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National Weather ServiceColoradoTornado WarningArchive to October 16, 2026

Tornado Warnings in Colorado

The National Weather Service issued 69 tornado warnings for Colorado in 2025 and 87 a year on average in 2008-2025; in 2021-2025 it had the 17th most of any state. 2026 through September: 56, 36% below the average of 87 for those months in 2008-2025. Washington was covered most often (183 times since 2008).

How many tornado warnings does Colorado get?

69 tornado warnings for Colorado in 2025
501001502002008: 10420082009: 11320092010: 16120102011: 7220112012: 5520122013: 8320132014: 11620142015: 12720152016: 8620162017: 4120172018: 6820182019: 9220192020: 3320202021: 8120212022: 4820222023: 17920232024: 4520242025: 6920252026: 5620262008-2025 average 872026 through September: 56501001502002008: 10420082009: 1132010: 16120102011: 722012: 5520122013: 832014: 11620142015: 1272016: 8620162017: 412018: 6820182019: 922020: 3320202021: 812022: 4820222023: 1792024: 4520242025: 692026: 5620262008-2025 average 872026 through September: 56501001502002008: 10420082009: 1132010: 16120102011: 722012: 5520122013: 832014: 11620142015: 1272016: 8620162017: 412018: 6820182019: 922020: 3320202021: 812022: 4820222023: 1792024: 4520242025: 692026: 5620262008-2025 average 872026 through September: 56501001502002008: 10420082009: 1132010: 1612011: 722012: 552013: 832014: 1162015: 12720152016: 862017: 412018: 682019: 922020: 3320202021: 812022: 482023: 1792024: 452025: 692026: 5620262008-2025 average 872026 through September: 56

Every tornado warning that covered part of Colorado. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.

The numbers
YearCount
2026 (through September)56
202569
202445
2023179
202248
202181
202033
201992
201868
201741
201686
2015127
2014116
201383
201255
201172
2010161
2009113
2008104

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 2026.

When in the year does Colorado get them?

Colorado's tornado warnings by month, 2008-2025
200400600Jan: 0JanFeb: 0FebMar: 3MarApr: 97AprMay: 429MayJun: 582JunJul: 219JulAug: 211AugSep: 28SepOct: 4OctNov: 0NovDec: 0Dec582200400600Jan: 0JanFeb: 0FebMar: 3MarApr: 97AprMay: 429MayJun: 582JunJul: 219JulAug: 211AugSep: 28SepOct: 4OctNov: 0NovDec: 0Dec582200400600Jan: 0JanFeb: 0FebMar: 3MarApr: 97AprMay: 429MayJun: 582JunJul: 219JulAug: 211AugSep: 28SepOct: 4OctNov: 0NovDec: 0Dec582200400600Jan: 0JFeb: 0FMar: 3MApr: 97AMay: 429MJun: 582JJul: 219JAug: 211ASep: 28SOct: 4ONov: 0NDec: 0D582

Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 2026.

Where in Colorado?

County or forecast zoneSince 2008Since 2023Last issued
Washington18354July 4, 2026
Weld16724June 25, 2026
Yuma13925June 9, 2026
Kit Carson13622June 9, 2026
Elbert13413July 4, 2026
Morgan11625June 24, 2026
Prowers11529June 27, 2026
Adams11418June 8, 2026
Kiowa10819June 27, 2026
Cheyenne10215September 20, 2026
Logan10134August 22, 2026
Lincoln9912July 4, 2026

The NWS issues these products for counties or forecast zones; a zone can be part of a county or a mountain range.

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 2026.

The latest tornado warnings for Colorado in AreaZine's record

This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.

Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).

Every tornado warning for Colorado in AreaZine's record

12 notices in AreaZine's record; the latest first below. Every one, oldest first: May 21, 2026 to September 19, 2026.

  1. Tornado Warning: Cheyenne and Wallace, CO and KS Cheyenne and Wallace expired
  2. Tornado Warning: Washington County, CO Washington County expired
  3. Tornado Warning: Bent, Kiowa and Prowers, CO Bent, Kiowa and Prowers expired
  4. Tornado Warning: Weld, CO Weld expired
  5. Tornado Warning: Washington County, CO Washington County expired
  6. Tornado Warning: Yuma, CO Yuma expired
  7. Tornado Warning: Elbert, CO Elbert expired
  8. Tornado Warning: Adams and Washington County, CO Adams and Washington County expired
  9. Tornado Warning: Adams and Central Arapahoe, CO Adams and Central Arapahoe expired
  10. Tornado Warning: Phillips and Sedgwick, CO Phillips and Sedgwick expired
  11. Tornado Warning: Kit Carson, CO Kit Carson expired
  12. Tornado Warning: Kit Carson, CO Kit Carson expired

Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov). A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.

What is a tornado warning?

The NWS issues a tornado warning when a tornado has been seen or weather radar indicates one in the warned area. Warnings are drawn as polygons around the storm's path and usually last 30 to 60 minutes. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property. The national record · Every warning type in Colorado.

How does Colorado compare with its neighbours?

Oklahoma gets the most on Colorado's border: 178 a year in 2021-2025.

StateA year, 2021-2025A year, 2008-2025Rank of all states
Oklahoma1781413rd
Nebraska989614th
Kansas9513316th
Colorado848717th
New Mexico151831st
Wyoming112033rd
Arizona5537th
Utah1146th

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 2026.

More records for Colorado