(COLORADO) — The Centennial State has been having some pretty active weather as summer approaches. It’s been a couple of weeks of severe weather, combined with rain and even hail — a common occurrence for Colorado in the summer.
Colorado is not a stranger to tornadoes. According to the National Weather Service in Pueblo, on average, the state experiences 53 tornadoes annually. Tornadoes have been reported as early as February and as late as November in Colorado; however, the tornado threat increases between May and August.
In 2025, Colorado saw several tornadoes across the state, with most occurring east of I-25. In May, multiple tornadoes were spotted east of Denver, with four confirmed on May 18 alone — two of them were rated at an EF2, which estimates winds at 111-135 mph.
Tornado in Bennett on May 18 (Credit: Sandra Blake)
Tornado forming in Elbert County (Courtesy of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
Most recently, Southern Colorado had one tornado touch down in Divide. FOX21 Meteorologist Megam Montero said that while higher terrain tornadoes are less frequent, they are not unheard of; an example is the EF1 tornado that happened in 2023 over Pikes Peak.
Tornadoes can happen anywhere if the ingredients are in the atmosphere.
Check out the Divide funnel cloud here:
According to NWS Pueblo, 95% of tornadoes occur along and east of I-25. While large tornadoes are not as common along the Colorado Front Range as they are across the Plains, they are possible, given the right conditions.
The storm over Divide on Tuesday, June 17, left several downed trees and other debris. Teller County Sheriff (TSCO) Jason Mikesell said the sheriff’s office mapped about 15 and a half acres of damage across the county.
Affected areas in Teller County included North of Woodland Park off Highway 67, County Road 5, County Road 25, and the Trout Creek area.
“Power lines are also down in some areas, and power crews are on their way,” TCSO said via Facebook. “If you spot a downed power line, DO NOT APPROACH. If you have been affected and need assistance, call 9-1-1.”
The National Weather Service will be conducting a storm damage survey on Wednesday, June 18. FOX21’s Megan Montero will be joining them to learn more about the storm and the possible tornado.
