Tornado Watch 59

Issued

May 1, 2018, 2:47 PM CDT (19:47 UTC)

Expired

May 2, 2018, 12:00 AM CDT

In force

9 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

3.5 in

Strongest gust expected

65 kt

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 159 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:49 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.

Two or more tornadoes

70%

One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes

50%

Ten or more severe wind reports

60%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

30%

Ten or more severe hail reports

90%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

80%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

95%

• Mesoscale Discussion 304May 1, 1:10 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 306May 1, 3:16 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 307May 1, 5:00 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 309May 1, 7:24 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 310May 1, 7:55 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 311May 1, 9:06 PM CDT

835 
WWUS20 KWNS 011945
SEL9  
SPC WW 011945
IAZ000-KSZ000-NEZ000-020300-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 59
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
245 PM CDT Tue May 1 2018

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  Far southwest Iowa
  Central Kansas
  Southeast Nebraska

* Effective this Tuesday afternoon and evening from 245 PM until
  1000 PM CDT.

* Primary threats include...
  A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
  Widespread large hail and scattered very large hail events to
    3.5 inches in diameter likely
  Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 75 mph possible

SUMMARY...Several severe storms are expected to develop along the
dryline and quasi-stationary front through this evening. Tornadoes,
very large hail, and damaging winds are anticipated.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 70 statute miles
east and west of a line from 40 miles southwest of Medicine Lodge KS
to 30 miles west northwest of Tekamah NE. For a complete depiction
of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU9).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.

&&

AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 3.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 65 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 23035.

...Grams

Tornado Watches in Kansas, 2018Tornado Watches in Nebraska, 2018Tornado Watches in Iowa, 2018Every tornado watch in 2018

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.