Severe Thunderstorm Line Brings Two‑Inch Hail and 60 mph Gusts to Southeastern Colorado

Overview

• The National Weather Service in Pueblo issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for a south‑moving line over southeastern Baca County on Thursday that warned of radar‑indicated two‑inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
• Earlier on Thursday, NWS Pueblo and NWS Phoenix issued Special Weather Statements for strong storms near Springfield, Colorado, and Twentynine Palms, California, warning of 50–55 mph gusts, penny‑to‑large hail, and torrential rain that could cause localized flooding.
• Official alerts stressed immediate safety steps: move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building, seek sturdy shelter if outdoors, and never drive through flooded roadways.
• Forecasters cautioned that radar‑indicated hail and gusts can injure people and livestock and cause damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles, with campgrounds and low‑water crossings especially at risk.
• The warnings were based on Doppler radar rather than post‑storm surveys and were issued with short lead times, underscoring the challenge of protecting people in sparsely populated rural areas and the need to monitor local media for updates.