PARK COUNTY, Colo. — The National Weather Service issued a rare tornado warning for parts of Park County Thursday after a confirmed tornado moved through the Weston Pass Fire.
The tornado was observed by weather spotters and touched down in western Park County south of the town of Fairplay.
Officials said the tornado moved across the fire area at approximately 1:45 pm. Firefighters went to paved or gravel roads during the tornadic activity. There were also trees uprooted. No injuries were reported
The NWS tweeted video of the tornado.
A tornado that touched down in western Park County today south of the town of Fairplay as seen in this video. This is the 6th confirmed tornado in Park County since records began in 1950. #COwx pic.twitter.com/thcZIsM4lp
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) July 5, 2018
A Twitter user captured a photo showing the tornado forming near the fire.
Possible #tornado near #WestonPassFire in #FairPlay #fairplaytornado #parkcountytornado pic.twitter.com/TP8J7hn3jK
— masshole (@wickedpissah316) July 5, 2018
The warning was lifted around 2 p.m., but the same area is under a flash flood warning until 3 p.m. due to excessive rainfall over or near the Weston Pass burn scar.
Tornados are very rare in mountainous terrain but not entirely unheard of. In 2007, a severe thunderstorm rapidly developed over north-central Teller County, producing a tornado 3 miles northwest of Woodland Park.
This is the 6th confirmed tornado in Park County since records began in 1950, according to the NWS.