Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Omaha, NE

April 25, 2008Johnson County, Nemaha County, Nebraska

NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at Apr 25, 2008, 12:41 AM CDT for Johnson County, Nemaha County, Nebraska. It was in force for 34 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Apr 25, 2008, 12:41 AM CDT (05:41 UTC)
Expired: Apr 25, 2008, 1:15 AM CDT
In force: 34 min
Issued by: NWS Omaha, NE
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Johnson County, NE, Nemaha County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:41 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 25, 12:50 AM CDT	TORNADO	Johnson, NE	TORNADO MOVED THROUGH THE TOWN OF JOHNSON. PRELIMINARY REPORT FROM EM INDICATED DAMAGE TO VARIOUS BUILDINGS... INCLUDING DAMAGE TO THE ROOF OF A SCHOOL... A STORE FRONT... AND SEVERAL GARAGES. A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES HAVE HOLES IN ROOFS WITH SIGNIFICANT WATER D

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 9 minutes after it went out.

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
Apr 24, 10:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 5.7 hours before the alert went out and 108 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: 1577 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -12 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 484 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 81 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 132 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.7
Supercell composite: 3.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS53 KOAX 250541
TOROAX
NEC097-127-250615-
/O.NEW.KOAX.TO.W.0004.080425T0541Z-080425T0615Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1241 AM CDT FRI APR 25 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN JOHNSON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA...
  WESTERN NEMAHA COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA...

* UNTIL 115 AM CDT.

* AT 1237 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THE MOST
  DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR TECUMSEH...OR 33 MILES
  NORTHWEST OF FALLS CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 27 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  JOHNSON...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR A PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF A BASEMENT IS NOT
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. GO TO
AN INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR
BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

LAT...LON 4035 9627 4053 9611 4051 9571 4026 9606
      4026 9612
TIME...MOT...LOC 0541Z 235DEG 23KT 4036 9608

$$

GRIFFIS

3 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS53 KOAX 250551
SVSOAX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1251 AM CDT FRI APR 25 2008

NEC097-127-250615-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-080425T0615Z/
NEMAHA NE-JOHNSON NE-
1251 AM CDT FRI APR 25 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 AM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN JOHNSON AND NORTHWESTERN NEMAHA COUNTIES...

AT 1250 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR JOHNSON...OR 31 MILES NORTHWEST OF FALLS
CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 26 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...BROCK.

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A 
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE 
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 AM CDT FRIDAY
MORNING FOR SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA.

LAT...LON 4044 9617 4053 9611 4051 9572 4037 9590
      4030 9601
TIME...MOT...LOC 0551Z 235DEG 23KT 4041 9599

$$

GRIFFIS

000 
WWUS53 KOAX 250602
SVSOAX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
103 AM CDT FRI APR 25 2008

NEC127-250615-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-080425T0615Z/
NEMAHA NE-
103 AM CDT FRI APR 25 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 AM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN NEMAHA COUNTY...

AT 1258 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR BROCK...OR 30 MILES WEST OF TARKIO...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 26 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF THE
INDICATED COUNTY.

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 AM CDT FRIDAY
MORNING FOR SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA.

LAT...LON 4035 9596 4048 9605 4052 9606 4051 9572
      4044 9581 4037 9590
TIME...MOT...LOC 0603Z 235DEG 23KT 4045 9591

$$

GRIFFIS

000 
WWUS53 KOAX 250610
SVSOAX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
110 AM CDT FRI APR 25 2008

NEC127-250620-
/O.EXP.KOAX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-080425T0615Z/
NEMAHA NE-
110 AM CDT FRI APR 25 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN NEMAHA COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
115 AM CDT...

THE WARNING WHICH WAS IN EFFECT HAS EXPIRED AND WILL NOT BE REISSUED
AT THIS TIME. HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE STILL
POSSIBLE.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 AM CDT FRIDAY
MORNING FOR SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA.

LAT...LON 4035 9596 4048 9605 4052 9606 4051 9572
      4044 9581 4037 9590
TIME...MOT...LOC 0610Z 235DEG 23KT 4048 9586

$$

GRIFFIS

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.

NWS Omaha, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 24, 2:45 PM CDT, 9 hours 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 24, 2:45 PM CDT, 9 hours 56 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
245 PM CDT THU APR 24 2008

.DISCUSSION...

THUNDERSTORM CHANCES/STRENGTH TONIGHT WILL BE MAIN FORECAST CONCERN
INITIALLY THEN TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE SHORT TERM.

EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER HAS REMAINED IN PLACE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF
OF NEBRASKA AND KANSAS INTO WESTERN IOWA SO FAR TODAY. CONVECTION
HAS BEEN LIMITED TO ALONG THE NORTHEAST NEBRASKA BORDER INTO
SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA. A COLD FRONT EXTENDED FROM NORTHWEST
MINNESOTA THROUGH EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA INTO NORTHWEST NEBRASKA AT
18Z.

MODELS SIMILAR IN LIFTING LOW PRESSURE OVER COLORADO NORTHEAST ALONG
THE FRONT TONIGHT WITH MAIN PERIOD OF CONVECTION LATE TONIGHT AS
FRONT MOVES SLOWLY ACROSS EASTERN NEBRASKA AND UPPER WAVE MOVES
INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS. FORECAST SOUNDINGS SUGGEST ABUNDANT MOISTURE
AVAILABLE WITH PW AROUND 1.5 INCHES. HEAVY RAIN LIKELY OVERNIGHT BUT
WITH FFG VALUES GENERALLY AROUND 2 INCHES OR BETTER WILL FOREGO ANY
HEADLINES AT THIS TIME. SYSTEM PROGGED TO BE EAST OF THE AREA
FRIDAY MORNING BUT SOME SHOWERS EXPECTED THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY AS
THE UPPER WAVE MOVES ACROSS. ANOTHER WAVE FOLLOWS ON SATURDAY WITH
NEXT CHANCE OF PRECIP FOR THE AREA.

TEMPERATURES STAY ON THE COOL SIDE THROUGH MOST OF THE SHORT TERM
PERIOD AS UPPER FLOW AMPLIFIES AND LARGE TROUGH DEVELOPS OVER THE
MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY. FROST POTENTIAL FOR PARTS OF THE AREA SATURDAY
MORNING DEPENDING ON EXTENT OF CLOUDS BETWEEN THE TWO UPPER WAVES.

IN THE EXTENDED...PATTERN LOOKS TO REMAIN ACTIVE AS ANOTHER STRONG
UPPER SYSTEM INDICATED FOR LATE NEXT WEEK...ALTHOUGH MODEL
DIFFERENCES LEAD TOWARD LOW CONFIDENCE ON SPECIFICS.

&&

.AVIATION...
FOR TAF SITES KOMA...KLNK AND KOFK FORECAST THROUGH 25/18Z.

CDFNT FM NCNTRL NEBRASKA INTO NWRN KS IS EXPECTED TO EXTD FM NWRN IA
TO LOW PRES OVR NCNTRL/NERN KS BY 06Z.  WIDESPREAD MVFR CIGS WITH
AREAS OF IFR CIGS EXTENDED AHEAD OF FRONT. SOME MIXING COULD LIFT
CIGS ABV MVFR CATEGORY LATE THIS AFTN ALONG AND E OF MO RIVER WITH
LOWEST CIGS ALONG WITH PSBL DRIZZLE STRETCHING FM OLU-OFK VCNTY.
ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RISK OF TSTMS AT TAF SITES THROUGH 03Z...BEST
CHCS APPEAR TO COVER PD FM 03Z-09Z.  STORMS DURING THIS TIME PD
COULD CONTAIN GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL...SPCLY ALONG AND S OF INTERSTATE
80.  LOW AND CDFNT SHOULD PASS THROUGH LNK/OMA IN 06Z-09Z PD WITH
WINDS SHIFTING TO NNW AND INCREASING BEHIND IT.  MVFR CIGS WILL
LIKELY CONT BEHIND FRONT THROUGH 25/18Z ALONG WITH GUSTY NW SFC
WINDS AND PATCHY RAIN SHOWERS.

&&

.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...NONE.
IA...NONE.
&&

FOBERT/CHERMOK

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 24, 8:55 PM CDT, 3 hours 46 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
855 PM CDT THU APR 24 2008

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-251600-
MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-
PAGE-KNOX-CEDAR-THURSTON-ANTELOPE-PIERCE-WAYNE-BOONE-MADISON-
STANTON-CUMING-BURT-PLATTE-COLFAX-DODGE-WASHINGTON-BUTLER-
SAUNDERS-DOUGLAS-SARPY-SEWARD-LANCASTER-CASS-OTOE-SALINE-
JEFFERSON-GAGE-JOHNSON-NEMAHA-PAWNEE-RICHARDSON-
855 PM CDT THU APR 24 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST
IOWA...WEST CENTRAL IOWA...EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA...NORTHEAST
NEBRASKA AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND FRIDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA TONIGHT. THE BEST
CHANCE FOR SEVERE STORMS WILL BE MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE
INTERSTATE 80 CORRIDOR. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE
PRIMARY HAZARDS. IN ADDITION...ANY OF THE STORMS COULD PRODUCE
AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO SPREAD NORTHEAST INTO THE REGION
OVERNIGHT. THIS IS AHEAD OF LOW PRESSURE FORECAST TO DEEPEN ALONG
THE KANSAS AND COLORADO BORDER. THE SEVERE THREAT IS EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATE TONIGHT.

GRIFFIS

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 24, 6:47 PM CDT, 5 hours 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
647 PM CDT THU APR 24 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0632 PM     HAIL             DEFIANCE                41.83N 95.34W
04/24/2008  E1.00 INCH       SHELBY             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JPOLLACK

Local storm report, Apr 24, 6:58 PM CDT, 5 hours 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
658 PM CDT THU APR 24 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0653 PM     HAIL             1 E IRWIN               41.79N 95.19W
04/24/2008  E1.00 INCH       SHELBY             IA   PUBLIC

            MOSTLY PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE.

&&

RCHERMOK

Local storm report, Apr 24, 11:04 PM CDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1104 PM CDT THU APR 24 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1057 PM     HAIL             3 S ODELL               40.01N 96.80W
04/24/2008  M0.75 INCH       GAGE               NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JKLISH

Local storm report, Apr 24, 11:08 PM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1108 PM CDT THU APR 24 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1103 PM     HAIL             ODELL                   40.05N 96.80W
04/24/2008  E0.75 INCH       GAGE               NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JKLISH

Local storm report, Apr 24, 11:26 PM CDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1126 PM CDT THU APR 24 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1115 PM     HAIL             BEATRICE                40.27N 96.75W
04/24/2008  E0.75 INCH       GAGE               NE   PUBLIC

&&

BG

Local storm report, Apr 25, 12:21 AM CDT, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1221 AM CDT FRI APR 25 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1214 AM     HAIL             STEELE CITY             40.04N 97.02W
04/25/2008  E0.75 INCH       JEFFERSON          NE   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

JKLISH

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 24, 10:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Gage, Jefferson	48 min
Apr 24, 11:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Gage	33 min
Apr 24, 11:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Gage, Johnson, Pawnee	47 min
Apr 24, 11:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Gage, Jefferson	42 min
Apr 25, 12:12 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Gage, Jefferson	48 min
Apr 25, 12:15 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee	45 min
Apr 25, 12:34 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	OAX	Johnson	26 min
Apr 25, 1:13 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Nemaha, Otoe, Richardson	19 min
Apr 25, 1:23 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Otoe	52 min
Apr 25, 1:24 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Gage, Jefferson, Saline	51 min
Apr 25, 1:46 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	OAX	Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Pawnee	3 hr
Apr 25, 2:03 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee	27 min
Apr 25, 2:28 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson	62 min
Apr 25, 8:47 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	OAX	Gage	7 hr
Apr 25, 9:55 AM CDT	Winter Weather Advisory	OAX	Antelope, Boone, Cedar, Knox, Madison, Pierce and 3 more	6 hr
Apr 25, 10:32 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	OAX	Johnson, Pawnee	8 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Nebraska, 2008 Every tornado warning in 2008 Tornadoes in 2008

Sources

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