Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 1998
Tornado Warning 16, NWS Omaha, NE
NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at May 15, 1998, 1:22 PM CDT for Platte County, Nebraska. It was in force for 48 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
- May 15, 1998, 1:22 PM CDT (18:22 UTC)
- Expired
- May 15, 1998, 2:10 PM CDT
- In force
- 48 min
- Issued by
- NWS Omaha, NE
- Area
- Whole counties
County Platte County, NE
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 1:30 PM CDT | Thunderstorm Wind 58 | Columbus, NE | Large trees downed. One tree fell on a pickup truck. |
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.
The nearest sounding before it
Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 100 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1194 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -370 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1627 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 64 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -76 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 26 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.3
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KOMA 151822 RRA TOROMA NEC141-151910- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 122 PM CDT FRI MAY 15 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... PLATTE COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA * UNTIL 210 PM CDT * AT 119 PM CDT... DOPPLER RADAR AND SPOTTERS INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO IN THE VICINITY OF COLUMBUS MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH. A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED SOUTH OF COLUMBUS. * THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR... COLUMBUS AREA NOW HUMPHREY AT 145 PM CDT THIS REPLACES THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR PLATTE COUNTY. PERSONS IN THE WARNED AREA SHOULD TAKE SHELTER IN A BASEMENT IF AVAILABLE. OTHERWISE GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED. MILLER
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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, May 15, 10:55 AM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093- IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-161200- SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 1055 AM CDT FRI MAY 15 1998 ...SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA... SPOTTER ACTION... STORM SPOTTERS CONTINUE TO BE NEEDED FOR PARTS OF NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA THROUGH MID AFTERNOON. DISCUSSION... STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO LIFT OUT OF NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA THROUGH MID AFTERNOON...HOWEVER ISOLATED STORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP BEHIND THIS MAIN AREA. ZAPOTOCNY
Special weather statement, May 15, 10:55 AM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093- IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-161200- SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 1055 AM CDT FRI MAY 15 1998 ...SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA... SPOTTER ACTION... STORM SPOTTERS CONTINUE TO BE NEEDED FOR PARTS OF NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA THROUGH MID AFTERNOON. DISCUSSION... STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO LIFT OUT OF NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA THROUGH MID AFTERNOON...HOWEVER ISOLATED STORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP BEHIND THIS MAIN AREA. ZAPOTOCNY
Special weather statement, May 15, 12:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093- IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-161700- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 1205 PM CDT FRI MAY 15 1998 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 352 HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE... HOWEVER A WATCH BOX MAY BE REISSUED FOR PARTS OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA AS THUNDERSTORMS REDEVELOP. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 353 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AND NORTHWEST IOWA UNTIL 3PM. ZAPOTOCNY
Special weather statement, May 15, 12:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093- IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-161700- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 1205 PM CDT FRI MAY 15 1998 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 352 HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE... HOWEVER A WATCH BOX MAY BE REISSUED FOR PARTS OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA AS THUNDERSTORMS REDEVELOP. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 353 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AND NORTHWEST IOWA UNTIL 3PM. ZAPOTOCNY
Local storm report, May 15, 1:00 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
100 PM CDT FRI MAY 15 1998
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0825 AM TABLE ROCK NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 PAWNEE THREE BUILDINGS
DESTROYED
0825 AM BARNESTON NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 GAGE MANY TREES AND POWER
POLES DOWN. WINDOWS
BLOWN OUT OF A HOUSE
ESTIMATED 90 MPH
0830 AM 5 ESE AUBURN NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 NEMAHA TREE AND ROOF DAMAGE
0830 AM 1 W TECUMSEH NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 PAWNEE BARN DAMAGED
0830 AM 6 ENE FALLS CITY NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 RICHARDSON DAMAGE TO SHED ROOF
0835 AM ROCKFORD NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 GAGE SILOS KNOCKED OVER
0835 AM VIRGINIA NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 GAGE SEMI BLOWN OVER
0835 AM 4 SW TECUMSEH NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 JOHNSON TREE LIMBS DOWN. ESTD
60-65 MPH
0840 AM WYMORE NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 GAGE TREES BLOWN DOWN
0840 AM 1 N FILLEY NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 GAGE TREE BLOWN DOWN
0845 AM FILLEY NE 70 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 GAGE TREES LIMBS UP TO 16 INCH
DIAMETER DOWN
0849 AM BEATRICE ARPT NE 68 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 GAGE
0850 AM PERU NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 NEMAHA LARGE TREE UPROOTED
0850 AM AUBURN NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 NEMAHA SHEDS BLOWN OVER
0900 AM 5 E HAMBURG IA WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 FREMONT BUILDINGS GONE
0900 AM 4 E AUBURN NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 NEMAHA BUILDING DAMGAGE
0904 AM 1 S PERCIVAL IA FUNNEL CLOUD
05/15/98 FREMONT
0905 AM IMOGENE IA WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 FREMONT TIME ESTD. ROOF BLOWN OFF
AND HIT A CAR. MANY POWER
POLES DOWN.
0910 AM 1 S ELMWOOD NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 CASS HIGH TENSION POWER LINES
DOWN. TIME ESTD.
0916 AM SPRINGFIELD NE 60 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 SARPY ESTIMATED 60 MPH GUST
0920 AM OFFUTT AFB NE 108 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 SARPY MEASURED 94 KTS
0920 AM GREENWOOD NE 60 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 CASS
0927 AM 2.5 W SYRACUSE NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 OTOE SEMI OVERTURNED. BUILDING
KNOCKED DOWN
0930 AM ELKHORN NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 DOUGLAS LOTS OF TREE DAMAGE
0930 AM OMAHA NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 DOUGLAS SEVERE DAMAGE TO ROOF AT
INDIAN HILLS SCHOOL
0932 AM OMAHA EPPLEY ARPT NE 86 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 DOUGLAS
0938 AM 5 N COUNCIL BLUFFS IA WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 POTTAWATTAMIE ESTIMATED 60 MPH GUST
NEAR I29 / I680 INTERCHANGE
0940 AM ASHLAND NE 80 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 SAUNDERS ESTIMATED 80 MPH GUST
0940 AM 3 E HANCOCK IA WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 POTTAWATTAMIE HOME SEVERELY DAMAGED
0941 AM HONEY CREEK IA 70 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 POTTAWATTAMIE
0942 AM MISSOURI VLY IA 60 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 HARRISON
0954 AM 10 SW OMAHA NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 SARPY ESTIMATED 80 MPH GUST.
50 GAL DRUMS BLOWN OVER
0955 AM 5 S MISSOURI VLY IA WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 POTTAWATTAMIE 4 SEMI TRUCKS BLOWN OVER
ON I80 TO THE WEST OF
SHELBY. TIME ESTD.
0956 AM 15 WNW OMAHA NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 DOUGLAS TREES DOWN/ UPROOTED
0957 AM 12 SW OMAHA NE 65 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 SARPY
0957 AM 13 WSW OMAHA NE WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 DOUGLAS TREES DOWN
0959 AM 1 NW VALLEY NE 61 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 DOUGLAS 53 KT GUST AT NWS OFFICE
1000 AM 1 SW SHELBY IA WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 SHELBY BARNS AND SHEDS DESTROYED
REPORT OF POSSIBLE TORNADO
1000 AM 8 W OMAHA NE 60 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 DOUGLAS REPORTED IN WEST OMAHA
AT HOME OF NWS PERSONNEL
1003 AM 10 W OMAHA NE 80 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 DOUGLAS ROOFS BLOWN OFF OF HOMES
1015 AM PORTSMOUTH IA WIND DAMAGE
05/15/98 SHELBY TIME ESTD. PORTSMOUTH
TO DEFIANCE. POWER LINES
AND TREES DAMAGED. ROOF
TOPS MISSING.
1030 AM ONAWA IA 58 MPH TSTM GUST
05/15/98 MONONA
MILLERThe office that day
Everything else NWS Omaha, NE issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 7:37 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson, Pawnee | 48 min |
| May 15, 8:24 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Johnson, Nemaha | 61 min |
| May 15, 8:24 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson | 61 min |
| May 15, 8:28 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Gage | 47 min |
| May 15, 8:39 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Lancaster, Otoe | 61 min |
| May 15, 8:50 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Lancaster, Otoe | 65 min |
| May 15, 8:58 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Cass | 62 min |
| May 15, 9:10 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders | 65 min |
| May 15, 9:34 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Washington | 61 min |
| May 15, 9:34 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Dodge | 61 min |
| May 15, 9:47 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Burt | 63 min |
| May 15, 9:47 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Cuming | 63 min |
| May 15, 10:13 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Douglas | 32 min |
| May 15, 10:17 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Thurston | 63 min |
| May 15, 12:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Butler, Colfax, Platte | 65 min |
| May 15, 1:33 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Madison, Stanton | 62 min |
| May 15, 1:49 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Madison, Stanton | 46 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Nebraska, 1998Every tornado warning in 1998Tornadoes in 1998
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.