Alert archive / Nebraska / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2002

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 36, NWS Hastings, NE

May 6, 2002Merrick County, Polk County, Nebraska

NWS Hastings, NE issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 6, 2002, 12:34 AM CDT for Merrick County, Polk County, Nebraska. It was in force for 56 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: May 6, 2002, 12:34 AM CDT (05:34 UTC)
Expired: May 6, 2002, 1:30 AM CDT
In force: 56 min
Issued by: NWS Hastings, NE
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Merrick County, NE, Polk County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:17 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 5.6 hours before the alert went out and 114 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1550 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1621 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 112 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 166 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.4
Supercell composite: 5.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS53 KGID 060534
SVRGRI
NEC121-143-060630-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1231 AM CDT MON MAY 6 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HASTINGS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN MERRICK COUNTY IN CENTRAL NEBRASKA
  POLK COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA

* UNTIL 130 AM CDT

* AT 1228 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES WEST OF POLK...OR ABOUT 18 MILES
  NORTHWEST OF YORK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  POLK AT 1245 AM CDT
  CLARKS AT 100 AM CDT
  STROMSBURG AT 130 AM CDT

PEOPLE IN POLK AND CENTRAL MERRICK COUNTIES SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IN A
STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT IS LARGE HAIL THE SIZE OF DIMES.

LAT...LON 4125 9800 4106 9800 4108 9728 4139 9740
          4128 9771

NNNN

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.

NWS Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 5, 3:12 PM CDT, 9 hours 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 5, 3:12 PM CDT, 9 hours 22 minutes before

SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA/NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
312 PM CDT SUN MAY 5 2002

...MAIN CONCERN IS TORNADO WATCH IN KANSAS CWA UNTIL 9 PM TONIGHT...

LATEST SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWING LOW PRESSURE CENTER NEAR NE SD.
SOUTHERLY WINDS HAVE CONTINUES TO PUMP UP SURFACE MOISTURE INTO
THE REGION WITH DEW POINTS ACROSS KS PUSHING INTO THE 60S. AN SPC
CONFERENCE CALL HAS ELUDED TO A CONCERN FOR TORNADIC SUPERCELLS
DEVELOPING IN THE EARLY EVENING AS CONVECTION BECOMES BETTER
ORGANIZED. VIS SATL PIX ALREADY SHOW STUFF STARTING TO BLOSSOM IN
SW KS. PROGGED ETA BRN SHEAR...AS WELL AS VGP AND EHI THIS EVENING DO
LOOK IMPRESSIVE FOR SUSTAINING A SHEARING ENVIRONMENT ALLOWING STORMS
TO DEVELOP A FEW MESOS. WITH MOISTURE CONTINUING TO STREAM IN...THE
AIR MASS SHOULD BECOME LESS STABLE WITH TIME AS SUGGESTED BY PROGGED
LI/CAPE/TT. ALSO...LCL HGTS GRADUALLY DECREASE AFTER OOZ THIS EVENING
OVER MOST OF KS. OTHERWISE...EXPECT CONVECTION TO BE PREVALENT IN
KS CWA AND EAST OF THE TRI CITIES. HAIL WILL BE A BIG CONCERN FOR
ANY STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP WITHIN THE NEBR CWA AS HEFTY 700-500MB
LRS LAY OVER STRONG THETA-E CONVERGENCE.

THUNDER CHANCES RETURN MONDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT AS STRONG LOW LEVEL
FRONTOGENETIC BOUNDARY ENVELOPES THE AREA...SUGGESTING AN MCS TYPE
EVENT. BUT LACKING LOW LEVEL JET AND EASTWARD SKEWED BOUNDARY LAYER
MOISTURE ALLOW ONLY SMALL POPS FOR THOSE PERIODS. WILL CONTINUE
SMALL POPS INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR LINGERING SHOWERS.

NO BIG CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED.

.GID...NONE.

DEE

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 5, 7:07 PM CDT, 5 hours 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
707 PM CDT SUN MAY 05 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0555 PM    4 SE GRAND IS             NE   2.75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   HALL                           REPORTED BY PUBLIC.

0555 PM    GRAND IS                  NE   2.75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   HALL                           NEAR INTERSECTION OF
                                          STUHR AND HIGHWAY 30.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0600 PM    PHILLIPS                  NE   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   HAMILTON                       REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0600 PM    3 E GRAND IS              NE   2.75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   HALL                           REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

07

Local storm report, May 5, 8:25 PM CDT, 4 hours 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
825 PM CDT SUN MAY 05 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0510 PM    DAMAR                     KS   1 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   ROOKS                          REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE
                                          OBSERVER.

0523 PM    2 NNW CORA                KS   TORNADO
05/05/02   SMITH                          REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0525 PM    2 W HASTINGS              NE   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   ADAMS                          REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

0525 PM    HOLSTEIN                  NE   1 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   ADAMS                          REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0547 PM    DONIPHAN                  NE   2.75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   HALL                           REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0552 PM    4 S WOOD RIVER            NE   1 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   HALL                           REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0605 PM    2 SW GRAND IS             NE   .75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   HALL                           REPORTED BY OFF-DUTY
                                          NWS EMPLOYEE.

0610 PM    GRAND IS                  NE   .88 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   HALL

0610 PM    3 SW PHILLIPS             NE   2.5 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   HAMILTON                       REPORTED BY OFF-DUTY
                                          NWS EMPLOYEE.

0615 PM    5 SW CENTRAL CITY         NE   2.75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   MERRICK                        REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0630 PM    AXTELL                    NE   .75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   KEARNEY                        REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0658 PM    3 S GENOA                 NE   1 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   NANCE                          REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0723 PM    CENTRAL CITY              NE   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   MERRICK                        REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0725 PM    OXFORD                    NE   .75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   FURNAS                         REPORTED BY PUBLIC.

0726 PM    OXFORD                    NE   1 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   FURNAS                         REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE
                                          OBSERVER.

0745 PM    4 SW SILVER CREEK         NE   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   MERRICK

0755 PM    HOLDREGE                  NE   .75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   PHELPS                         REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

Local storm report, May 5, 8:40 PM CDT, 3 hours 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
840 PM CDT SUN MAY 05 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0830 PM    UPLAND                    NE   .75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   FRANKLIN

Special weather statement, May 5, 9:23 PM CDT, 3 hours 11 minutes before

KSZ005>007-017>019-060238-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
923 PM CDT SUN MAY 5 2002

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 226 CANCELLED FOR NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN
NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

PHILLIPS...SMITH...JEWELL...ROOKS...OSBORNE AND MITCHELL.

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS SHIFTED EASTWARD.

Local storm report, May 5, 10:39 PM CDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1039 PM CDT SUN MAY 05 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1035 PM    HUBBELL                   NE   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/05/02   THAYER                         REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

Special weather statement, May 5, 11:00 PM CDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before

KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-060500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1100 PM CDT SUN MAY 5 2002

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 229 IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT...

THE TORNADO WATCH FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND NORTH CENTRAL
KANSAS HAS EXPIRED.  NO COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA OR NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS ARE IN A SEVERE WEATHER WATCH.

WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT.
HOWEVER...THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL EXPECTED TO DEVELOP...ESPECIALLY
OVER NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA COUNTIES EAST
OF ROUTE 281...AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80.

09

The office that day

Everything else NWS Hastings, NE issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 5, 7:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Furnas, Harlan	42 min
May 5, 7:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Hamilton, Merrick, Polk	46 min
May 5, 7:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Phelps	38 min
May 5, 7:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Howard	40 min
May 5, 8:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Franklin, Kearney	33 min
May 5, 8:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Sherman	47 min
May 5, 9:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Greeley	41 min
May 5, 9:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Webster	37 min
May 5, 9:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Nuckolls	53 min
May 5, 10:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Thayer	66 min
May 5, 10:26 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	GID	Thayer	34 min
May 6, 1:47 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Hall, Hamilton, Merrick	58 min
May 6, 2:57 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Clay	63 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Nebraska, 2002 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2002

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.