expecting the storms to increase in intensity.
Models show a single supercell forming over far Northeast CO, moving
southeast along the dry line into the forecast area.  If this does
happen there may be a potential for a tornado to occur given the
source for surface vorticity along the boundary.  If this does
happen the supercell will be entering the forecast area during the
latter half of the afternoon.

This evening the supercell, assuming it does form, will continue to
track southeast along the corridor of instability along the dry
line.  The eastern border of the instability corridor may be the
west edge of the cloud cover.  The storm should weaken as surface
heating ends.  However the supercell can overcome the increasing
stability for a time, but should eventually end before late evening.
Later on storm activity should continue into KS with the upper level
short wave trough.  As the trough moves over the central part of the
forecast area it will begin to fill, which should cause storm
activity to wane. Am not anticipating any severe weather during the
latter half of the evening given the large dew point depressions
above the inversion.

Meanwhile another area of concern will be over Central CO where a
cluster of thunderstorms should move through from another upper
level short wave trough.  This activity will be much less organized
due to the upper level short wave trough being less intense.  As
this activity continues east it should weaken near the KS/CO border
where the instability ends.  Main threat with this activity will
likely be damaging wind gusts.

A cold front will move through behind the storm activity.

Later in the night the storm activity may increase in coverage as
the upper level short wave trough moves over the LLJ nose in Central
KS.

Toward sunrise fog will return to most of the forecast area.
Locations east of the CO border will generally be favored for
visibility of less than a half mile.

Monday will be warmer than today despite the cold front passage.
This is mainly due to no cloud cover.  The afternoon looks to be a
similar pattern to today; an upper level short wave trough
approaches from the west bringing storm activity with it.  Also like
today, instability will be best over Eastern CO, but mostly west of
the forecast area.  If strong to severe thunderstorms form west of
the forecast area, they may move into the forecast area then weaken
due to the more stable environment.

Monday night another strong upper level short wave trough moves over
the forecast area.  Models agree for the high rainfall chances.
However, am concerned the is based on plentiful moisture overhead
and the assumption an upper level short wave trough will move
through; which has happened in this pattern already. However the
ECMWF and GFS ensembles have high probability of atleast .1" and
atleast .5" of rainfall occurring. Currently there is no good reason
to not have high chances other than the concern that models are too
high with the rainfall chances.  Am thinking the rainfall activity
will end up being lower in coverage than what is currently being
forecast.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Issued at 106 PM MDT Sun Aug 11 2024

The long-term will start off with a high pressure system in the
northern Texas/southern Oklahoma area extending a ridge over the
High Plains. In the Pacific Northwest, a trough will begin cutting
into the CONUS and will flatten out the ridge by the mid week,
leaving us under fairly zonal flow for a couple of days before the
ridge builds back in.

As the leading edge of the upper-level trough pushes over the
Rockies, a mid-level shortwave is expected to form and impact the
CWA. Current guidance is suggesting around Wednesday 3-6Z is when
the trough will force a cold front into the area. Around the same
time, the 850mb LLJ looks to kick up over the eastern half of the
CWA from the south-southwest at 40-50kts. The LLJ will bring in some
more moisture for the storms to work with and increase forcing.
Storms will generally be focused on the northern 2/3 of the CWA.
There is a Marginal outlook for severe weather along and west of KS
highway 27, where the best storm parameter will likely meet. Storms
will then decay and weaken farther to the east, but there is a
chance these storms will still be severe in nature as they move on
to the east. High temperatures will once again play a large role in
how likely severe weather will be. Maximum temperatures Tuesday look
to warm into the upper 80s in the southwestern CWA and upper 70s in
the northeastern CWA. The farther east the warm temperatures, the
farther east the severe weather.

Through Thursday or Friday, we look to be heavily influenced by the
upper-level trough, which will either provide northwesterly or zonal
flow during this time. This will allow for persistent, but low,
chances at precipitation and temperatures in the 80s and low 90s.
Around Friday, the trough moves off and the ridge builds back into
the region. This will lower precipitation chances even more and
increase temperatures over the weekend. Highs look to warm into the
upper 80s to mid 90s Friday onward. Overnight temperatures will cool
into the mid 50s to mid 60s throughout the period.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1146 AM MDT Sun Aug 11 2024

IFR to VFR conditions forecast for the TAFs. Main focus
continues to be timing the increasing ceiling height. Model data
is performing a bit better today with the ceiling trends
compared to yesterday, giving more confidence in the forecast.
Ceilings will be VFR by mid afternoon then below VFR ceiling
will return later tonight. Fog is also expected to occur again
tonight.

KGLD may have a thunderstorm move within the vicinity of the
site, so added a mention for the best timeframe for that to
occur. At this point am not anticipating winds over 50kts with
any storms that approach.

&&

.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...None.
CO...None.
NE...None.

&&

SHORT TERM...JTL
LONG TERM...
AVIATION...JTL
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 11, 2:48 PM MDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Goodland KS
248 PM MDT Sun Aug 11 2024

KSZ003-004-015-016-029-041-042-NEZ081-122100-
Decatur-Norton-Sheridan-Graham-Gove-Greeley-Wichita-Red Willow-
248 PM MDT Sun Aug 11 2024 /348 PM CDT Sun Aug 11 2024/

This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska and
northwest Kansas.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

Visibility will likely fall to a half mile or less for most of the
Tri-State Area late tonight into Monday morning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...

Visibility will likely fall to a half mile or less for most of the
area for the first half of Monday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed.

COZ090>092-KSZ001-002-013-014-027-028-NEZ079-080-122100-
Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne-Rawlins-Sherman-Thomas-Wallace-Logan-Dundy-
Hitchcock-
248 PM MDT Sun Aug 11 2024 /348 PM CDT Sun Aug 11 2024/

This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska...
northwest Kansas and east central Colorado.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

Visibility will likely fall to a half mile or less for most of the
Tri-State Area late tonight into Monday morning.

Strong to severe storms may move into the northwest part of the Tri-
State Area from 3 PM to 9 PM MDT. Damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph
and up to 2 inch hail are the main threats. There is low confidence a
tornado or two may develop during the afternoon hours. A Severe
Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for this threat.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...

Visibility will likely fall to a half mile or less for most of the
area for the first half of Monday morning.

There is a Marginal outlook for severe storms Monday and Tuesday
during the afternoon and evening hours. Locations generally along
and west of the eastern Colorado border could see storms that
produce 60 MPH winds and 1 inch diameter hail.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

JTL

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 11, 4:19 PM MDT, 22 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 11, 4:27 PM MDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
427 PM MDT Sun Aug 11 2024

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

0400 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     9 N Eckley              40.24N 102.51W
08/11/2024  E60 MPH          Yuma               CO   Storm Chaser

            estimated 50-60 MPH gusts at this location
            as storm moved through.

&&

JTL
Local storm report, Aug 11, 4:28 PM MDT, 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
428 PM MDT Sun Aug 11 2024

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

0404 PM     Hail             6 N Eckley              40.20N 102.49W
08/11/2024  M0.88 Inch       Yuma               CO   Storm Chaser

            Road covered in nickel sized hail. Near
            intersection of CR T and 44.

&&

JTL
Local storm report, Aug 11, 4:34 PM MDT, 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
434 PM MDT Sun Aug 11 2024

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

0427 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 SE Eckley             40.06N 102.42W
08/11/2024  E54 MPH          Yuma               CO   Mesonet

            GPACO on Weather Link.

&&

JTL
Local storm report, Aug 11, 4:35 PM MDT, 6 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
435 PM MDT Sun Aug 11 2024

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

0423 PM     Hail             4 N Eckley              40.16N 102.49W
08/11/2024  E1.50 Inch       Yuma               CO   Storm Chaser

            reported near CR T and 41.

&&

JTL
Local storm report, Aug 11, 4:37 PM MDT, 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
437 PM MDT Sun Aug 11 2024

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

0420 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 SSE Eckley            40.10N 102.48W
08/11/2024  M50 MPH          Yuma               CO   Mesonet

            Precision Ag Office.

&&

JTL

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.

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), 12:00Z

10.7 hours before the tornado, 195 km from the path. August 11, 2024.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 12:00Z on 2024-08-11Temperature 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 -93465, lifted condensation level 952 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 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, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 12:00Z on 2024-08-11The 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 94 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 27 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
-93465 J/kg
Surface CAPE
5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
952 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
94 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
249 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
3.4 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Wray (RYA), 18 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), 83 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 22:39 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 2024 tornado in ColoradoEvery tornado in Colorado since 1950Warnings in force in Colorado nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of August 11, 2024

1 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
August 112:18 PM EDTEF0St. Lawrence, NY0.120

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.