06-08-2024 High Wind and Supercells Burlington

Overview

An easterly flow of moist, unstable air was in place across the High Plains. Easterly flow brought this instability to the foothills of the Rockies where numerous thunderstorms developed in the afternoon and early evening. Winds aloft where out of the west in excess of 60 mph, creating strong wind shear needed for severe thunderstorms to develop. Several rotating storms called supercells formed in eastern Colorado causing baseball size hail, at least 1 tornado and a measured 97 mph wind gust at the Burlington airport. The image below is a visible satellite image taken at 201 PM MDT. If you look close you can see an area of developing cumulus over the Goodland area that would represent the area of strongest instability, where the strongest storms eventually moved along.

Satellite Image and surface MSLP and observations 201 PM MDT 6/8/24 (click to enlarge)

2 PM MDT GOES East Visible Imagery, MSLP and surface obs. Image from College of Dupage

Tornado
Wind
Photos
Radar
Storm Reports

Tornado:

Tornado - Southwest Kit Carson County
Kit Carson County, Colorado

Date	June 8th, 2024
Time (Local)	4:35-4:39 PM MDT
EF Rating	EF-U
Est. Peak Winds	Unknown
Path Length	0.72 Miles
Max Width	Estimated 150 yards
Injuries/Deaths	None
Summary: Multiple chasers reported a tornado that moved from a wind turbine field across County Road G into an open field before dissipating. No damage was reported.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

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

Wind:

Straight Line Winds - South of Burlington
Kit Carson County, Colorado

Date	June 8th, 2024
Time (Local)	6:42-7:19 PM MDT
Est. Peak Winds	112 MPH
Path Length	11.2 Miles
Max Width	1.5 Miles
Injuries/Deaths	None
Summary: A swath of straight line damage with estimated gusts of 60 to 112 MPH occurred south of Burlington, Colorado towards the southeast corner of Kit Carson County. Majority of the damage found during the survey was tree related with various sized branches broken and a few tree trunks snapped. The strongest gusts estimated at 112 MPH occurred south of the airport where six empty 35 foot wide grain bins were blown off their foundations and tossed up to 850 feet to the south-southeast. Other notable damage included half of a pivot overturned, tin roof panels torn off a shed, and a sprayer that was pushed roughly 25 feet away from where it was parked.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Wind Damage


Six 35 ft wide grain bins were torn off their foundations with debris scattered up to 850 ft away. Source: NWS Damage Assessment	Two of grain bin bases with the bins seen in the distance. Source: NWS Damage Assessment	One of the larger branches to be found broken off a healthy tree. Source: NWS Damage Assessment	A sprayer was pushed by the wind 25 ft from where it was parked by the concrete pad. Source: NWS Damage Assessment

Photos


Short-lived tornado that occurred in Southwest Kit Carson County. Source: Daniel Shaw	Straight line winds shredded the screen on west-facing windows at the Burlington Airport. Source: NWS Damage Assessment	The stop sign was blown over by straight line winds. Source: NWS Damage Assessment	Storage container was pushed off the base by straight line winds. Source: NWS Damage Assessment

Radar


2237 UTC 0.5 Reflectivity/ 0.5 SRM/ 2.4 Reflectivity/ 2.4 SRM SRM means storm relative motion	2249 UTC 0.5/0.9/2.4/3.1 Reflectivity Images show a "hole" in reflectivity aloft called a Bounded Weak Echo Region. This is associated with a strong rotating updraft.	2249 UTC 0.5/0.9/2.4/3.1 Storm Relative Motion (SRM) . Red colors mean motion to the left of image, green/blue colors indicate motion to the right of image. Opposing colors next to each other indicate rotation.	0052 UTC 0.5 Reflectivity and SRM around time Burlington airport measured 96 mph gust.

0052 Radial velocity around time of 96 mph wind gust. Velocities around 64 mph towards the radar. Knowing that the surface wind direction was 300 degrees we can estimate a true velocity of 98 mph.	Radar loop showing supercell moving over the Burlington area.

Storm Reports

Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1015 AM MDT Sun Jun 9 2024

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

0710 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     16 S Kanorado           39.11N 102.02W
06/08/2024  E70 MPH          Wallace            KS   Public

            Public report of 70 MPH estimated winds and
            pea sized hail.

0730 PM     Hail             16 S Kanorado           39.11N 101.98W
06/08/2024  E0.75 Inch       Wallace            KS   Public

            Public report of 3/4 inch estimated hail.

0756 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Wallace                 38.91N 101.59W
06/08/2024  E50 MPH          Wallace            KS   CO-OP Observer

            Estimated 40-50 MPH gusts.

0758 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Sharon Springs          38.90N 101.75W
06/08/2024  M65 MPH          Wallace            KS   911 Call Center

            Dispatch reports 65 MPH gusts with the
            storms.

0535 PM     Hail             5 SSW Yuma              40.05N 102.76W
06/08/2024  E0.50 Inch       Yuma               CO   Trained Spotter

            Trained spotter reports 0.25-0.5 hail.

0410 PM     Hail             2 W Flagler             39.29N 103.10W
06/08/2024  M0.88 Inch       Kit Carson         CO   Public

            Public report of up to nickel sized hail
            starting to accumulate.

0425 PM     Hail             8 S Flagler             39.18N 103.07W
06/08/2024  E2.75 Inch       Kit Carson         CO   Public

            Public report and photo via social media.
            Hail size estimated from photo.

0426 PM     Hail             4 S Flagler             39.24N 103.06W
06/08/2024  E1.25 Inch       Kit Carson         CO   Public

            Public report of hail a bit larger than
            quarters abt 3.5 SSW of Flagler.

0439 PM     Tornado          13 SSE Flagler          39.11N 103.01W
06/08/2024                   Kit Carson         CO   Storm Chaser

            Multiple chaser reports of a cone/multiple
            vortices tornado near the vicinity of CR G
            and 11. Tornado lasted 5-8 minutes.

0442 PM     Hail             9 SSW Seibert           39.19N 102.93W
06/08/2024  E2.75 Inch       Kit Carson         CO   Trained Spotter

            Spotter report of baseball sized hail 3W of
            hwy 52.

0447 PM     Hail             7 S Flagler             39.19N 103.06W
06/08/2024  E2.00 Inch       Kit Carson         CO   Storm Chaser

            Delayed report. Chaser found hail roughly
            size of an egg near the intersection of
            County Road 5 and L.

0537 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     17 N Flagler            39.53N 103.02W
06/08/2024  M56 MPH          Kit Carson         CO   Mesonet

            Mesonet station EW7003 17 N Flagler.

0554 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     11 SW Joes              39.55N 102.85W
06/08/2024  E59 MPH          Kit Carson         CO   Mesonet

            KCOVONA2 reported a 59 MPH gust.

0625 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     7 N Stratton            39.41N 102.62W
06/08/2024  M77 MPH          Kit Carson         CO   Mesonet

            Ambient weather station SevenFarms.

0627 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     8 NNW Bethune           39.40N 102.50W
06/08/2024  M71 MPH          Kit Carson         CO   Public

            KCOSTRAT21.

0635 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 WSW Bethune           39.28N 102.48W
06/08/2024  M62 MPH          Kit Carson         CO   Mesonet

            Reported via KCOBETHU6.

0643 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 S Burlington          39.23N 102.28W
06/08/2024  M60 MPH          Kit Carson         CO   ASOS

            ASOS station KITR Burlington Co Airport.

0645 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 WSW Burlington        39.29N 102.32W
06/08/2024  M66 MPH          Kit Carson         CO   Mesonet

            Weather Link Station Road U.

0648 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 S Burlington          39.23N 102.28W
06/08/2024  M96 MPH          Kit Carson         CO   ASOS

            ASOS station KITR Burlington Co Airport.

0653 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 S Burlington          39.23N 102.28W
06/08/2024  M97 MPH          Kit Carson         CO   ASOS

            ASOS station KITR Burlington Co Airport.

0658 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     8 SSE Burlington        39.20N 102.20W
06/08/2024  M66 MPH          Kit Carson         CO   Mesonet

            Sustained at 47 mph.

0709 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     8 SSE Burlington        39.20N 102.22W
06/08/2024  E68 MPH          Kit Carson         CO   Public

            Weatherlink station Andrews Farms.

0719 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     12 S Peconic            39.15N 102.11W
06/08/2024  E100 MPH         Kit Carson         CO   Trained Spotter

            Trained spotter reports estimated 100 MPH
            winds ongoing. House is trembling and lawn
            furniture is moving. Pea sized hail too.

0817 PM     Flash Flood      1 ESE Bethune           39.30N 102.41W
06/08/2024                   Kit Carson         CO   Dept of Highways

            DOT has closed US 24 between Burlington and
            Stratton due to flooding.

0913 PM     Flood            9 S Burlington          39.17N 102.28W
06/08/2024                   Kit Carson         CO   Law Enforcement

            County sheriff Facebook page shows water
            flowing across Highway 385 south of the
            airport.

0900 AM     Flood            3 NW Burlington         39.33N 102.32W
06/09/2024                   Kit Carson         CO   County Official

            County road department reports roughly four
            inches of water flowing over CR 46 where
            Beaver Creek crosses the road.

0900 AM     Flood            6 NE Bethune            39.37N 102.35W
06/09/2024                   Kit Carson         CO   County Official

            County road department reports roughly four
            inches of water flowing over CR 44 where
            Bonny Creek crosses the road.

0900 AM     Flood            3 W Burlington          39.31N 102.33W
06/09/2024                   Kit Carson         CO   County Official

            County road department reports roughly four
            inches of water flowing over CR 45, north of
            Hwy 25 where Beaver Creek crosses the road.

0415 PM     Hail             11 S Aroya              38.70N 103.16W
06/08/2024  E2.75 Inch       Cheyenne           CO   Public

            Public report and photo via social media.

0424 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     17 NE Wild Horse        39.01N 102.80W
06/08/2024                   Cheyenne           CO   Storm Chaser

            spotter network report of one power pole
            snapped and down on east side of highway...
            time estimated from radar.

0531 PM     Hail             15 N Kit Carson         38.97N 102.80W
06/08/2024  E1.50 Inch       Cheyenne           CO   Storm Chaser

            Corrects previous hail report from 15 N Kit
            Carson. Hail up to 1 inch from spotters live
            feed.

0545 PM     Hail             9 N Kit Carson          38.89N 102.80W
06/08/2024  E2.00 Inch       Cheyenne           CO   Public

            Public report and photo via social media.
            Hail size estimated from photo.

0600 PM     Hail             5 ESE Kit Carson        38.74N 102.71W
06/08/2024  E2.00 Inch       Cheyenne           CO   Public

            Public report and photo via social media.
            Hail size estimated from photo.

0613 PM     Hail             4 ENE Kit Carson        38.78N 102.72W
06/08/2024  E2.00 Inch       Cheyenne           CO   Trained Spotter

            Spotter provided pictures showing several
            large hail stones approximately two inches
            in diameter. Photos provided via Facebook.

0622 PM     Hail             4 W Firstview           38.80N 102.61W
06/08/2024  M0.75 Inch       Cheyenne           CO   Public

            Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).

0623 PM     Hail             4 W Firstview           38.80N 102.61W
06/08/2024  E1.00 Inch       Cheyenne           CO   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

0659 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Aroya                   38.85N 103.13W
06/08/2024  M66 MPH          Cheyenne           CO   Mesonet

            Mesonet station UP695 Aroya (UPR).

0707 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Wild Horse              38.83N 103.00W
06/08/2024  M82 MPH          Cheyenne           CO   Trained Spotter

            Trained spotter with anemometer measured an
            82 MPH gust at Wild Horse due to outflow.

0714 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 NNW Arapahoe          38.92N 102.20W
06/08/2024  M58 MPH          Cheyenne           CO   Mesonet

            KCOARAPA3 reports 58 MPH gust.

0714 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 SW Firstview          38.80N 102.55W
06/08/2024  M58 MPH          Cheyenne           CO   Mesonet

            KCOCHEYE8 reports of a gust of 58 MPH.

0717 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Firstview               38.82N 102.54W
06/08/2024  M62 MPH          Cheyenne           CO   Mesonet

            Mesonet station CO068 040w460 U40-Firstview.

0721 PM     Hail             Wild Horse              38.82N 103.00W
06/08/2024  E1.25 Inch       Cheyenne           CO   Storm Chaser

            spotter network report.

0738 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 WSW Firstview         38.81N 102.59W
06/08/2024  E60 MPH          Cheyenne           CO   Mesonet

            U40 Firstview.

0758 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Firstview               38.82N 102.54W
06/08/2024  M53 MPH          Cheyenne           CO   Mesonet

            Mesonet station CO068 040w460 U40-Firstview.


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