A landspout tornado was spotted just north of Denver International Airport Sunday, according to the National Weather Service at Boulder.
The tornado was reported to be moving northeast from the airport, the weather service said. The agency issued a tornado warning for the area, which includes parts of Adams and Denver counties, at about 2:15 p.m.
Landspout tornado just north of DIA about 5 mins ago
— Brian Bledsoe 🐊 (@BrianBledsoe)
Those in the area should seek immediate shelter. Pea-sized hail is possible. The tornado warning lifts at 3:15 p.m.
Landspout tornadoes are caused by rotating air at the surface, not from a rotating thunderstorm, which means they are typically short-lived and generally weaker than full-fledged tornadoes, though landspout tornadoes can still boast winds of up to 100 mph.
Tornado Warning including Adams County, CO, Denver County, CO until 3:15 PM MDT
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
Sunday’s landspout tornado at DIA is part of expected afternoon thunderstorms amid hot temperatures in the Denver metro.
The city was expected to see a high of about 96 degrees Sunday, according to the National Weather Service at Boulder. The withering weather follows Saturday’s record-breaking 100-degree heat, which broke a nine-year-old record for the hottest June 11 recorded in Denver.
There’s an about 20% chance of thunderstorms across the Denver metro after 12 p.m., according to the weather service.
Otherwise, expect mostly sunny skies, and don’t look for a cool down when the work week starts — Monday’s high is expected to soar to 99 degrees.
