Colorado Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Colorado Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Colorado is lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Colorado is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #9
| Colorado | 1.32 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #11
| Colorado | 0.0009 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #24
| Colorado | 117.98 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 17,214 other weather extremes events from 1950 to 2010 were recorded in Colorado. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 111 | Blizzard: | 95 | Cold: | 139 | Dense Fog: | 79 | Drought: | 137 |
| Dust Storm: | 4 | Flood: | 790 | Hail: | 8,964 | Heat: | 4 | Heavy Snow: | 658 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 1 | Landslide: | 61 | Strong Wind: | 688 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,307 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 246 | Winter Storm: | 946 | Winter Weather: | 899 |
| Other: | 1,085 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
A total of 2 volcanoes are found in or near Colorado.
| Name | Region | Latitude | Longitude | Elevation (foot) | Type | Status | Last Eruption |
| Dotsero | US-Colorado, United States | 39.65 | -107.03 | 2230 | Maar | Radiocarbon | Last known eruption B.C. (Holocene) |
| Valles Caldera | US-New Mexico, United States | 35.87 | -106.57 | 3430 | Caldera | Pleistocene-Fumarol | Quaternary eruption(s) with the only known Holocene activity being hydrothermal |
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 42 historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in Colorado.
| Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 1960-10-11 | 5.5 | N/A | 38.3 | -107.6 |
| 1966-01-23 | 5.5 | N/A | 37 | -107 |
| 1967-08-09 | 5.3 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.7 |
| 1967-11-27 | 5.2 | N/A | 40 | -104.7 |
| 1966-01-05 | 5 | N/A | 39.8 | -104.7 |
| 1965-02-16 | 4.9 | N/A | 39.9 | -105 |
| 1965-09-14 | 4.8 | N/A | 39.5 | -104.9 |
| 1967-04-10 | 4.8 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.8 |
| 1965-09-29 | 4.7 | N/A | 39.8 | -105.1 |
| 1965-09-14 | 4.7 | N/A | 39.8 | -104.8 |
| 1965-11-21 | 4.7 | N/A | 39.8 | -104.9 |
| 1965-09-14 | 4.7 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.6 |
| 1965-11-21 | 4.6 | N/A | 39.8 | -104.8 |
| 1965-09-29 | 4.6 | N/A | 39.8 | -104.8 |
| 1965-09-29 | 4.6 | N/A | 39.8 | -104.8 |
| 1965-02-16 | 4.6 | N/A | 39.9 | -105.1 |
| 1966-05-19 | 4.6 | N/A | 37 | -107.2 |
| 1965-07-31 | 4.6 | N/A | 39.7 | -104.9 |
| 1963-07-02 | 4.6 | N/A | 39.8 | -104.6 |
| 1966-10-03 | 4.5 | N/A | 37.4 | -104.1 |
| 1966-01-23 | 4.5 | N/A | 36.9 | -107.1 |
| 1965-09-13 | 4.5 | N/A | 39.8 | -104.8 |
| 1967-11-27 | 4.4 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.7 |
| 1971-08-08 | 4.4 | 5 | 39.9 | -104.8 |
| 1975-01-30 | 4.4 | N/A | 39.27 | -108.65 |
| 1967-04-27 | 4.4 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.7 |
| 1965-11-21 | 4.4 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.7 |
| 1963-06-05 | 4.4 | N/A | 39.3 | -104 |
| 1971-03-18 | 4.4 | 10 | 40.7 | -107 |
| 1967-02-03 | 4.3 | N/A | 39.7 | -104.8 |
| 1966-11-14 | 4.3 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.7 |
| 1973-09-23 | 4.2 | 5 | 37.1 | -104.6 |
| 1966-01-23 | 4.2 | N/A | 36.9 | -107.2 |
| 1983-09-24 | 4.1 | 5 | 40.79 | -108.84 |
| 1970-05-23 | 4.1 | 5 | 39.9 | -105.1 |
| 1962-12-05 | 4 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.6 |
| 1971-11-12 | 4 | 5 | 38.9 | -108.7 |
| 1971-01-07 | 3.8 | N/A | 39.5 | -107.3 |
| 1981-04-02 | 3.8 | 9 | 39.91 | -104.95 |
| 1967-11-15 | 3.7 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.6 |
| 1962-12-04 | 3.5 | N/A | 39.8 | -104.7 |
| 1969-05-26 | 3.5 | N/A | 40.4 | -104.4 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 133 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in Colorado.
| Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County | |
| 1977-05-18 | 4 | 37°00'N / 102°06'W | 37°08'N / 102°04'W | 9.30 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Baca | |
| 1952-05-15 | 3 | 40°20'N / 104°34'W | 40°15'N / 104°28'W | 7.40 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 5 | 25K | 0 | Weld | |
| 1955-07-31 | 3 | 37°26'N / 105°26'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Costilla | ||
| 1960-06-27 | 3 | 40°49'N / 102°26'W | 40°45'N / 102°20'W | 6.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 2 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Sedgwick | |
| 1971-10-17 | 3 | 38°21'N / 103°00'W | 38°24'N / 102°55'W | 5.60 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Kiowa | |
| 1974-08-15 | 3 | 40°41'N / 103°10'W | 2.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Logan | ||
| 1975-05-10 | 3 | 40°15'N / 103°22'W | 40°10'N / 103°15'W | 8.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Washington | |
| 1975-05-18 | 3 | 39°48'N / 104°44'W | 39°51'N / 104°41'W | 4.10 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Adams | |
| 1977-06-13 | 3 | 38°56'N / 105°01'W | 38°55'N / 104°55'W | 4.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | El Paso | |
| 1979-06-24 | 3 | 38°51'N / 104°55'W | 38°50'N / 104°50'W | 4.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | El Paso | |
| 1982-06-12 | 3 | 39°49'N / 104°32'W | 39°53'N / 104°32'W | 3.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Adams | |
| 1988-06-15 | 3 | 39°44'N / 104°56'W | 2.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 7 | 25.0M | 0 | Denver | ||
| 1990-06-06 | 3 | 39°08'N / 103°53'W | 39°16'N / 103°50'W | 7.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Elbert | |
| 1990-06-06 | 3 | 39°10'N / 103°42'W | 39°17'N / 103°41'W | 7.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 14 | 25.0M | 0 | Lincoln | |
| 1996-05-30 | 3 | 39°55'N / 103°11'W | 39°55'N / 103°11'W | 0.50 Mile | 1320 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 0 | Washington | |
| Brief Description: A large tornado estimated to be 1/2 mile wide in diameter caused approximately $300,000 damage to a farmstead near Elba as it destroyed several grain silos, storage sheds and vehicles. Only the home on the farm was spared. | |||||||||||
| 1999-05-31 | 3 | 39°21'N / 103°35'W | 39°22'N / 103°24'W | 7.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 4.0M | 0 | Lincoln | |
| Brief Description: Two tornadoes touched down causing extensive damage north of Genoa. The first tornado, an F2, caused minor damage to a home, but substantial damage to trees in the area. The second tornado, an F3, destroyed 2 mobile homes and several grain bins. It also caused moderate damage to 2 framed houses. At one farm, several dogs that were boarded in kennels were killed. Several trees and dozens of power poles were also snapped, and a pickup truck was tossed over a quonset hut. Damage was estimated to be $3-4 million. | |||||||||||
| 2000-07-05 | 3 | 40°41'N / 102°42'W | 40°36'N / 102°43'W | 6.00 Miles | 1320 Yards | 0 | 2 | 750K | 0 | Logan | |
| Brief Description: A large and destructive tornado accompanied with hail, up to softball size, ripped through eastern Logan County. An 88-year old farmer and his wife received minor injuries when the tornado flattened their home. The elderly man spared from serious injury when the recliner he was sitting in flipped upside down; just before a wall caved in on top of him. The farmer suffered a cracked vertebra and a lacerated hand. In all, five farmsteads were either damaged or destroyed. Several structures were destroyed, including three homes and numerous outbuildings. One modular home was lifted up and dropped 50 feet away from its foundation. Numerous pieces of farm equipment including, machinery, stock trailers and vehicles were damaged or destroyed. Three square miles of corn crops and several trees were destroyed. Some livestock were also killed. The tornado snapped power poles and downed electrical lines between Holyoke and Fleming. Initial damage estimates to two properties alone were around $750,000. | |||||||||||
| 2001-05-29 | 3 | 38°04'N / 102°39'W | 38°06'N / 102°39'W | 3.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 150K | 0 | Prowers | |
| Brief Description: Thunderstorms spawned six brief tornadoes and an F3 tornado within a three mile radius of the Lamar Municipal Airport between 1049 MST and 1231 MST just west of Lamar. The F3 tornado, which showed supercellular characteristics, completely destroyed a modular home and five vehicles in its vicinity, and damaged two other homes nearby. Eleven power poles were destroyed as well. | |||||||||||
| 2007-03-28 | 3 | 38°01'N / 102°07'W | 38°16'N / 102°07'W | 17.00 Miles | 900 Yards | 2 | 9 | 4.0M | 0K | Prowers | |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: With a maximum rating of EF3 and a maximum damage path width of 900 yards, the tornado raced through Holly, causing two fatalities and nine injuries. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A few severe thunderstorms occurred over extreme southeast Colorado... producing damaging winds and large hail. One supercell generated large hail...damaging winds...and two tornadoes. The tornado which struck Holly...rural northeast Prowers County...and rural southeast Kiowa County had a maximum rating of EF3. The path width reached a maximum of around 900 yards in extreme northeast Prowers County. Prior to this...as the tornado moved through Holly...the path width was around 600 feet. Over 200 residences and other buildings were affected or destroyed. Two people were killed and nine others were injured. The damage path was around 28 miles long...extending into Kiowa County. The last substantial damage with the tornado was 12 miles north of Holly...in northeast Prowers County...where a ranch sustained high end EF3 damage. As the supercell cycled through...another tornado occurred east of Towner...and moved into Kansas. | |||||||||||
| 2008-05-22 | 3 | 40°13'N / 104°45'W | 40°33'N / 104°57'W | 24.00 Miles | 1760 Yards | 1 | 78 | 147.0M | 0K | Weld | |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A powerful tornado swept north-northwestward across Weld County and into Larimer County, carving a path of destruction, nearly 39 miles in length. The tornado, up to one-mile wide at times, initially touched down northeast of Platteville and finally lifted 6 miles west-northwest of Wellington. A tornado assessment in the aftermath of the tornado revealed extensive areas of damage. On the enhanced Fujita Scale there were pockets of EF3 damage, mainly near the Missile Silo Park Campground, and to businesses and home in eastern Windsor. There was one fatality, and 78 injuries. One man was killed when he tried to escape the trailer park in his motor home. Preliminary estimates from FEMA indicated 850 homes were damaged, and nearly 300 homes were significantly damaged or destroyed. Privately insured damages totaled $147 million, and the Poudre Valley Rural Electric Associated reported $1 million of damage to electric transmission lines. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A powerful tornado swept north-northwestward across Weld County, carving a path of destruction, nearly 39 miles in length. The tornado, up to one-mile wide at times, initially touched down northeast of Platteville and finally lifted 6 miles west-northwest of Wellington. A tornado assessment in the aftermath of the tornado revealed extensive areas of damage. On the enhanced Fujita Scale there were pockets of EF3 damage, mainly near the Missile Silo Park Campground, and to businesses and home in eastern Windsor. Farmers also reported extensive damage to crops and irrigation equipment. There was one fatality, and 78 injuries ranging from broken bones to minor cuts and lacerations. One man was killed when he tried to escape a trailer park in his motor home. Tractor trailers were flipped along U.S. Highway 85, and over 200 power poles were snapped or blown down. Approximately 60,000 people were left without electricity. The tornado overturned 15 railroad cars and destroyed a lumber car on the Great Western Railway of Colorado. The tornado also flattened Windsor's main feedlot and destroyed a dairy barn. Most of the four-hundred cows were killed in the tornado or destroyed later. In addition to the damaging winds, the thunderstorm also produced hail up to the size of baseballs. Another tornado rated an EF1, from a separate severe thunderstorm, briefly touched down near Dacono and destroyed 5 buildings. The tornado overturned a five-wheel trailer and injured the man who was sitting inside. Preliminary estimates from FEMA indicated 850 homes were damaged, and nearly 300 homes were significantly damaged or destroyed. The Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association reported $1 million of damage to electric transmission lines. Privately insured damages totaled $147 million, making it the state's 4th costliest disaster. | |||||||||||
| 1950-08-05 | 2 | 40°44'N / 102°33'W | 40°43'N / 102°31'W | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Sedgwick | |||
| 1950-08-05 | 2 | 40°42'N / 102°30'W | 40°41'N / 102°28'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Sedgwick | |||
| 1951-06-06 | 2 | 38°44'N / 103°35'W | 38°46'N / 103°30'W | 4.70 Miles | 217 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Lincoln | |
| 1952-05-08 | 2 | 39°29'N / 102°36'W | 2.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Kit Carson | ||
| 1952-06-26 | 2 | 40°00'N / 103°36'W | 7.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Washington | ||
| 1953-06-17 | 2 | 37°06'N / 106°06'W | 1.00 Mile | 1417 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Conejos | ||
| 1953-10-20 | 2 | 38°30'N / 103°46'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Otero | ||
| 1955-06-18 | 2 | 40°39'N / 102°39'W | 40°39'N / 102°36'W | 1.90 Miles | 83 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Phillips | |
| 1955-06-18 | 2 | 40°39'N / 102°36'W | 40°37'N / 102°33'W | 3.00 Miles | 83 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Phillips | |
| 1955-07-08 | 2 | 40°15'N / 103°45'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Morgan | ||||
| 1955-07-10 | 2 | 37°27'N / 105°52'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Alamosa | ||||
| 1955-07-10 | 2 | 40°31'N / 104°42'W | 40°35'N / 104°44'W | 4.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Weld | |
| 1956-06-01 | 2 | 40°25'N / 103°38'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Morgan | ||||
| 1956-06-19 | 2 | 40°16'N / 103°50'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Morgan | ||||
| 1956-07-12 | 2 | 38°03'N / 103°14'W | 5.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Las Animas | ||
| 1957-04-22 | 2 | 39°18'N / 102°18'W | 0.30 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Kit Carson | ||
| 1957-05-30 | 2 | 40°28'N / 104°56'W | 40°28'N / 104°53'W | 1.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Larimer | |
| 1957-05-30 | 2 | 40°28'N / 104°53'W | 40°27'N / 104°52'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Weld | |||
| 1957-05-30 | 2 | 40°27'N / 104°52'W | 40°33'N / 104°49'W | 7.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Weld | |
| 1957-05-30 | 2 | 40°30'N / 104°56'W | 40°28'N / 104°54'W | 1.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 3K | 0 | Weld | |
| 1958-06-08 | 2 | 40°04'N / 104°42'W | 40°06'N / 104°34'W | 7.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Weld | |
| 1958-06-15 | 2 | 40°08'N / 102°42'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Yuma | ||||
| 1958-07-20 | 2 | 40°13'N / 103°04'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Washington | ||||
| 1958-07-20 | 2 | 38°50'N / 102°16'W | 0 | 5 | 25K | 0 | Cheyenne | ||||
| 1959-05-29 | 2 | 39°53'N / 104°18'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Adams | ||
| 1960-05-18 | 2 | 39°48'N / 102°50'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Washington | ||||
| 1960-06-20 | 2 | 40°59'N / 103°08'W | 2.50 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Logan | ||
| 1960-07-04 | 2 | 38°02'N / 105°28'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Custer | ||||
| 1960-07-27 | 2 | 40°46'N / 102°35'W | 1.50 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Sedgwick | ||
| 1961-05-20 | 2 | 39°24'N / 104°52'W | 2.00 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Douglas | ||
| 1962-06-29 | 2 | 37°49'N / 103°14'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Bent | ||||
| 1965-05-08 | 2 | 40°46'N / 104°46'W | 1.00 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Weld | ||
| 1965-05-23 | 2 | 38°34'N / 103°40'W | 38°38'N / 103°40'W | 4.60 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lincoln | |
| 1965-05-23 | 2 | 38°21'N / 103°41'W | 38°23'N / 103°35'W | 5.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Crowley | |
| 1965-05-24 | 2 | 40°30'N / 102°18'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Phillips | ||||
| 1967-06-10 | 2 | 37°32'N / 102°27'W | 37°24'N / 102°15'W | 14.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Baca | |
| 1968-06-24 | 2 | 38°04'N / 102°07'W | 38°05'N / 102°06'W | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Prowers | |||
| 1971-10-17 | 2 | 40°05'N / 102°14'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 9 | 2.5M | 0 | Yuma | ||
| 1972-06-21 | 2 | 39°55'N / 102°30'W | 39°42'N / 102°16'W | 19.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Yuma | |
| 1973-05-06 | 2 | 39°05'N / 102°18'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 5 | 25K | 0 | Kit Carson | ||
| 1975-05-10 | 2 | 38°46'N / 102°45'W | 38°28'N / 102°37'W | 21.90 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Cheyenne | |
| 1975-05-12 | 2 | 38°30'N / 102°58'W | 38°28'N / 102°46'W | 11.10 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Kiowa | |
| 1975-05-22 | 2 | 38°03'N / 103°17'W | 2.00 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Bent | ||
| 1975-05-27 | 2 | 39°37'N / 102°25'W | 39°46'N / 102°17'W | 12.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Yuma | |
| 1975-06-08 | 2 | 38°06'N / 102°37'W | 1.00 Mile | 220 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Prowers | ||
| 1975-06-20 | 2 | 39°11'N / 107°14'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Pitkin | ||
| 1976-05-30 | 2 | 39°48'N / 104°53'W | 39°50'N / 104°47'W | 5.40 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Adams | |
| 1976-06-04 | 2 | 40°13'N / 104°49'W | 1.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Weld | ||
| 1976-06-04 | 2 | 40°35'N / 105°05'W | 0.50 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Larimer | ||
| 1977-03-18 | 2 | 39°31'N / 103°37'W | 1.50 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Lincoln | ||
| 1977-03-18 | 2 | 39°31'N / 103°32'W | 1.50 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Lincoln | ||
| 1977-04-11 | 2 | 38°40'N / 104°49'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | El Paso | ||
| 1977-04-13 | 2 | 38°14'N / 103°40'W | 38°17'N / 103°36'W | 5.10 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Crowley | |
| 1977-06-13 | 2 | 39°15'N / 105°55'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | El Paso | ||
| 1977-06-13 | 2 | 39°00'N / 105°00'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | El Paso | ||
| 1977-06-13 | 2 | 39°05'N / 104°49'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | El Paso | ||
| 1977-07-09 | 2 | 40°37'N / 102°28'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Phillips | ||||
| 1978-05-17 | 2 | 39°38'N / 104°45'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Adams | ||
| 1978-07-10 | 2 | 37°37'N / 104°15'W | 0.30 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Huerfano | ||
| 1979-06-16 | 2 | 38°52'N / 102°25'W | 38°52'N / 102°21'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Cheyenne | |
| 1980-10-15 | 2 | 40°01'N / 105°13'W | 1.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Boulder | ||
| 1981-06-03 | 2 | 39°43'N / 105°03'W | 39°44'N / 105°02'W | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Jefferson | |||
| 1981-06-03 | 2 | 39°44'N / 105°02'W | 39°44'N / 105°01'W | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Denver | |||
| 1981-06-03 | 2 | 39°52'N / 104°59'W | 2.30 Miles | 133 Yards | 0 | 42 | 25.0M | 0 | Adams | ||
| 1982-05-18 | 2 | 38°22'N / 102°53'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Kiowa | ||
| 1982-05-19 | 2 | 39°45'N / 102°41'W | 39°46'N / 102°37'W | 3.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Yuma | |
| 1982-05-29 | 2 | 40°02'N / 103°21'W | 1.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Washington | ||
| 1982-05-29 | 2 | 39°28'N / 103°43'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Lincoln | ||
| 1982-06-14 | 2 | 39°29'N / 104°06'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Elbert | ||
| 1982-06-25 | 2 | 40°23'N / 104°38'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Weld | ||
| 1983-06-04 | 2 | 39°20'N / 104°35'W | 39°24'N / 104°20'W | 8.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Elbert | |
| 1984-05-18 | 2 | 40°07'N / 104°40'W | 40°12'N / 104°35'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Weld | |
| 1984-05-18 | 2 | 40°07'N / 104°35'W | 40°10'N / 104°28'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Weld | |
| 1984-05-18 | 2 | 40°11'N / 104°34'W | 40°14'N / 104°28'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Weld | |
| 1984-05-24 | 2 | 40°21'N / 103°58'W | 40°23'N / 103°53'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Morgan | |
| 1984-08-21 | 2 | 38°15'N / 104°36'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Pueblo | ||
| 1985-04-25 | 2 | 37°21'N / 108°35'W | 0.50 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Montezuma | ||
| 1985-07-19 | 2 | 39°32'N / 104°52'W | 0.50 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Douglas | ||
| 1985-07-31 | 2 | 40°14'N / 102°33'W | 0.50 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Yuma | ||
| 1986-06-08 | 2 | 39°43'N / 104°54'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 6 | 2.5M | 0 | Denver | ||
| 1986-06-08 | 2 | 39°43'N / 104°51'W | 39°43'N / 104°51'W | 0.10 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Arapahoe | |
| 1986-06-08 | 2 | 39°50'N / 104°36'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Adams | ||
| 1986-09-18 | 2 | 40°30'N / 103°50'W | 40°44'N / 103°31'W | 25.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Morgan | |
| 1987-06-20 | 2 | 39°46'N / 104°37'W | 1.00 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Adams | ||
| 1987-07-02 | 2 | 39°53'N / 104°44'W | 1.00 Mile | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Adams | ||
| 1987-07-07 | 2 | 40°24'N / 104°22'W | 40°27'N / 104°28'W | 5.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Weld | |
| 1988-05-19 | 2 | 39°58'N / 102°23'W | 1.50 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Yuma | ||
| 1988-05-30 | 2 | 39°18'N / 102°40'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Kit Carson | ||
| 1988-06-05 | 2 | 40°00'N / 104°58'W | 40°02'N / 104°59'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Adams | |
| 1988-06-05 | 2 | 40°02'N / 104°59'W | 40°02'N / 104°58'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Weld | |
| 1988-06-05 | 2 | 39°57'N / 105°04'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Boulder | ||
| 1988-06-13 | 2 | 40°52'N / 102°56'W | 1.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Logan | ||
| 1988-06-15 | 2 | 39°44'N / 104°56'W | 0.50 Mile | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Denver | ||
| 1990-06-06 | 2 | 38°50'N / 104°04'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | El Paso | ||
| 1990-06-09 | 2 | 40°43'N / 104°58'W | 40°46'N / 104°55'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Larimer | |
| 1990-06-09 | 2 | 40°46'N / 104°55'W | 40°53'N / 104°54'W | 20.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Weld | |
| 1990-06-14 | 2 | 40°03'N / 103°37'W | 40°08'N / 103°28'W | 7.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Morgan | |
| 1996-05-30 | 2 | 40°12'N / 103°52'W | 40°12'N / 103°52'W | 1.00 Mile | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 150K | 0 | Morgan | |
| Brief Description: Twin tornadoes developed 5 miles southwest of Fort Morgan. Although one of the twisters dissipated quickly; the other caused substantial damage to a farmstead. A teenager trapped in the home was uninjured when he took shelter in the basement. The tornado lifted the roof off the house temporarily and broke several windows. Also, the roof of a vacant dairy barn nearby was completely torn off. A car, 2 dump trucks and 2 pickups used in the families' tree service business were completely destroyed. One dog and several of the family cats were killed. Debris was spread approximately 300 yards across the area. Not too far away, the tornado also tossed an empty 5,000 gallon propane storage tank 500 yards and a nearly full 250 gallon storage tank 600 yards. Estimated damage to property in Morgan County was around $150,000. | |||||||||||
| 1996-07-13 | 2 | 40°58'N / 103°05'W | 40°58'N / 103°05'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Logan | |
| Brief Description: Large hail, heavy rain, strong thunderstorm winds and a tornado heavily damaged crops and some property near Peetz in northern Logan County. The tornado touched down 1 mile east of Peetz. Nineteen empty coal cars, still attached to the front and rear of a Burlington Northern train, were picked up and blown off the tracks. A large cottonwood tree was also uprooted near Peetz. The time of the tornado touchdown was approximated. In addition, hail several inches deep covered the ground in and around Peetz. Wheat crops were wiped out. Waist high corn was reduced to 2 inch stalks. Crop damage was estimated to be at least $100,000. Strong thunderstorm winds gusting to 77 mph were measured in Peetz. | |||||||||||
| 1996-07-13 | 2 | 39°48'N / 104°24'W | 39°39'N / 104°13'W | 12.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 220K | 6.5M | Adams | |
| Brief Description: A fast moving tornado ripped a 12-mile path of destruction near Strasburg, in eastern Adams County. The tornado caused extensive structural damage to several galvanized metal grain silos, farm buildings and sheds in the area. The roof of a two-story log home was completely torn off. The home received substantial damage from the wind and heavy rain that followed the tornado. Several other homes in the area sustained roof damage and a number of power poles were downed along Highway 36. | |||||||||||
| 1996-07-30 | 2 | 40°21'N / 103°58'W | 40°21'N / 103°58'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Morgan | |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down briefly near Weldona. The twister caused substantial damage to a fertilizer truck when it was smashed into a utility pole. The time of the event was approximated. | |||||||||||
| 1996-07-31 | 2 | 40°27'N / 104°32'W | 40°22'N / 104°29'W | 5.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Weld | |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down near Gill. It damaged a grain bin owned by the Northern Feed and Bean of Gill. Although not confirmed, it is believed the same twister was responsible for destroying a 60-ft by 250-ft storage building south of town. The tornado also uprooted a tree near Kuner, east of Kersey. The time of the tornado was approximated. In addition several twisters, strong thunderstorm winds and large hail the size of baseballs caused several power outages in central Weld County. Power was out from Kersey to Purcell, which covered a distance of 20 miles, for about 12 hours. An estimated 400 to 500 residents were without power throughout the night. Crops in the area also received substantial damage, but no dollar estimates were available. | |||||||||||
| 1997-10-10 | 2 | 37°41'N / 106°55'W | 37°43'N / 106°51'W | 3.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 10K | 0 | Mineral | |
| Brief Description: A tornado, up to 1/4 mile wide, tracked through the high country of central Mineral county. The 3-mile long track extended from the northeast side of Fisher mountain to Copper mountain, between 10,500 and 11,500 feet above MSL. It snapped off or uprooted tens of thousands of spruce and pine trees and destroyed a horse trailer. Nearby eyewitnesses described a definite twisting motion to the destructive wind. | |||||||||||
| 1999-05-31 | 2 | 39°19'N / 103°32'W | 39°19'N / 103°27'W | 7.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Lincoln | |
| Brief Description: Two tornadoes touched down causing extensive damage north of Genoa. The first tornado, an F2, caused minor damage to a home, but substantial damage to trees in the area. The second tornado, an F3, destroyed 2 mobile homes and several grain bins. It also caused moderate damage to 2 framed houses. At one farm, several dogs that were boarded in kennels were killed. Several trees and dozens of power poles were also snapped, and a pickup truck was tossed over a quonset hut. Damage was estimated to be $3-4 million. | |||||||||||
| 2001-05-28 | 2 | 38°49'N / 104°23'W | 38°50'N / 104°23'W | 0.50 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 4 | 8.0M | 0 | El Paso | |
| 2001-05-28 | 2 | 38°50'N / 104°24'W | 38°50'N / 104°24'W | 0.30 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 5 | 100K | 0 | El Paso | |
| Brief Description: A slow moving supercell thunderstorm stayed over the Ellicott area of eastern El Paso county for over an hour on Memorial Day evening. For over an hour, heavy rain and large hail pelted the area. Then another thunderstorm cell merged with the supercell, causing a brief time of extreme winds and three small tornadoes. A large mesocyclone developed, and the extreme winds rotated around its northeastern quarter. All of the debris from the damaged structures was moved to the west-northwest or west. Straight-line and twisting microburst winds, in some areas causing F2 damage, damaged or destroyed nearly 100 mobile homes, many occupied. Embedded within these winds, three tornadoes occurred. One, rated F2, struck the junior-senior high school building, totally destroying nearly one half of the structure. That tornado lifted briefly and set down again about 3/4 of a mile northwest of the school building and destroyed several mobile homes. Another tornado, rated F1, occurred about one mile west of the school building, flipping a mobile home. | |||||||||||
| 2003-05-15 | 2 | 37°21'N / 102°46'W | 37°26'N / 102°43'W | 5.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 125K | 0 | Baca | |
| Brief Description: A tornado moved northeast across a rural area, but did strike the county gravel pit and a few ranches. Approximately 1 1/2 miles of utility poles were brought down by the tornado and rear flank downdraft along U.S. Highway 160. At the gravel pit north of the highway, gravel screening machinery sustained heavy damage. Farther to the northeast a sheet metal building with a steel girder frame was a total loss. | |||||||||||
| 2004-05-10 | 2 | 39°18'N / 104°02'W | 39°22'N / 104°05'W | 6.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Elbert | |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down and severely damaged two farmsteads. The first farmstead was struck approximately 10 miles north-northwest of Simla. One tree was knocked over by the tornado. One cow was killed, another was severely injured and had to be destroyed. An unoccupied ranch house on a neighboring farmstead, about 11.5 miles north of Simla, was also destroyed. The tornado picked up the modular home and its contents, and dumped it about 500 feet away from the farmstead. In addition, a calving shed and a two story barn built in 1925 were destroyed. A pig, lamb and dog were killed. The twister also picked up and scattered a dozen trucks, farm vehicles and cars on the farmstead. | |||||||||||
| 2004-06-16 | 2 | 37°43'N / 103°02'W | 37°42'N / 103°01'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 100K | 0 | Bent | |
| Brief Description: A tornado struck a ranch destroying the house, and damaging other buildings and two mobile homes. The family of five sought shelter in an interior closet, and the lone injury was the mother, who suffered a minor gash on her forehead. | |||||||||||
| 2007-03-28 | 2 | 38°15'N / 102°04'W | 38°24'N / 102°04'W | 11.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 10K | 0K | Kiowa | |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The Prowers County tornado crossed into Kiowa County and traveled another 11 miles...destroying electrical transmission poles (EF2 damage). The tornado did not hit any other structures in Kiowa County. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A few severe thunderstorms occurred over extreme southeast Colorado... producing damaging winds and large hail. One supercell generated large hail...damaging winds...and two tornadoes. The tornado which struck Holly...rural northeast Prowers County...and rural southeast Kiowa County had a maximum rating of EF3. The path width reached a maximum of around 900 yards in extreme northeast Prowers County. Prior to this...as the tornado moved through Holly...the path width was around 600 feet. Over 200 residences and other buildings were affected or destroyed. Two people were killed and nine others were injured. The damage path was around 28 miles long...extending into Kiowa County. The last substantial damage with the tornado was 12 miles north of Holly...in northeast Prowers County...where a ranch sustained high end EF3 damage. As the supercell cycled through...another tornado occurred east of Towner...and moved into Kansas. | |||||||||||
| 2009-06-15 | 2 | 39°14'N / 104°38'W | 39°11'N / 104°36'W | 4.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0K | Elbert | |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado began 8 miles south-southwest of Elizabeth and produced minor damage to two homes. The tornado then moved southeast and intensified with EF1 and EF2 damage observed 9 miles south of Elizabeth, with substantial damage to a farm, trees, and snapped power poles. The tornado moved on a more southerly track for the next 2 miles with additional EF1 and EF2 damage 11 miles south of Elizabeth. The tornado leveled a 70-yr old barn and a nearby cinder-block shed was torn open. Major tree damage was also observed. The tornado then continued southward for another mile before lifting with some EF0 and EF1 damage 12 miles south of Elizabeth. Minor damage to another home was observed with several large trees uprooted. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Severe weather again broke out across Northeast Colorado. Three tornadoes touched down in southwest Elbert County; the strongest was rated EF2. In addition to the tornadoes, severe thunderstorms produced hail up to the size of golfballs. Damaging thunderstorm winds also downed a tree in Boulder. Other counties affected by severe thunderstorms included: Boulder, Douglas, Larimer, Lincoln and Sedgwick. | |||||||||||
| 2010-05-31 | 2 | 37°18'N / 102°56'W | 37°15'N / 102°55'W | 3.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 20K | 0K | Baca | |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A large, slowing moving tornado moved south across open fields and US Highway 160, snapping off 14 power poles. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A very long-lasting, slow moving supercell storm produced large hail and three tornadoes from west central to southeast Baca County. | |||||||||||
| 2010-05-31 | 2 | 37°04'N / 102°36'W | 36°59'N / 102°27'W | 9.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 30K | 0K | Baca | |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado moved southeast, crossing US Highway 287 south of Campo. Eight power poles were snapped off west of the highway and on County Road C. Two windmills were also hit, and a storage shed was tipped over and moved 20 feet. The tornado ended shortly before the Oklahoma state line. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A very long-lasting, slow moving supercell storm produced large hail and three tornadoes from west central to southeast Baca County. | |||||||||||
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.