Alert archive / Nebraska / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 249, NWS Omaha, NE

July 15, 2011Platte County, Nebraska

NWS Omaha, NE issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 15, 2011, 10:04 PM CDT for Platte County, Nebraska. It was in force for 41 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: Jul 15, 2011, 10:04 PM CDT (03:04 UTC)
Expired: Jul 15, 2011, 10:45 PM CDT
In force: 41 min
Issued by: NWS Omaha, NE
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 65.0 mph

County Platte County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 95 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:07 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, 3.1 hours before the alert went out and 95 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: 6222 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -14 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 837 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 156 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 295 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 5.2
Supercell composite: 27.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

872 
WUUS53 KOAX 160304
SVROAX
NEC141-160345-
/O.NEW.KOAX.SV.W.0249.110716T0304Z-110716T0345Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1004 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN PLATTE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST NEBRASKA...

* UNTIL 1045 PM CDT

* AT 1003 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS OF 65 MPH
  OR HIGHER.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PLATTE CENTER...OR 6 MILES
  NORTHWEST OF COLUMBUS...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  COLUMBUS...PLATTE CENTER...DUNCAN...CRESTON AND TARNOV.

THE WARNED AREA INCLUDES HIGHWAY 81 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS
110 AND 133.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR
DAMAGING WINDS. THE WINDS WILL LIKELY CAUSE DAMAGE TO TREES...AND MAY
ALSO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS.
MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF YOUR HOME OR
BUSINESS. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND GLASS DOORS. CARS...BOATS AND
MOBILE HOMES ARE NOT A SAFE PLACE DURING HIGH WINDS.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

&&

LAT...LON 4174 9745 4174 9726 4147 9725 4140 9734
      4136 9758 4138 9760 4139 9760 4139 9762
      4143 9765
TIME...MOT...LOC 0304Z 219DEG 41KT 4150 9743
WIND...HAIL 65MPH <.75IN

$$

NIETFELD

3 follow-up statements

475 
WWUS53 KOAX 160321
SVSOAX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1021 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

NEC141-160345-
/O.CON.KOAX.SV.W.0249.000000T0000Z-110716T0345Z/
PLATTE NE-
1021 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN PLATTE
COUNTY UNTIL 1045 PM CDT...

AT 1017 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN
EXCESS OF 65 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 9 MILES EAST OF PLATTE
CENTER...OR 9 MILES NORTH OF COLUMBUS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CRESTON...COLUMBUS...PLATTE CENTER

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION...MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF
YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND GLASS DOORS. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING WIND DAMAGE.  SEEK SHELTER NOW 
INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

&&

LAT...LON 4174 9745 4174 9726 4147 9725 4140 9734
      4136 9758 4138 9760 4139 9760 4139 9762
      4143 9765
TIME...MOT...LOC 0320Z 225DEG 28KT 4158 9730
WIND...HAIL 65MPH <.75IN

$$

NIETFELD

367 
WWUS53 KOAX 160337
SVSOAX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1037 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

NEC141-160345-
/O.CON.KOAX.SV.W.0249.000000T0000Z-110716T0345Z/
PLATTE NE-
1037 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN PLATTE
COUNTY UNTIL 1045 PM CDT...

AT 1036 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM CRESTON TO 7 MILES SOUTH OF LEIGH...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 20 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CRESTON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION...MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF
YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND GLASS DOORS. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING 
AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

&&

LAT...LON 4174 9745 4174 9726 4147 9725 4140 9734
      4144 9746 4147 9750 4155 9756
TIME...MOT...LOC 0337Z 221DEG 16KT 4171 9739 4160 9725
WIND...HAIL 60MPH <.75IN

$$

NIETFELD

162 
WWUS53 KOAX 160343
SVSOAX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1043 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

NEC141-160353-
/O.EXP.KOAX.SV.W.0249.000000T0000Z-110716T0345Z/
PLATTE NE-
1043 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EASTERN PLATTE COUNTY WILL
EXPIRE AT 1045 PM CDT...

THE LINE OF STORMS WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAVE WEAKENED AND MOVED
OUT OF THE WARNED AREA.  HOWEVER GUSTY WINDS ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH
THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

LAT...LON 4174 9745 4174 9726 4147 9725 4140 9734
      4144 9746 4147 9750 4155 9756
TIME...MOT...LOC 0343Z 221DEG 16KT 4173 9737 4162 9723

$$

NIETFELD

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 Jul 15, 3:14 PM CDT, 6 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 15, 3:14 PM CDT, 6 hours 50 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
314 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT
CONVECTION TONIGHT AND THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE
FORECAST CONCERNS.

CONVECTION HAS INCREASED IN EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA THIS AFTERNOON
AND CONTINUES OVER PARTS OF NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AS A SHORTWAVE
TROUGH IS SLOWLY SHIFTING EAST ACROSS THE AREA. THE ORGANIZED
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE OVER MINNESOTA...HOWEVER...WARM UNSTABLE
SOUTHEAST FLOW COMBINED WITH SHORTWAVES AND A STRENGTHEN LOW LEVEL
JET COULD SUSTAIN STRONGER STORMS INTO OUR CWA HAVE MENTIONED
SCATTERED TSRA FOR PARTS OF ECNTRL AND NE NEBRASKA TONIGHT. DUE TO
THE HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATER...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE.
LOWS SHOULD BE VERY MILD IN THE 70S.

ZAPOTOCNY

.LONG TERM...TOMORROW THROUGH FRIDAY
MAIN FORECAST CONCERN IS HEAT THROUGH AT LEAST MIDWEEK.  STEEP
MID-SUMMER RIDGE WILL BUILD ACROSS THE CENTRAL US FROM THIS WEEKEND
AT LEAST THROUGH MIDWEEK AND POSSIBLY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WORK
WEEK...BEFORE UPPER-LEVEL LOW ENTERING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST FINALLY
HELPS BREAK IT DOWN LATE WEEK OR OVER THE WEEKEND.  IN THE
MEANTIME...MAINLY CLEAR WEATHER AND SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL ALLOW
CONTINUED HEAT AND MOISTURE TRANSPORT INTO THE AREA.  HEAT WILL
INCREASE UNTIL A COLD FRONT CAN COME THROUGH ASSOCIATED WITH THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST LOW...BUT TIMING ON THAT IS VERY UNCERTAIN AND
VARIABLE AMONG MODEL SOLUTIONS...RANGING FROM LATER THURSDAY ON THE
EARLY SIDE TO LATER FRIDAY ON THE LATE SIDE...AND POSSIBLY NOT
REACHING THE SOUTHEASTERN CWA FOR ANOTHER DAY OR TWO BEYOND THAT.
CONFIDENCE IS ACTUALLY HIGHER IN REACHING HEAT INDEX READINGS ABOVE
105 ON TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY THAN IT IS FOR TOMORROW...WHEN PARTS OF THE
CWA MAY BE AFFECTED BY SOME CLOUD DEBRIS EARLY IN THE DAY.  FOR THAT
REASON...AND FOR CONSISTENCY OF MESSAGE INTERNALLY AND AMONG
NEIGHBORING OFFICES...HAVE CONVERTED EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH TO WARNING
ON TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY.  CURRENT GRIDS SUPPORT CONTINUED HEAT
CONDITIONS THROUGH THURSDAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA AND FRIDAY FOR
PART OF THE AREA...BUT HAVE LIMITED HEADLINE TIMING FOR NOW. MAY
SEE SHOWERS/THUNDER WHEN COLD FRONT EVENTUALLY COMES THROUGH..BUT
WITH SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY...HAVE LEFT FORECAST DRY.

MAYES

&&

.AVIATION...
TAF SITES KOFK/KOMA/KLNK

18Z TAFS

VFR CIGS ASSOCIATED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER PARTS OF
CENTRAL EASTERN NEBRASKA TODAY.  WITH THE STORMS IN BETWEEN THE TAF
SITES...WILL NEED TO MONITOR FOR ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH THE
HEATING THIS AFTERNOON AND THE LOW LEVEL JET STRENGTHENING TONIGHT
TO INCLUDE TSRA.  FOR NOW INCLUDED A PROB30 FOR STORMS TONIGHT...AND
INCLUDED CB.

ZAPOTOCNY

&&

.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR NEZ034-044-
     045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093.

     EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING FROM 1 PM SATURDAY TO 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY
     FOR NEZ011-012-015>018-030>033-042-043.

IA...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR IAZ043-055-
     056-069-079-080-090-091.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 15, 3:29 PM CDT, 6 hours 35 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
329 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

IAZ043-055-069-079-090-NEZ011-012-015-034-045-052-053-067-068-091-
093-161030-
MONONA-HARRISON-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-FREMONT-KNOX-CEDAR-THURSTON-
BURT-WASHINGTON-DOUGLAS-SARPY-CASS-OTOE-NEMAHA-RICHARDSON-
329 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FOR PARTS OF EASTERN NEBRASKA
AND WEST CENTRAL IOWA THROUGH TONIGHT. SOME STORMS COULD CONTAIN
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING
ACROSS THE AREA. SEVERAL CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF HEAT INDICES ABOVE
105 TO 110 DEGREES ARE EXPECTED.

WIDESPREAD MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE
MISSOURI RIVER.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING
ACROSS THE AREA. SEVERAL CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF HEAT INDICES ABOVE
105 TO 110 DEGREES ARE EXPECTED...WITH LITTLE RELIEF AT NIGHT. IT
IS POSSIBLE THAT THE EXCESSIVE HEAT CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY ACROSS PARTS OF THE AREA.

MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THIS AFTERNOON OR TONIGHT.

IAZ056-080-091-NEZ016>018-030>033-042>044-050-051-065-066-078-
088>090-092-161030-
SHELBY-MONTGOMERY-PAGE-ANTELOPE-PIERCE-WAYNE-BOONE-MADISON-
STANTON-CUMING-PLATTE-COLFAX-DODGE-BUTLER-SAUNDERS-SEWARD-
LANCASTER-SALINE-JEFFERSON-GAGE-JOHNSON-PAWNEE-
329 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FOR PARTS OF EASTERN NEBRASKA
AND WEST CENTRAL IOWA THROUGH TONIGHT. SOME STORMS COULD CONTAIN
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING
ACROSS THE AREA. SEVERAL CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF HEAT INDICES ABOVE
105 TO 110 DEGREES ARE EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING
ACROSS THE AREA. SEVERAL CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF HEAT INDICES ABOVE
105 TO 110 DEGREES ARE EXPECTED...WITH LITTLE RELIEF AT NIGHT. IT
IS POSSIBLE THAT THE EXCESSIVE HEAT CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY ACROSS PARTS OF THE AREA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THIS AFTERNOON OR TONIGHT.

MAYES

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 15, 9:42 PM CDT, 22 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
942 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

NEZ042-043-160415-
COLFAX NE-PLATTE NE-
942 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR SOUTHERN PLATTE AND SOUTHERN COLFAX
COUNTIES UNTIL 1115 PM CDT...

AT 939 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF
COLUMBUS TO MONROE...AND MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.  ANOTHER CLUSTER OF
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS NEAR SILVER CREEK...DRIFTING NORTHEAST AT
15 TO 20 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  COLUMBUS...
  MONROE...
  DUNCAN...
  SCHUYLER...
  9 MILES NORTH OF SCHUYLER...
  RICHLAND...
  ROGERS...

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.

NIETFELD

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 15, 10:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Colfax, Cuming, Stanton	42 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Nebraska, 2011 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2011

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.