Weather
Large tornado on the ground near Bennett, Colorado
A series of tornadoes touched down in eastern Colorado on Sunday afternoon, with one large and potentially damaging tornado captured on a Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) traffic camera near Bennett.
The twister was seen crossing Interstate 70 east of Denver, between the towns of Bennett and Watkins, and was described by forecasters as potentially causing “significant damage.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported at least six tornado sightings across the region as severe thunderstorms swept through.
The tornado near Bennett was one of the most visible, with over a minute of dramatic footage recorded on a CDOT webcam, showing a well-defined funnel making contact with the ground just east of Denver International Airport.
The storm moved in a northeast direction, threatening areas including Wiggins, Hoyt, Fort Morgan, and Brush.
As of 2:30 p.m., two tornadoes were confirmed near Arapahoe Park, roughly 25 miles southeast of Denver, and three separate tornado reports came in from the Bennett area, located approximately 32 miles east of the city.
One tornado in particular, deemed “extremely dangerous” by the NWS, was confirmed on the ground around 1:50 p.m. about nine miles north of Strasburg. It was moving northeast at 20 miles per hour.
That tornado prompted a warning covering much of central Adams County, which was lifted by 2:15 p.m.
Meteorologists are still working to determine how many of Sunday’s tornado reports represent distinct tornadoes versus multiple sightings of the same storm system.
In addition to the tornado activity, large hail accompanied the storms. Reports of hail ranging from the size of dimes to ping pong balls were recorded across the region.
The largest confirmed hailstone as of mid-afternoon was 1.5 inches in diameter, reported near East Smoky Hill Road and South Powhaton Road in Aurora.
Emergency officials continue to monitor the situation and are assessing the extent of damage in affected areas.
Residents are urged to remain alert as cleanup efforts begin and as the threat of additional storms may persist into the evening.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Emergency responders are working multiple rescue calls after a confirmed tornado touched down west of Bloomington and moved directly toward the city, prompting urgent shelter warnings across the region.
The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning for Bloomington, Ellettsville, and Clear Creek until 7:30 p.m. EST, describing the situation as particularly dangerous.
The tornado was confirmed on the ground approximately eight miles west of Bloomington and moving east at an estimated 40 miles per hour.
Authorities report that multiple homes have sustained significant damage, with early indications that several individuals may be trapped inside residences impacted by the storm.
Emergency crews are actively conducting search and rescue operations in affected neighborhoods.
Communities directly in the projected path included Bloomington, Ellettsville, the campus of Indiana University Bloomington, Solsberry, and Whitehall.
Meteorologists warned that the storm was capable of producing destructive winds and hail up to the size of ping pong balls. Officials emphasized that the tornado posed a serious threat to life and property.
Residents in the warned area were urged to seek shelter immediately — preferably in a basement or on the lowest level of a sturdy structure, inside an interior room away from windows.
Authorities stressed not to delay action while waiting for visual confirmation of the tornado.
Emergency management officials continue to monitor the storm’s track and assess damage. Additional updates are expected as response efforts continue and more information becomes available.