Tornadoes · United States · Colorado

Tornadoes in Lincoln County, Colorado

118 tornadoes have crossed Lincoln County since 1950, 6th of the 54 counties in Colorado with a tornado on record, an average of 1.6 a year. They have killed 0 people and injured 15. None was rated F4 or above.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The United States rated tornadoes on Ted Fujita’s F scale until 31 January 2007 and on the Enhanced Fujita scale after it. Both run from 0 to 5, and both rate the damage rather than measure the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

F0 / EF040 to 72 mph on the F scale, 65 to 85 mph on the EF scale
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F1 / EF173 to 112 mph on the F scale, 86 to 110 mph on the EF scale
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2 / EF2113 to 157 mph on the F scale, 111 to 135 mph on the EF scale
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.
F3 / EF3158 to 206 mph on the F scale, 136 to 165 mph on the EF scale
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4 / EF4207 to 260 mph on the F scale, 166 to 200 mph on the EF scale
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5 / EF5261 to 318 mph on the F scale, over 200 mph on the EF scale
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.
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.

Now

Tornadoes: 118
Deaths: 0
Injuries: 15
F4 and above: 0
Worst on record: F3, May 31, 1999

The strongest

Every year with a tornado

The 42 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Lincoln County. Each year links to every tornado in Colorado that year.

Year	Tornadoes	Injuries	Strongest
2023	3		EF0
2021	8		EF0
2020	1		EF0
2019	1		EF0
2018	3		EF0
2015	3		EF1
2014	6		EF1
2013	2		EF0
2010	3		EF1
2009	3		EF0
2008	4		EF0
2007	2		EF0
2005	3		F0
2004	1		F0
2003	2		F0
2001	8		F0
1999	5		F3
1997	1		F0
1996	7		F1
1994	3		F0
1993	4		F0
1992	7		F1
1991	4		F1
1990	2	14	F3
1989	2		F1
1988	1		F1
1987	2		F1
1986	2		F1
1984	1		F1
1983	2		F1
1982	5		F2
1980	1		F1
1978	3		F0
1977	3		F2
1975	1		F1
1972	2		F0
1966	1		F0
1965	1		F2
1962	1		F0
1956	2		F0
1955	1		F0
1951	1	1	F2

Every tornado that crossed Lincoln County

118 tornadoes, newest first.

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
July 13, 2023	2:00 PM MDT	Unrated	Lincoln	0.0	25
June 16, 2023	4:29 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	20
May 24, 2023	6:26 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	25
May 23, 2021	4:45 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.5	25
May 23, 2021	2:00 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	25
May 22, 2021	4:28 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	25
May 22, 2021	4:04 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	25
May 22, 2021	3:59 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	25
May 22, 2021	3:55 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	25
April 27, 2021	3:57 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	50
April 27, 2021	2:32 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	50
August 4, 2020	7:56 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	50
May 26, 2019	5:58 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	50
June 19, 2018	5:11 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	50
June 19, 2018	4:52 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	50
June 19, 2018	4:48 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	50
August 17, 2015	7:00 PM MDT	EF1	Lincoln	0.0	100		$100,000
August 17, 2015	5:55 PM MDT	EF1	Lincoln	0.0	100		$50,000
May 9, 2015	3:40 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.0	50
June 14, 2014	5:11 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 4, 2014	10:44 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	3.4	100
June 4, 2014	10:15 PM MDT	EF1	Lincoln	5.2	200
June 4, 2014	8:15 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
May 8, 2014	3:27 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
May 8, 2014	3:10 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
August 3, 2013	4:07 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 4, 2013	5:53 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
July 4, 2010	9:15 PM MDT	EF1	Lincoln	0.1	100		$25,000
June 11, 2010	7:10 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
April 23, 2010	11:17 AM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
July 27, 2009	5:21 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
July 23, 2009	3:15 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
April 17, 2009	3:49 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
August 17, 2008	5:06 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 20, 2008	7:38 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 20, 2008	12:03 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 20, 2008	11:57 AM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
April 24, 2007	12:58 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	0.1	50
April 24, 2007	12:38 PM MDT	EF0	Lincoln	2.0	50
July 9, 2005	6:54 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 2, 2005	7:03 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 2, 2005	6:50 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 15, 2004	6:04 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 6, 2003	7:55 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 6, 2003	7:36 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 9, 2001	4:35 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.5	1,320
June 9, 2001	4:18 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 9, 2001	3:10 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 9, 2001	2:32 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	5.0	880
June 9, 2001	2:14 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 9, 2001	2:12 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 7, 2001	6:00 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	25
May 28, 2001	8:30 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.2	50
May 31, 1999	7:51 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	0.5	50
May 31, 1999	7:30 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	0
May 31, 1999	6:47 PM MDT	F3	Lincoln	7.0	200		$4.0 million
May 31, 1999	6:45 PM MDT	F2	Lincoln	7.0	100
May 16, 1999	5:50 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	0
June 1, 1997	9:40 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
August 3, 1996	2:35 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
July 30, 1996	4:17 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	1.0	100
July 23, 1996	5:38 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
July 23, 1996	5:30 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
July 23, 1996	5:30 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
July 23, 1996	5:16 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
July 23, 1996	5:16 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	50
June 18, 1994	6:43 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
June 18, 1994	6:43 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
June 18, 1994	5:25 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
August 12, 1993	8:16 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
July 20, 1993	5:50 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
July 12, 1993	4:08 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
July 12, 1993	3:50 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
July 12, 1992	7:30 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10		$500 to $5,000
June 27, 1992	4:28 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
June 5, 1992	3:25 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10		$500 to $5,000
June 5, 1992	3:06 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
June 5, 1992	2:52 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	3.0	200
June 5, 1992	2:52 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
March 8, 1992	4:53 PM MST	F0	Lincoln	9.0	50
May 23, 1991	3:41 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.2	10
May 2, 1991	4:45 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
May 2, 1991	4:30 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	0.2	27		$50,000 to $500,000
May 2, 1991	4:15 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.2	10
June 6, 1990	8:51 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
June 6, 1990	8:45 PM MDT	F3	Lincoln	7.0	500	14	$5 million to $50 million
July 13, 1989	9:55 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	0.8	40
July 13, 1989	9:18 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	0.8	40
July 28, 1988	7:00 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	1.0	30
June 24, 1987	6:44 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	0.6	30
June 24, 1987	6:44 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	0.6	30
August 3, 1986	5:48 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	0.5	30
June 9, 1986	5:30 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	0.5	40
June 12, 1984	7:07 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	0.3	50
June 9, 1983	6:08 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	1.0	37		under $50
April 30, 1983	4:40 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	2.5	50		under $50
July 13, 1982	3:13 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	0.5	50		under $50
July 13, 1982	3:10 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	1.0	80		under $50
June 14, 1982	2:00 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	1.0	100		under $50
June 1, 1982	6:45 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	1.0	100		under $50
May 29, 1982	6:10 PM MDT	F2	Lincoln	1.0	100
June 30, 1980	3:30 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	2.0	30
June 23, 1978	5:35 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.3	50
June 5, 1978	7:00 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.3	50
May 21, 1978	4:44 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.8	17
June 2, 1977	2:55 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.2	30
March 18, 1977	2:55 PM MST	F2	Lincoln	1.5	67
March 18, 1977	2:55 PM MST	F2	Lincoln	1.5	67
May 12, 1975	4:08 PM MDT	F1	Lincoln	0.3	100		$5,000 to $50,000
July 7, 1972	7:50 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10		$500 to $5,000
June 22, 1972	7:00 PM MDT	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
April 13, 1966	10:50 AM GMT-7	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
May 23, 1965	3:41 PM GMT-6	F2	Lincoln	4.6	67		$5,000 to $50,000
July 20, 1962	3:00 PM GMT-7	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
October 24, 1956	5:10 PM GMT-7	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10		under $50
July 17, 1956	2:36 PM GMT-7	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
June 4, 1955	11:20 AM GMT-7	F0	Lincoln	0.1	10
June 6, 1951	12:30 PM GMT-7	F2	Lincoln	4.7	217	1	$5,000 to $50,000

Nearby

Warnings in force in Lincoln County The forecast for Lincoln County The live radar over Lincoln County Every county in Colorado

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.