Denver/Boulder, CO

Weather Forecast Office

Northeast Colorado Memorial Day Tornadoes May 28, 2018

Overview

(Updated 5/30/2016 @ 1:35 PM MDT) 15 tornadoes were reported in Colorado and observed by spotters and chasers during the afternoon of May 28, 2018. Three of the 15 tornadoes occurred in Kit Carson County which is serviced by the Goodland, KS National Weather Service Office. To see information on the Kit Carson County tornadoes, visit their storm summary page (Coming Soon). Severe thunderstorms formed the afternoon of Memorial Day, 2018, (May 28). Some of the strongest storms formed across northeast Colorado, along a surface convergence boundary. The surface convergence boundary extended from Kit Carson County north into Washington County, and then though Morgan and Weld Counties. Intense convection that developed right on top of the boundary generated several tornadoes, with a few occurring simultaneously, especially across extreme southeast Washington County and northern Kit Carson County. No damage has been reported from any of the tornadoes, and there have been no injuries or fatalities. The heaviest damage (not necessarily from the strongest tornado) occurred in Cope, CO, from an EF-1 tornado causing extensive damage to a carport and garage on the southeast side of town, and downed a few trees. The storms also produced hail up to the size of tennis balls in Washington County. Further west, across the foothills west of Denver and across Denver Metro, instability was weaker and thus marginally severe hail occurred, including accumulating hail across the southern part of the metro area.


	Storm Report Locations

Tornado
Photos
Radar

Tornadoes:

Tornado #1 7 mi E of Thurman
Washington County

Date	May 28, 2018
Time (Local)	4:22 - 4:30 PM
EF Rating	0 (prelim)
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	Unknown
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A tornado occurred between 422 pm and 430 pm just north of the Lincoln-Washington County line and was viewed by three different chase groups. The tornado lasted 5 to 8 minutes based on eyewitness accounts. Location is a few miles west of intersection CR 1 and CR LL in Washington county. No damage reported.

Tornado #2 4 mi S of Arickaree School
Washington County

Date	May 28, 2018
Time (Local)	5:00 - 5:03 PM
EF Rating	0 (prelim)
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	Unknown
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A tornado occurred in corn field. Damage to crops likely occurred.

Tornadoes #3 and #4 7 mi SSW of Arickaree School
Washington County

Date	May 28, 2018
Time (Local)	5:00 - 5:07 PM
EF Rating	0 (prelim)
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	Unknown
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Two tornadoes in close proximity to each other lasted 5-7 minutes each. Chasers could see a third tornado (#2 listed above) at the same time as these two. No damage reported.

Tornado #5 4 mi SSE of Goodrich
Morgan County

Date	May 28, 2018
Time (Local)	5:10 - 5:15 PM
EF Rating	0 (prelim)
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	Unknown
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A tornado touched down near CR U and was on the ground to near CR 9. Minor crop damage occurred.

Tornado #6 5 mi WSW of Cope
Washington County

Date	May 28, 2018
Time (Local)	5:11 - 5:27 PM
EF Rating	0 (prelim)
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	Unknown
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: This is the first of three tornadoes visible simultaneously across rural Washington County. This tornado was rotating anticyclonic. No damage was reported.

Tornado #7 5 mi WSW of Cope
Washington County

Date	May 28, 2018
Time (Local)	5:15 - 5:39 PM
EF Rating	0 (prelim)
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	Unknown
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: This is the second of three tornadoes visible simultaneously across rural Washington County. This tornado was cyclonic and crossed into Kit Carson County before dissipating. No damage was reported.

Tornado #8 8 mi ENE of Thurman
Washington County

Date	May 28, 2018
Time (Local)	5:29 - 5:32 PM
EF Rating	0 (prelim)
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	Unknown
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: This is the third of three tornadoes visible simultaneously across rural Washington County. This tornado was cyclonic and short lived. It was likely very close to the Washington/Kit Carson County line. No damage was reported.

Tornado #9 7 mi S of Grover
Weld County

Date	May 28, 2018
Time (Local)	5:34 - 5:35 PM
EF Rating	0 (prelim)
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	Unknown
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A brief tornado took out several power lines in rural Weld County.

Tornado #10 6 mi S of Keota
Weld County

Date	May 28, 2018
Time (Local)	5:37 - 5:38 PM
EF Rating	0 (prelim)
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	Unknown
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A brief tornado occurred with no damage reported.

Tornado #11 5 mi E of Fort Morgan
Morgan County

Date	May 28, 2018
Time (Local)	5:34 - 5:37 PM
EF Rating	0 (prelim)
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	Unknown
Max Width	Unknown
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A brief tornado occurred in an open field with no damage reported.

Tornado #12 Cope
Washington County

Date	May 28, 2018
Time (Local)	5:42 PM
EF Rating	1
Est. Peak Winds	95 mph
Path Length	100 yards
Max Width	20 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Extensive damage to a carport and garage in southeast Cope. One pine tree was also uprooted. Using EF-scale damage indicators this could be in excess of 95 mph. Storm spotters in the immediate area snapped a photo of a tornado at 5:42 with visible debris lofted. Damage restricted to a localized area 100 yards by 20 yards wide.

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Photos:

Photos are from Washington and Kit Carson Counties between 5:15 and 6:30 PM MDT.


Photo by Jon Stone	8 miles southwest of Cope. Photo by Kevin Manross	Several miles southwest of Cope Photo by Jeff Frame	Photo by Mike Charnick


Photo by Mike Charnick	Photo by Mike Charnick	Photo by Mike Charnick	Taken from near Flagler Photo by Purdue EAPS Spotters


Damage in Southeast Cope from an EF-1 Tornado Courtesy Bryant Mccall	Damage in Southeast Cope from an EF-1 Tornado Courtesy Bryant Mccall	Damage in Southeast Cope from an EF-1 Tornado Courtesy Bryant Mccall	Damage in Southeast Cope from an EF-1 Tornado Courtesy Bryant Mccall


Tornado in Cope at 542 PM. Courtesy Phil Bergmaier

Radar:

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