Tornado Watch Issued for Southeast Colorado and Southwest Kansas

Strategic Insights -

A Tornado Watch has been issued for parts of southeast Colorado and southwest Kansas, effective from 200 PM CDT on Thursday, June 5, 2025, until 900 PM CDT. The watch area is approximately 80 statute miles east and west of a line from 55 miles east northeast of Lamar, CO, to 15 miles east of Elkhart, KS. Thunderstorms developing in southeast Colorado are expected to intensify through the afternoon, potentially producing a few tornadoes, very large hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter, and scattered damaging winds with isolated significant gusts up to 75 mph.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Tornado Watch covers an area approximately 80 statute miles east and west of a line from 55 miles east northeast of Lamar, CO, to 15 miles east of Elkhart, KS.
  • The watch area is affected by thunderstorms developing in southeast Colorado, which are expected to intensify through the afternoon.
  • Primary threats include a few tornadoes possible, scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5 inches in diameter likely, and scattered damaging winds and isolated significant gusts to 75 mph possible.
  • Some clustering of storms is expected by evening, with a gradual increase in the threat for severe outflow gusts up to 75 mph.
  • The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area, with the actual watch depicted by shaded areas.
  • For a complete depiction of the watch, see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU9).
  • Persons in the affected areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.

Statistics:

  • The tornado watch area is approximately 80 statute miles east and west of a line from 55 miles east northeast of Lamar, CO, to 15 miles east of Elkhart, KS.
  • The watch is effective from 200 PM CDT on Thursday, June 5, 2025, until 900 PM CDT.
  • The probability of 2 or more tornadoes is 50%.
  • The probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes is 20%.
  • The probability of 10 or more severe wind events is 50%.
  • The probability of 1 or more wind events 65 knots is 40%.
  • The probability of 10 or more severe hail events is 60%.
  • The probability of 1 or more hailstones 2 inches is 60%.
  • The probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events is 90%.

Sources:

  • SEL9 URGENT -- IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 369 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 200 PM CDT Thu Jun 5 2025
  • WOUS64 KWNS FOR WOU9