April 29, 200 Hugo, Colorado Lightning

I left Lakewood, Colorado at 2:00 PM on 4/29/2000. The Storm Prediction Center had a slight risk posted for the day 1 forecast. A strong cold front was sagging southward and a low pressure system was spinning over southern Colorado. The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunder Storm Warning for the counties of S.E. Colorado. While driving east on I70 toward Limon, I noticed several towers going up S.E. of Hugo. I headed down 287 toward Hugo. These initial towers fell apart, but I noticed new towers forming further south. I continued S.E. to Aroya. The center of the new convection was going up toward Pueblo.

This convection was linear in nature and developed into a major squall line tracking N/N.E. At Aroya, I turned due west and drove toward Colorado Springs down US94. As the squall line over took me encountered small hail and some great lighting.

As the heaviest portion of the storm approached I turned due north on a local paved road back toward Hugo.

After a quick gas stop at Hugo I headed back toward Limon. A few miles outside of Hugo I took a few more lighting pictures.

Lighting on I70 heading home. The images were captured off video tape from a Sony TRV510. The camera has the ability to snap jpeg files real time or from the previously recorded tape at home.