Wind, rain and hail can quickly — sometimes painfully — spell the end of any outdoor event, especially a concert, where music fans tend to occupy the same spot for hours. But when public events are scheduled for every night of the season, the chances for chaos increase.
That’s what happened last year when West Metro Fire Rescue treated 80 to 90 people for injuries at Red Rocks — including seven requiring hospitalization — after a hailstorm that blew in during a June 21 Louis Tomlinson concert.
Adding to the damage: The city agency that runs Red Rocks responded with an attitude that many concert-goers felt was dismissive of their concerns, essentially saying that extreme weather is just part of the outdoor music experience. Officials changed their tune a few days later, however, after a massive public backlash, vowing to warn fans better and earlier.
Related: What’s new at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in 2024? A lot, actually.
Last year was highly active when it came to thunder and hail storms, according to the National Weather Service. The previous four to five years had been fairly quiet, but 2023 featured an active jet stream, leading to heavier rains and more moisture in the late spring and early summer.
And this year is already looking dangerous. On May 6, Red Rocks canceled its Hippo Campus concert due to high winds. The show would have had to compete with gusts of up to 65 miles per hour, the NWS said at the time. And last week, hail caused an estimated $1 billion-plus in damage across the metro area.
While reports of severe weather-related injuries are rare amid the millions who attend concerts at Red Rocks and other outdoor venues in Colorado each year, hail is a common feature in a majority of our storms thanks, in part, to how close we live to the atmosphere’s freezing level, said Greg Heavener, warning coordination meteorologist at the NWS in Boulder.
Still, when golf-ball-sized hail begins falling, there’s little choice but to seek shelter under a roof, inside a building or, if you can make it in time, your car. That level of severity means that fans must add another layer of awareness and protection to their outdoor-music plans.
A few tips
The best thing music fans can do is to know the possible weather outcomes for their evening out. That means checking forecasts at weather.gov or downloading apps from FEMA and the American Red Cross — both of which can push timely weather and water alerts based on location.
“It’s the know-before-you-go mentality,” Heavener said.
In the case of lightning, hiding under a tree is worse than simply covering your head, given that it can attract lightning, or break and fall on you.
“If you can hear the sound of thunder, then you are close enough to be struck by lightning, plain and simple,” Heavener added. “As you face the darker clouds and feel cooler air rushing towards you, that is the outflow boundary moving that air away from a thunderstorm.
“Meaning: it’s heading towards you, go inside now,” he stressed.
Tad Bowman, the venue director at Red Rocks for the last 25 years, said it is important to pay attention to instructions in light of a severe event.
“Weather changes fast here, so bring some extra layers. If you want, you can bring a seat cushion or something you can use to help protect yourself, in case you need it,” he said.
On its website, Red Rocks also provides some warnings. “Shows typically occur in all elements of Colorado weather, so be prepared for adverse weather conditions, including full exposure to the sun, strong wind and even severe rain or snow,” it reads.
“It is always wise to dress in layers, have a poncho on hand and to wear sunscreen. In the event of severe weather, follow directions from amphitheatre staff; you may be instructed to seek shelter. For your safety, be sure to check your surroundings for the closest exit or shelter when you arrive at Red Rocks. In most cases, shelter is back at your vehicle.
“If you do not have access to a vehicle, you are encouraged to seek shelter in the Visitor Center at the top of the Amphitheatre. Note that the Visitor Center has limited space and will accommodate guests on a first come first served basis until the capacity is met,” it concludes.
“We’ve had a little bit different messaging this year at Red Rocks,” said Brian Kitts, the director of marketing for the city’s Arts & Venues department.
“But it’s going to be focusing on people who may not have been to the venue. On any given night, 30% of the audience is from out of town. Red Rocks is not like other outdoor venues. There are snakes here. It snows. You need to prepare for that every single you come here,” he said.
