Alert archive / Nebraska / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 79, NWS Omaha, NE

May 13, 2003Platte County, Nebraska

NWS Omaha, NE issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 13, 2003, 5:34 PM CDT for Platte 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 13, 2003, 5:34 PM CDT (22:34 UTC)
Expired: May 13, 2003, 6:30 PM CDT
In force: 56 min
Issued by: NWS Omaha, NE
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Platte County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:33 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 13, 1:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 12:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 256 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: 212 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -282 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1567 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 93 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 212 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 2.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS53 KOAX 132234
SVROAX
NEC141-132330-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA NE
533 PM CDT TUE MAY 13 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  PLATTE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST NEBRASKA
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF COLUMBUS

* UNTIL 630 PM CDT

* AT 528 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL 5 MILES WEST OF LINDSAY...OR
  ABOUT 28 MILES NORTHWEST OF COLUMBUS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  HUMPHREY AROUND 550 PM CDT
  PLATTE CENTER...MONROE...CRESTON AROUND 555 PM CDT
  DUNCAN AROUND 605 PM CDT
  COLUMBUS AROUND 610 PM CDT

THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL UP TO GOLFBALL SIZE. GO TO A
SAFE PLACE INSIDE YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND
GLASS DOORS.

LAT...LON 4175 9782 4155 9781 4133 9760 4143 9727
          4172 9726

$$

SCHURR

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 Omaha, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 13, 2:20 PM CDT, 3 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 13, 2:20 PM CDT, 3 hours 14 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
220 PM CDT TUE MAY 13 2003

MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGES ARE OBVIOUSLY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

MUCH OF CENTRAL AND EASTER NEBRASKA HAS NOW BEEN PLACED IN SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH 360 WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT. LATEST
SURFACE ANALYSIS INDICATED UPPER 50S DEWPOINTS WERE STREAMING NORTH
AHEAD OF A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE...MEANWHILE A WARM FRONT EXTENDED
SOUTH THEN EAST TO SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA. LARGE CLUSTER OF SEVERE
STORMS HAS FIRED JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE WARM FRONT...THUS STORMS
WILL LIKELY REMAIN ELEVATED THROUGH THE EVENING. STEEP MID LEVEL
LAPSE RATES IN CONJUNCTION WITH CAPES APPROACHING 1000 TO 2000 J/KG
WILL ALLOW LINEAR CONVECTIVE COMPLEX TO MOVE EAST SOUTHEAST. PRESENT
INDICATIONS ARE THAT AN ADDITIONAL SEVERE BOX WILL BE NEEDED
DOWNSTREAM LATER THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE MISSOURI RIVER EASTWARD. THE
SYSTEM SHOULD REMAIN RATHER PROGRESSIVE...WITH SEVERE WEATHER THREAT
DIMINISHING BY MIDNIGHT AS ACTIVITY MOVES EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA.

ON WEDNESDAY...AS UPPER LOW AND SECONDARY AREA OF MOISTURE ROTATES
TO OUR NORTHEAST...ABOUT THE NORTHEAST HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA
WILL HAVE A CHANCE FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS WITH NORTHWESTERLY WINDS AT
15 TO 25 MPH POSSIBLE ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE SYSTEM.

THEREAFTER...THAT TRANSLATES EASTWARD WITH SHORTWAVE RIDGING FOR
THURSDAY. NEXT SYSTEM DIGGING INTO THE 4 CORNERS REGION LATE THIS
WEEK APPEARS TO BE HEADING JUST A BIT FURTHER SOUTH. STILL NEED TO
MENTION A CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE SOUTH HALF OF THE
FORECAST AREA ON FRIDAY...BUT THAT SHOULD DEPART FRIDAY NIGHT.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY APPEAR TO BE MILD AND DRY WITH SHORTWAVE RIDGING
AGAIN EXPECTED. WINDS SHOULD BE SOUTHEASTERLY THEN SOUTH ON SUNDAY
IN ADVANCE OF THE NEXT SYSTEM TO MOVE IN ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
SUNDAY SHOULD BE A VERY PLEASANT DAY...THE WARMEST OF THE WEEKEND
WITH HIGHS 75 TO 80.

.OMA...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WESTERN 2/3 OF FORECAST AREA WEST
OF THURSTN TO WAHOO TO BEATRICE UNTIL 700 PM CDT.

VLD

Hazardous weather outlook, May 13, 4:15 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-132301-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
415 PM CDT TUE MAY 13 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PARTS OF EASTERN NEBRASKA
AND SOUTHWEST IOWA.

UPDATED FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN
NEBRASKA UNTIL 7 PM CDT. SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS NORTHEAST NEBRASKA LATE THIS AFTERNOON
AND EARLY THIS EVENING. LARGE HAIL PENNY TO QUARTER SIZE AND
DAMAGING WINDS THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. THE ACTIVITY SHOULD DEVELOP EAST
AND SOUTH ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF EASTERN NEBRASKA THROUGH 600 PM
CDT...SPREADING INTO SOUTHWEST IOWA THEREAFTER AS THE STORMS
ORGANIZE INTO A SQUALL LINE. THE COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO PUSH EAST
OF THE AREA EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING...ENDING THE THREAT FOR
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN ON FRIDAY OVER
SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA AND ALSO ON MONDAY OVER
EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

DEWALD

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 13, 4:07 PM CDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
407 PM CDT TUE MAY 13 2003

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

0335 PM    8 N ORCHARD               NE   .88 INCH HAIL
05/13/03   KNOX                           REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE
                                          OBSERVER.

0346 PM    6 SW CREIGHTON            NE   .75 INCH HAIL
05/13/03   ANTELOPE                       REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

Local storm report, May 13, 4:11 PM CDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
411 PM CDT TUE MAY 13 2003

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

0405 PM    7 NW ORCHARD              NE   .75 INCH HAIL
05/13/03   ANTELOPE                       REPORTED BY PUBLIC.

0407 PM    NELIGH                    NE   .75 INCH HAIL
05/13/03   ANTELOPE                       REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE
                                          OBSERVER.

Local storm report, May 13, 4:59 PM CDT, 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
459 PM CDT TUE MAY 13 2003

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

0445 PM    1 NE ELGIN                NE   .75 INCH HAIL
05/13/03   ANTELOPE                       REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

Local storm report, May 13, 5:07 PM CDT, 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
507 PM CDT TUE MAY 13 2003

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

0445 PM    7 WNW PETERSBURG          NE   .75 INCH HAIL
05/13/03   BOONE                          REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

Local storm report, May 13, 5:14 PM CDT, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
514 PM CDT TUE MAY 13 2003

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

0509 PM    3 W ALBION                NE   .75 INCH HAIL
05/13/03   BOONE                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

Local storm report, May 13, 5:18 PM CDT, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
518 PM CDT TUE MAY 13 2003

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

0450 PM    8 E ELGIN                 NE   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/13/03   ANTELOPE                       REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 13, 2:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Antelope	44 min
May 13, 3:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Knox	44 min
May 13, 3:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Antelope, Knox	53 min
May 13, 4:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Pierce	49 min
May 13, 4:17 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	OAX	Knox	3 hr
May 13, 4:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Madison	62 min
May 13, 4:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Boone	57 min
May 13, 4:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Antelope	36 min
May 13, 4:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OAX	Madison	35 min
May 13, 5:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Pierce, Stanton, Wayne	65 min
May 13, 5:19 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OAX	Stanton	41 min
May 13, 5:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Boone	35 min
May 13, 5:25 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OAX	Madison	50 min
May 13, 5:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Cedar	42 min
May 13, 6:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Colfax	59 min
May 13, 6:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Cuming, Dodge	67 min
May 13, 6:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Butler	54 min
May 13, 6:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Washington	53 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Nebraska, 2003 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2003

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.