Pueblo, CO – A rare high-elevation tornado has entered Colorado’s record books after being confirmed along the northern slopes of Sawtooth Mountain earlier this month.
According to the US National Weather Service Pueblo office, the tornado developed on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at roughly 11,300 feet in elevation, making it the fourth-highest confirmed tornado in Colorado history. Officials said the event was identified using satellite imagery and radar analysis.
The tornado, rated EF-U (unknown) due to a lack of damage indicators, touched down around 1:07 p.m. MDT and lasted approximately five minutes. Survey data shows the twister cut a path 0.84 miles long with a maximum width of 95 yards. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
High-elevation tornadoes are considered exceptionally rare in Colorado, with most forming at lower elevations across the plains. The National Weather Service emphasized that the unusual event highlights the state’s diverse and sometimes unpredictable severe weather patterns.
While this storm did not cause any reported damage, meteorologists note that such records provide valuable data in understanding tornado formation in mountainous terrain.
Residents are encouraged to continue monitoring local forecasts, particularly during the late summer and early fall storm season when severe weather can still occur across Colorado.
