Alert archive / Nebraska / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1987

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Cheyenne, WY

August 3, 1987Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska

NWS Cheyenne, WY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 3, 1987, 11:45 PM MDT for Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. It was in force for 55 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 3, 1987, 11:45 PM MDT (05:45 UTC)
Expired
Aug 4, 1987, 12:40 AM MDT
In force
55 min
Issued by
NWS Cheyenne, WY
Area
Whole counties

County Scotts Bluff County, NE

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 4, 12:25 AM MDTHail 1Scotts Bluff, NE

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDEN), launched 00:00Z, 5.8 hours before the alert went out and 224 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 1987-08-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 498 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 1987-08-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 9 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
498 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-59 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1602 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
9 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-14 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KBFF 040545
SVRBFF
NEC157-040640-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SCOTTSBLUFF NE
1145 PM MDT MON AUG 3 1987

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1240 AM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES OF

PANHANDLE OF NEBRASKA...SCOTTS BLUFF AND THE CITIES OF SCOTTSBLUFF 
 AND GERING

AT 1140 PM MDT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED BY RADAR 15 MILES
NORTHWEST OF SCOTTSBLUFF NEBRASKA MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES
AN HOUR.

THESE STORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE A TORNADO WITH LITTLE
OR NO WARNING...SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...GREATER THAN 3/4 INCH
IN DIAMETER...DAMAGING WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAINS THAT CAN QUICKLY
FLOOD A LOW LYING AREA.

REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER OR DAMAGE CAN BE GIVEN TO A LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

KIRK

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 3, 6:21 PM MDT, 5 hours 24 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SCOTTSBLUFF NE
620 PM MDT MON AUG 3 1987

AT 619 PM MDT RADAR SHOWED A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM HAD CROSSED INTO
THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE FROM WYOMING. THE STORM WAS LOCATED 20
MILES WEST OF SCOTTSBLUFF NEBRASKA OVER THE WESTERN PART OF SCOTTS BLUFF
COUNTY. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

THIS STORM MAY PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL
OVER OVER WESTEoRN SCOTTS BLUFF AND SOUTHERN SIOUX COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM
MDT THIS EVENING.
ELSON
Local storm report, Aug 3, 7:54 PM MDT, 3 hours 51 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
755 PM MDT MON AUG 3 1987

317PM...3/4 INCH HAIL REPORTED 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHEYENNE.

422PM...FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY PILOT 15 TO 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF
        CHEYENNE AIRPORT.

425PM...1 7/8 INCH HAIL REPORTED ON NORTHEAST OUTSKIRTS OF CHEYENNE.
        FROM INITIAL REPORT UNTIL LAST REPORT AT 425PM HAIL SWATH
        1 TO 2 MILES WIDE MOVED NORTHEAST OVER CHEYENNE AND IMMEDIATE
        VICINITY. HAIL DIAMETERS UP TO 2 INCHES WERE REPORTED.
        NUMEROUS REPORTS OF VEHICLE DAMAGE AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO ROOFS
        ...BUILDING WINDOWS AND TREES/SHRUBBERY. NO DEATHS OR INJURIES.

615PM...1 1/2 INCH HAIL MEASURED BY WEATHER SERVICE PERSONNEL IN TOWN
        OF HAWK SPRINGS IN SOUTH GOSHEN COUNTY. HAWK SPRINGS IS 30
        MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF SCOTTSBLUFF NE.
COX
Special weather statement, Aug 3, 8:37 PM MDT, 3 hours 8 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
835 PM MDT MON AUG 3 1987

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST CORNER OF WYOMING...

AT 830PM RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ABOUT 40 MILES
NORTH OF GILLETTE IN NORTHEAST CAMPBELL COUNTY.  THE STORMS WERE
MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

HAIL...INTENSE LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS
SHOULD BE EXPECTED AS THE STORMS MOVE THROUGH NORTHEAST CAMPBELL AND
NORTHERN CROOK COUNTY.  THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST OF WYOMING
BY 1030PM.
COX
Special weather statement, Aug 3, 8:38 PM MDT, 3 hours 7 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SCOTTSBLUFF NE
838 PM MDT MON AUG 3 1987

AT 837 PM MDT A STRONG THUNDERSTORM HAD DEVELOPED FROM 10 TO 15 MILES
NORTH OF SCOTTSBLUFF IN SOUTHERN SIOUX COUNTY OF THE WEST NEBRASKA
PANHANDLE. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 20 MPH.

THIS STORM MAY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL
AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING IN SOUTHERN SIOUX...NORTHWEST MORRILL AND
SOUTHWEST BOX BUTTE COUNTIES UNTIL 930 PM MDT TONIGHT.
ELSON
Special weather statement, Aug 3, 9:36 PM MDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SCOTTSBLUFF NE
930 PM MDT MON AUG 3 1987

AT 928 PM MDT A STRONG THUNDERSTORM EXTENDED FROM 10 MILES TO 30 MILES
EAST OF SCOTTSBLUFF NEBRASKA IN EXTREME EAST SCOTTS BLUFF AND WESTERN
MORRILL COUNTIES.  THE THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 20
MILE AN HOUR.

PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL...STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN WERE REPORTED WITH
THIS STORM AS IT PASSED OVER LAKE MINATARE AT 900 PM MDT.

THIS STORM MAY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL
AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING IN MORRILL COUNTY UNTIL 1030 PM MDT THIS MONDAY
EVENING.
KIRK
Special weather statement, Aug 3, 10:14 PM MDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
1013 PM MDT MON AUG 3 1987

...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO NORTHWEST GOSHEN COUNTY...

AT 1010PM RADAR INDICATED A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO
NORTHWEST GOSHEN COUNTY.  THE STORM WAS ABOUT 45 MILES NORTHWEST OF
TORRINGTON AND MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

HAIL...INTENSE LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS
SHOULD BE EXPECTED WITH T6HE STORM AS IT MOVES THROUGH NORTHERN GOSHEN
COUNTY UNTIL ABOUT 1130PM.
COX

The office that day

Everything else NWS Cheyenne, WY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 3, 7:07 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSSioux23 min
Aug 4, 12:47 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSBanner, Morrill, Scotts Bluff28 min
Aug 4, 1:32 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSMorrill43 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Nebraska, 1987Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1987

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.