Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 152, NWS Goodland, KS

July 13, 2020Cheyenne County, Kansas; Yuma County, Colorado; Dundy County, Nebraska

NWS Goodland, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 13, 2020, 8:40 PM CDT for Cheyenne County, Kansas; Yuma County, Colorado; Dundy County, Nebraska. It was in force for 80 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 13, 2020, 8:40 PM CDT (01:40 UTC)
Expired
Jul 13, 2020, 10:00 PM CDT
In force
80 min
Issued by
NWS Goodland, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.5 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Yuma County, CO, Cheyenne County, KS, Dundy County, NE

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 72 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:44 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.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 13, 3:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 00:00Z, 1.7 hours before the alert went out and 110 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2020-07-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 545 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2020-07-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 47 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
545 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-36 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3581 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
47 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
104 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 13, 6:27 PM CDT, 2 hours 13 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 13, 6:27 PM CDT, 2 hours 13 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
527 PM MDT Mon Jul 13 2020

.UPDATE...
Issued at 251 PM MDT Mon Jul 13 2020

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for the entire Tri-
State region until 11 PM MDT/12 AM CDT. The primary threats with
storms will be large hail and damaging winds. Continue to monitor
the forecast for the latest severe weather information.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This afternoon through Tuesday)
Issued at 149 PM MDT Mon Jul 13 2020

Latest upper air analysis shows the long wave trough over Canada
extending down to the Great Basin.  Ahead of the long wave trough
was a ridge over the Plains.  Between the ridge axis and the trough
axis is a short wave trough over Northeast Colorado and the Nebraska
Panhandle.  At the surface was a dry line over Eastern Colorado
beneath the short wave trough.  Latest visible satellite indicates
storms are trying to form over the Nebraska Panhandle along the dry
line.  Further south storm updrafts have tried and failed so far. To
the west storm activity is developing over the Rockies and moving
east.

For the rest of the afternoon am expecting storm activity to begin
around 2 PM along the dry line to the west of the forecast area as
storms continue to move east from the Rockies.  As the afternoon
progresses, the storm coverage should gradually increase as they
move east.

This evening storms will continue to move east out of Colorado.
Meanwhile the storm cluster north in Nebraska looks to extend south
as it moves east.  As storms move east they will move into higher
CAPE values, better shear, and better 0-3 and 0-1 km helicity, thus
causing storm intensity to increase as they move to the east.  Am
thinking this northern cluster should link with the storm activity
in the forecast area around mid evening. Model data indicates the
storm activity declining as storms move east of Highway 83.  However
model data last night had the storms fading as they left Colorado,
and the storms lasted much further east than that.  Therefore
confidence is moderate that storms will last across the entire
forecast area before fading.

Threats with the storms for today and this evening look to be wind
gusts of 80 MPH, possibly higher based on prior severe weather
events, and hail up to baseball size.  The hail threat will be
greatest over the western part of the forecast area where storms
will still be more isolated to scattered.  Once storms form a
cluster or line, am thinking the threat will shift to straight-line
wind.  A brief tornado cannot be ruled out either.  The 0-1 KM bulk
shear is favorable for tornadic development, and the orientation of
the deep layer shear being perpendicular to the storm cluster/line
will also be favorable for tornadic development.  Therefore,
tornadoes look to be a risk despite storms clustering this evening.

Impacts for this event look to be widespread wind damage including
broken power poles, large tree limbs blown down, trees snapped or
uprooted, and windows blown out.  Significant hail damage may also
occur before storms conglomerate.

Confidence of widespread wind damage is high, especially based on
what happened last night.  Confidence for significant hail damage is
moderate to high.

One item of concern is the amount of mixed layer cinh that will be
present during the afternoon along the dry line.  Near term model
data has continued to delay the storm activity an hour with each
update.  Still thinking the peak storm activity/intensity will be
during the first half of the evening, the question is what the
coverage will be.

Tuesday/Tuesday night a cold front will move through the forecast
area from the north.  Highs will be 15-20 degrees cooler than today.
The front looks to stall just south of the forecast area.  During
the afternoon an upper level short wave trough will move through the
forecast area.  The stalled front will serve as a focus for storm
development.  Due to the front being south of the forecast area,
almost all the storms should be elevated behind the front.  The only
caveat will be along the far southern part of the forecast area near
the front where storms could still become surface based.  The storm
activity should push the front further south of the forecast area.

Based on the track of the upper level short wave trough, am thinking
the southern half of the forecast area will be favored for severe
weather.  Due to the storms being elevated for the most part, am
thinking hail will be the main threat.  However, close to the front
there may be wind and potentially a threat for tornadoes.  This
threat area will shift south with the front.

.LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday)
Issued at 111 PM MDT Mon Jul 13 2020

Wednesday and Thursday will see an upper level high continue to be
located over the Southern Plains with an upper level trough moving
across the Northern Plains near the Canadian border. This will cause
the Tri-state area to see upper level Northwest flow that will bring
some shortwaves across the area. These shortwaves combined with
surface lows coming off the Rockies will bring some precipitation
chances to areas mainly near the Colorado border in the evenings.
High's for Wednesday will be near the low 80's due to the passage of
the front the prior day. Thursday will then see high's in the lower
90's as the front moves further south away from the area.

The weekend will see the upper level high strengthen and expand to
cover much of the Southern U.S. The Tri-state area will see
temperatures warm to the upper 90's and lower 100's throughout the
weekend. Conditions will mostly be drier with relative humidity
values mainly between 15 and 40 percent in the afternoons/evenings.
Need to watch for fire weather conditions in our Western counties
though winds through the weekend appear to be below threshold. Also
will need to keep an eye on the surface pattern as a surface low may
move in from the Northwest, from the front ranges, during the
weekend and bring some slight precip chances for counties near the
Colorado border.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening)
Issued at 527 PM MDT Mon Jul 13 2020

VFR conditions are expected to persist through much of the TAF
period at KGLD.  Forecast starts off with thunderstorms in the
vicinity of the terminal.  A few storms could be strong to severe
with hail and damaging winds possible.  Opted for a tempo group to
indicate an expected wind shift and increase in winds as storms move
through.  Visibility may be reduced to MVFR conditions as heavy rain
will bring down visibility. Storm chances are expected to wrap up
around 04-05Z with conditions returning to VFR.  Winds will be
primarily from the south overnight, turning to the north as a low
pressure system moves across southwestern Kansas and a cold front
advances into southwestern Nebraska.

VFR conditions are expected to start out the TAF period at KMCK
terminal.  Thunderstorms will be in the vicinity of the terminal
this evening with better chances from 03-06Z.  Hail and gusty winds
will be possible with any storms that move through the area.  Heavy
rain may bring visibility down to MVFR levels through around 06Z.
Any storms moving into the region may bring a wind shift and gusty
winds.  Conditions are expected to improve to VFR conditions Winds
will become southeasterly around 08kts as storms move out of the
area. Some low level wind shear may develop for a few hours around
10Z.
&&

.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...NONE.
CO...NONE.
NE...NONE.
&&

UPDATE...AW
SHORT TERM...JTL
LONG TERM...KAK
AVIATION...AW
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 13, 3:50 PM CDT, 4 hours 50 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Goodland KS
250 PM MDT Mon Jul 13 2020

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-142100-
Yuma County-Kit Carson County-Cheyenne County-Cheyenne-Rawlins-
Decatur-Norton-Sherman-Thomas-Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Logan-Gove-
Greeley-Wichita-Dundy-Hitchcock-Red Willow-
250 PM MDT Mon Jul 13 2020 /350 PM CDT Mon Jul 13 2020/

This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska...
northwest Kansas and east central Colorado.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for the entire Tri-State
area until 11 p.m. MDT. Thunderstorms developing along the Cheyenne
Ridge and Palmer Divide this afternoon are expected to evolve into a
line of thunderstorms. Any storms that develop will be capable of
producing widespread damaging winds late this afternoon and evening.
Isolated instanced of baseball size hail may occur, mainly in Eastern
Colorado, before the storms form a line and become more of a wind
threat, with gusts of 80 MPH likely.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...

Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible across the Tri-State area
during the late afternoon and evening hours on Tuesday, mainly
between 4-11 pm MDT. At this time the southern half of the Tri-State
area is more favored for severe thunderstorm development.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will be needed. Please send any storm reports to
the National Weather Service via phone or social media.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 13, 8:12 PM CDT, 28 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 13, 8:20 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 13, 8:20 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 13, 8:30 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 13, 8:35 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 13, 8:39 PM CDT, 1 minute before
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The office that day

Everything else NWS Goodland, KS issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 13, 7:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDSherman, Wallace68 min
Jul 13, 7:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDCheyenne53 min
Jul 13, 7:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDSherman31 min
Jul 13, 8:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDSherman, Wallace64 min
Jul 13, 8:44 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDGreeley46 min
Jul 13, 8:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDWallace33 min
Jul 13, 9:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDGreeley, Wichita58 min
Jul 13, 9:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDLogan, Wallace57 min
Jul 13, 9:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDRawlins, Sheridan56 min
Jul 13, 9:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDSherman, Thomas59 min
Jul 13, 9:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDCheyenne33 min
Jul 13, 9:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDWichita31 min
Jul 13, 10:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDDecatur61 min
Jul 13, 10:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDLogan44 min
Jul 13, 10:28 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDRawlins32 min
Jul 13, 10:33 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDSheridan27 min
Jul 13, 10:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDSheridan, Sherman, Thomas62 min
Jul 13, 11:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDDecatur, Norton83 min
Jul 13, 11:12 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningGLDSherman, Thomas3 hr
Jul 13, 11:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDGove33 min
Jul 13, 11:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDLogan, Sherman, Thomas46 min
Jul 13, 11:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDSheridan15 min
Jul 13, 11:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDGove, Graham, Sheridan63 min
Jul 14, 12:31 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDLogan29 min
Jul 14, 12:54 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDGove, Graham, Norton, Sheridan66 min
Jul 13, 7:39 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDYuma21 min
Jul 13, 7:50 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDYuma25 min
Jul 13, 8:12 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDYuma33 min
Jul 13, 8:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDYuma25 min
Jul 13, 8:43 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDKit Carson32 min
Jul 13, 9:17 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDKit Carson28 min
Jul 13, 9:49 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementGLDCheyenne26 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 2020Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Colorado, 2020Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Nebraska, 2020Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020

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.