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Simla Matheson Colorado Supercell and Tornadoes June 4, 2015

Storm chase timeline of the various tornadoes and touchdowns near Simla, Matheson and Ramah on 4th June 2015. Photos by Michael Bath, with Jason Paterson and Rodney Wallbridge on chase. Times are Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) as logged by my camera.

See also detailed account of the Matheson - Simla Tornadoes by Brian A. Morganti

Supercell and Tornado Timeline

17:11:39 - 17:14:20 funnel cloud
17:14:21 - 17:15:06 tornado
17:15:07 - 17:17:01 funnel cloud
*** completely dissipated

17:17:40 - 17:19:13 funnel cloud
17:19:14 - 17:19:19 tornado
17:19:20 - 17:19:53 funnel cloud
17:19:54 - 17:20:05 tornado
*** completely dissipated

17:30:09 - 17:30:36 tornado
17:30:37 - 17:31:26 large funnel
17:31:27 - 17:31:58 tornado
17:31:59 - 17:32:15 large funnel
*** completely dissipated

17:33:13 - 17:41:03 large tornado then eventual rain wrap
*** not visible after this time

18:29:36 - 18:21:37 anti-cylonic tornado from a distance
*** on the move

19:09:34 - 19:14:15 briefly observed cone tornado then large rope out

The Approach

12.52 MDT - Near Denver AP (I-70)

15:00 MDT - Near Deer Trail (I-70)

LP Supercell develops

15:25 MDT - NW of Limon (I-70/CO-86)

15:25 MDT - NW of Limon (I-70/CO-86)

15:26 MDT - NW of Limon (I-70/CO-86)

15:31 MDT - NW of Limon (I-70/CO-86)

15:37 MDT - NW of Limon (I-70/CO-86)

15:45 MDT - NW of Limon (CO-86)

On the move to Simla

16:11 MDT - E of Matheson (US-24)

16:24 MDT - WSW of Matheson (US-24)

16:27 MDT - WSW of Matheson (US-24)

First Tornadoes observed from Ramah

17:11:39 - 17:14:20 funnel cloud
17:14:21 - 17:15:06 tornado
17:15:07 - 17:17:01 funnel cloud
*** completely dissipated

17:17:40 - 17:19:13 funnel cloud
17:19:14 - 17:19:19 tornado
17:19:20 - 17:19:53 funnel cloud
17:19:54 - 17:20:05 tornado
*** completely dissipated

16:47 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:01 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:06 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:08 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:11:38 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:12:24 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:13:18 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:13:29 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:13:47 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:14:21 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:14:26 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:14:28 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:15:06 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:15:15 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:15:19 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:16:07 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:16:10 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:17:01 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:17:54 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:18:03 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:18:25 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:19:57 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:20:02 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:20:05 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

17:21:15 MDT - NE of Ramah (CR-113)

Development of large tornado observed from Ramah

17:30:09 - 17:30:36 tornado
17:30:37 - 17:31:26 large funnel
17:31:27 - 17:31:58 tornado
17:31:59 - 17:32:15 large funnel
*** completely dissipated

17:33:13 - 17:41:03 large tornado then eventual rain wrap
*** not visible after this time

17:30:09 MDT - Ramah Cemetary Rd

17:30:30 MDT - Ramah Cemetary Rd

17:30:44 MDT - Ramah Cemetary Rd

17:31:31 MDT - Ramah Cemetary Rd

17:31:34 MDT - Ramah Cemetary Rd

17:31:34 MDT - Ramah Cemetary Rd

17:31:55 MDT - Ramah Cemetary Rd

17:33:15 MDT - Ramah Cemetary Rd

17:34:21 MDT - Ramah Cemetary Rd

17:35:28 MDT - Ramah Cemetary Rd

17:37:03 MDT - Ramah (US-24)

17:37:17 MDT - Ramah (US-24)

17:38:17 MDT - Ramah Cemetary Rd

17:39:54 MDT - Ramah Cemetary Rd

17:40:14 MDT - Ramah (US-24)

17:40:45 MDT - Ramah (US-24)

Supercell observed from between Ramah and Calhan

18:00 MDT - SW of Ramah (US-24)

18:03 MDT - SW of Ramah (US-24)

Anti-cyclonic tornado observed from south of Calhan

18:29:36 - 18:21:37 anti-cylonic tornado from a distance
*** on the move

18:19:41 MDT - N Calhan Hwy/Funk Rd

18:20:01 MDT - N Calhan Hwy/Funk Rd

18:20:21 MDT - N Calhan Hwy/Funk Rd

18:21:37 MDT - N Calhan Hwy/Funk Rd

Storm structure and another tornado near Rush

19:09:34 - 19:14:15 briefly observed cone tornado then large rope out

18:26 MDT - Judge Orr Rd

18:38 MDT - Judge Orr Rd

19:09:34 MDT - near Rush (CO-94)

19:09:44 MDT - near Rush (CO-94)

19:09:56 MDT - near Rush (CO-94

19:13:55 MDT - near Rush (CO-94

19:14:10 MDT - near Rush (CO-94)

Supercell with beaver tail dissipates

19:24 MDT - near Rush (CO-94)

19:29 MDT - near Rush (CO-94)

19:29 MDT - near Rush (CO-94)

19:33 MDT - near Rush (CO-94)

19:36 MDT - near Rush (CO-94)

19:53 MDT - near Rush (CO-94)

Separate Barber Pole Supercell to the west dissipates

19:39 MDT - near Rush (CO-94)

19:57 MDT - Ramah Hwy

20:01 MDT - Ramah Hwy

20:04 MDT - Ramah Hwy)

20:06 MDT - Ramah Hwy

20:08 MDT - Ramah Hwy)