Wednesday, May 21, was a night full of severe weather for the Denver, Colorado area.
Not only did at least four tornadoes touch down, the storms brought heavy rain, intense lightning, and icy hail.
The National Weather Service reported that four tornadoes were documented in Watkins, East Denver, Aurora, Byers and Leader.
Jeff Piotrowski, a witness to the severe outbreak, told CNN that he had seen five tornadoes touch down not too far from the Denver International Airport.
“This thing is spinning up multiple tornadoes,” Piotrowski recalled. “There were tornadoes on the outer ring of the circulation, … and then there’s the main tornado vortex closer to the storm.”
Just taken in Watkins. pic.twitter.com/9tEe23uH3V
— Adams Sheriff's Page (@AdamsCoSheriff) May 21, 2014
Although the airport was not directly impacted, the storm definitely affected the flight schedules. The airport’s spokeswoman Kate O’Malley explained that six planes had to be taken out of service, due to hail damage, and 38 flights had to be diverted with 90-minute delays. They also had their hotel and transit workers take shelter in their garage while the storms ravaged through the area.
Tornado warning now expired – 38 flights diverted, avg. delays of 90 minutes – check flight status @ http://t.co/AE6BFir7Ro
— Denver Int'l Airport (@DENAirport) May 21, 2014
We asked ppl outside to shelter. Our Hotel & Transit Center workers sheltered in a garage. Photo via @LindseySablan. pic.twitter.com/TeFwEOcVpL
— Denver Int'l Airport (@DENAirport) May 21, 2014
The aftermath of the storm left flooded streets, and roads covered in ice; looking like a winter storm had just swept through.
PUSHING STUCK CARS TOWER & PENA pic.twitter.com/fvlFmyjFcG
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) May 21, 2014
No injuries have been reported.
Image via Twitter
