8:24 p.m.: The National Weather Service has initially termed the Highlands Ranch tornado as an EF-1. has winds from 86 to 110 mph and may cause moderate damage.
“Most all of the damage we have seen so far has been EF-0,” the NWS . “There have been a few pockets of low-end EF-1 damage to well built single family homes, which is the reason for the preliminary EF-1 rating.”
Our preliminary assessment of the Highlands Ranch tornado has been issued. EF-1. Please keep sending us your damage photos
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
6:14 p.m.: During an evening news conference, South Metro Fire Rescue communications manager Eric Hurst said that aside from minimal, hail-related injuries during the beginning of the storm, there were no reports of any storm-related injuries.
Between 3 and 5 p.m., South Metro received 116 calls reporting damage, most located in Highlands Ranch, where a tornado was reported to have touched down.
As crews responded to various calls, Hurst said they noticed dark intersections with no functioning lights, flooded intersections, downed fences and trees, and roof damage. However, he said, they haven’t found any significant structural damage.
At the same news conference, Douglas County sheriff’s spokewsoman Deborah Takahara said the sheriff’s office received nearly 300 calls reporting damage to neighborhoods during that timeframe.
She said the damage stretched for 3 miles from the western Highlands Ranch area to Lone Tree. Now that the storm has moved out, recovery and clean-up efforts are underway and deputies are currently out surveying the damage.
“The most damage that we have seen are trees down across roads, trees down into homes and some roofs damaged, some homes damaged and some structures damaged,” she said.
The sheriff’s office is asking people to stay off the roads as much as possible at this time.
6:08 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a preliminary damage track from the tornado and believes it traveled 6.3 miles across Highlands Ranch. But we don’t yet know the strength of the storm.
“We are evaluating all photos to assign an EF-rating and may do a damage survey tomorrow if needed,” NWS tweeted.
*Preliminary* Damage Track. This is not the exact track but it should be close. Added points are damage reports we've received so far. Prelim length 6.3 miles. We are evaluating all photos to assign an EF-rating and may do a damage survey tomorrow if needed.
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
5:12 p.m.: Elbert County is under a severe thunderstorm warning until 6 p.m. with warnings from the National Weather Service of tennis-ball-sized hail.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Elbert CO until 6:00 PM MDT. This storm will contain tennis ball sized hail!
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
5 p.m.: Residents in Highlands Ranch are reporting damage from the tornado. Trees are downed and some property damage to fences and roofs is being reported. See the latest photos here.
Can you help us get a grasp on the storm damage throughout Douglas County? We're asking you to post your pictures here to help us evaluate the damage of the storm. A general area of the county (i.e. cross streets)that you're in would be helpful.
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff)
4:56 p.m.: Douglas County officials are asking residents to shelter in place, limit travel and avoid calling 911 unless it’s a true emergency.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is asking residents to do the following during the weather event:
1. Shelter in place in a safe room if in active weather.
2. Limit travel, streets are currently blocked by trees.
3. Do not call 911 unless you have a true emergency.— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff)
4:51 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for Kiowa until 5:30 p.m.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Kiowa CO until 5:30 PM MDT. This storm will contain golf ball sized hail!
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
4:31 p.m: According to Douglas County sheriffs, there is reported damage in Highlands Ranch and Parker.
Douglas County is currently amid obvious severe weather to include unconfirmed tornado touch downs causing reported damage through Highlands Ranch and Parker. Please note that we are not out of the woods yet, please remain indoors until things calm down.
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff)
4:17 p.m.: So far, there are no reported injuries due to the tornado that touched down in Highlands Ranch, South Metro Fire tweeted. The department is currently responding to “dozens of calls in Highlands Ranch south of c470 between Lucent and Quebec for storm related damage including roof damage, trees down, natural gas leaks and electrical problems.”
South Metro is responding to dozens of calls in Highlands Ranch south of c470 between Lucent and Quebec for storm related damage including roof damage, trees down, natural gas leaks and electrical problems. No reports of any injuries so far.
— South Metro Fire Rescue (@SouthMetroPIO)
4:08 p.m.: South Metro fire station 17 in Highlands Ranch has sustained heavy tornado damage to its roof, according to an emergency alert.
4:03 p.m.: National Weather Service meteorologist Paul Schlatter confirmed the tornado was on the ground for a 15-to-20-minute span.
4:01 p.m.: From the National Weather Service: “At 3:31 PM MDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over northeastern Highlands Ranch, or 12 miles south of Denver, moving southeast at 15 mph.
“This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!”
3:52 p.m.: A tornado warning is now in effect for Parker and Lone Tree until 4:15 p.m.
Tornado Warning including Parker CO and Lone Tree CO until 4:15 PM MDT
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
3:42 p.m.: Paul Schlatter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder, confirmed a tornado briefly touched down around 3:30 p.m. near the county line between Douglas and Arapahoe counties. A tornado warning remains in effect for the area, he said.
Douglas County sheriffs urge people in the area to take shelter.
Current situation at Highlands Ranch Parkway and Zotos Drive. Take shelter and don’t come west.
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff)
3:25 p.m.: The National Weather Service in Boulder has issued a tornado warning for Arapahoe and Douglas counties until 4 p.m. Lakewood police tweeted warning sirens have been activated because of “the potential for highly destructive hail.”
Tornado Warning including Arapahoe County, CO, Douglas County, CO until 4:00 PM MDT
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
Storm Update: Warning sirens have been activated because of the potential for highly destructive hail. This can can cause sever injuries and property damage. Please stay inside.
— Lakewood Police Dept. (@LakewoodPDCO)
3:17 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning including Centennial, Littleton and Englewood until 4 p.m., the National Weather Service warns. This storm may contain tennis ball-sized hail.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Centennial CO, Littleton CO and Englewood CO until 4:00 PM MDT. This storm will contain tennis ball sized hail!
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
3:03 p.m.: NWS is now warning of possible baseball-sized hail in Denver, Lakewood and Littleton until 3:45 p.m.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Denver CO, Lakewood CO and Littleton CO until 3:45 PM MDT. This destructive storm will contain baseball sized hail!
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
2:58 p.m.: NWS is warning of baseball-sized hail in Lakewood, Indian Hills and Morrisson.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning continues for Lakewood CO, Indian Hills CO and Morrison CO until 3:30 PM MDT. This destructive storm will contain baseball sized hail!
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
2:54 p.m.: The National Weather Service warns a severe thunderstorm warning, including Lakewood, Indian Hills and Morrison until 3:30 PM MDT. This storm could produce two-inch-sized hail.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Lakewood CO, Indian Hills CO and Morrison CO until 3:30 PM MDT. This storm will contain two inch sized hail!
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
1:50 p.m.: The National Weather Service is warning that Thursday afternoon’s storms will be severe and could potentially produce large hail.
“Conditions are coming together for very large hail to hit Denver in the next 2-4 hours!” . “Have a plan to take shelter if you are under a warning! These storms will be very dangerous with hail, lightning, flooding, and perhaps a tornado or two all possible.”
When storms swept into the Denver metro area on Wednesday night, seven people were hospitalized and 80 to 90 were injured during a hail storm at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre during a concert.
Conditions are coming together for very large hail to hit Denver in the next 2-4 hours! Have a plan to take shelter if you are under a warning! These storms will be very dangerous with hail, lightning, flooding, and perhaps a tornado or two all possible.
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
The storms are expected to “hit I-25 corridor between 2-5 p.m., and elsewhere through 9 p.m.,” NWS said. “Ensure you have a way to receive warnings.”
To see a full list of all counties and regions under severe storm warnings, visit the .
In addition to the potential for flooding, we are expecting another round of severe storms to impact much of the I-25 urban corridor and eastern plains. The storms will hit I-25 corridor between 2-5 PM, and elsewhere through 9 PM. Ensure you have a way to receive warnings
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
This is a developing story and will be updated.
