DENVER (KDVR) — The National Weather Service confirmed that a landspout tornado touched down near Franktown on Monday afternoon.
NWS said that a trained spotter reported a tornado in Franktown that lasted 90 seconds and caused damage to a commercial building. The tornado was estimated to touch down at 2:33 p.m.
There was no warning for the line of storms, but a special weather statement was released by NWS that the radar showed signs of a strengthening thunderstorm.
The special weather alert contained information, including:
A strong thunderstorm will impact western Elbert and East Central Douglas Counties until 3:15 p.m. MDT.
At 2:39 p.m. MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Franktown, 25 miles southeast of Denver, moving northeast at 10 miles per hour.
Landspouts, wind gusts up to 40 mph, and half-inch-sized hail may occur during the storm.
Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.
The locations that were likely to be impacted included:
Southeastern Parker
The Pinery
Franktown
Ponderosa Park
Castlewood Canyon
NWS also advised people in the area that if they are outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building, and if a tornado is spotted, seek shelter inside a sturdy building.
The Pinpoint Weather Alert Team went back and tracked the storm system on satellite and radar during the time of the landspout tornado.
FOX31 will continue to track the storm and provide updates as they become available.
