Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 121, NWS Omaha, NE

July 1, 2020Fremont County, Page County, Iowa

NWS Omaha, NE issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 1, 2020, 2:01 AM CDT for Fremont County, Page County, Iowa. It was in force for 31 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 1, 2020, 2:01 AM CDT (07:01 UTC)
Expired
Jul 1, 2020, 2:32 AM CDT
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Omaha, NE
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Fremont County, IA, Page County, IA

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 105 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:04 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
Jun 30, 11:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 105 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2020-07-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3121 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2020-07-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -6 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
3121 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-137 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1165 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-6 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
59 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

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 Omaha, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 1, 12:36 AM CDT, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 1, 12:36 AM CDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1236 AM CDT Wed Jul 1 2020

...Updated Aviation Forecast Discussion...

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 342 PM CDT Tue Jun 30 2020

Forecast Summary:

There is a fairly decent shot of thunderstorms tonight as a potent
shortwave rotates around upper low in the northern Rockies. Strong,
damaging winds will be the main threat, especially in the northern
half of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Then a trend toward
warmer temperatures will take us through the weekend with mid level
ridging building into the region.

Tonight and Wednesday:

Widespread low clouds have persisted across eastern Nebraska and
western Iowa this afternoon, holding temperatures to the middle and
upper 80s for the most part. However a soupy environment
characterized by dew points in the mid and upper 70s made it feel
more like the middle 90s in many areas. It also contributed to
instability as SBCAPE values over 5000 J/kg were noted on RAP
analysis. The atmosphere remains capped this afternoon, and should
remain that way until system approaches from the west.

Shortwave was noted on water vapor imagery rotating northeast
through eastern Wyoming at mid afternoon. Diffluent flow and cooler
mid level air was spreading into western sections of South Dakota
and Nebraska, and was approaching surface front extending from
persistent MCV in western North Dakota into central Nebraska. MLCAPE
was maximized along this boundary where 5000 J/kg was noted over top
of increasing moisture convergence. Effective shear was maximized
near and west of frontal zone, and is forecast to migrate east with
boundary this afternoon and evening.

Continued low level warming under cooling mid levels should lead to
scattered convection along frontal boundary shortly. Models have
been fairly consistent in this scenario. How things progress this
evening is still somewhat in question as solutions vary by a
couple of hours on timing of southeast movement into our area. The
HRRR has been consistent in development of storms, but has
trended slower in regards to advancement into northeast Nebraska.
Have followed this somewhat slower progression of storms into our
area.

Expect convection to begin shortly well west of our area where it
will percolate for several hours into the early evening before nudged
eastward by advancing shortwave and developing cold pool. It appears
supercellular storms with the threat of large hail and possibly
tornadoes will remain generally west of our area before storms
congeal into a line and advance east and southeast. The main
threat then will be damaging winds as instability remains high and
low level jet increases. Storms will likely enter western parts
of Knox through Boone counties by 7 or 8 PM, then race east and
southeast to reach the Omaha and Lincoln areas somewhere in the 10
PM to 2 AM timeframe, and western Iowa Midnight and later.
Damaging winds will be possible much of the night.

Expect main activity to be east of our CWA before 12Z, however
latest trend of HRRR suggests lingering instability behind this line
will be tapped for additional development near and northwest of
Interstate 80, which may linger through the morning.

Additional development Wednesday afternoon is a concern for
southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa where models indicate frontal
boundary will set up during peak heating. Strong instability will be
available, but only modest shear and low level convergence. Will
introduce a chance for storms there for Wednesday afternoon.

Thursday through Tuesday:

Mid level ridging builds into the Plains from West Texas area on
Thursday and holds through much of the weekend. This pattern will
promote warming of mid and low levels which should squash most
convective attempts. However, low level moisture streaming into the
High Plains will fuel occasional rounds of convection there which
may hold together as they march east during the overnight hours to
affect at least our western CWA. And with 70s dew points remaining
in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, instability will be high
each afternoon, so can't rule out a pop-up storm from time to
time.

Otherwise expect highs to average the lower 90s each afternoon right
through Tuesday.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Wednesday night)
Issued at 1230 AM CDT Wed Jul 1 2020

The main focus of this TAF period continues to be the large
complex of storms across eastern Nebraska. As of 0530z, KOFK has
already seen it's shot with storms, while KOMA is expected to have
them 05-06z. The southern flank of the complex has been very slow
to progress, giving KLNK a two hour window for storms 06-08z. With
all of these storms, heavy rain and winds over 40 knots will be
possible. After the storm complex moves out of the area, much
lighter winds out of the north are expected to settle in along
with MVFR ceilings through around noon tomorrow and then VFR
conditions through the rest of the period.

&&

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

DISCUSSION...Dergan
AVIATION...Petersen
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 30, 6:41 PM CDT, 7 hours 20 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
641 PM CDT Tue Jun 30 2020

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-011345-
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-
641 PM CDT Tue Jun 30 2020

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 Wednesday

Storms have begun to develop in north central Nebraska and will
then progress east into northeast Nebraska later this evening.
Damaging winds and hail are possible with this activity.

Storms may linger in east central and southeast Nebraska, as well
as southwest Iowa, through mid morning Wednesday. Then there is a
chance for additional thunderstorms in these same areas, generally
south and southeast of Interstate 80, during the afternoon. There
is a small chance for severe storms with large hail and damaging
winds.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday night through Tuesday

Very warm and somewhat humid conditions are forecast through
next Tuesday. Highs from the upper 80s to middle 90s combined
with the humidity will push heat index values into the 95 to 102
range each afternoon.

There will be intermittent chances for thunderstorms from
Thursday into early next week. Later outlooks will address the
chance of severe storms in those periods.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation could be needed in parts of northeast Nebraska
this evening.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 1, 1:37 AM CDT, 24 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 1, 1:40 AM CDT, 21 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 1, 1:46 AM CDT, 15 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 1, 1:49 AM CDT, 12 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 1, 1:50 AM CDT, 11 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 1, 1:51 AM CDT, 10 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 30, 9:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXAntelope, Boone30 min
Jun 30, 9:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXBoone41 min
Jun 30, 9:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXBoone, Platte34 min
Jun 30, 10:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXBoone, Platte49 min
Jun 30, 10:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXButler, Colfax, Platte43 min
Jun 30, 11:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXButler, Colfax, Dodge, Saunders35 min
Jun 30, 11:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXDodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders, Washington36 min
Jul 1, 12:14 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOAXCass, Douglas, Sarpy, Washington31 min
Jul 1, 12:34 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOAXOtoe, Saline26 min
Jul 1, 12:57 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXLancaster, Saline, Seward33 min
Jul 1, 1:32 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOAXBoone28 min
Jul 1, 1:40 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOAXLancaster20 min
Jul 1, 2:28 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOAXLancaster, Seward3 hr
Jul 1, 2:48 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOAXPawnee, Richardson27 min
Jul 1, 3:06 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXButler, Saunders39 min
Jul 1, 3:41 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOAXButler34 min
Jul 1, 1:36 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXFremont, Page24 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 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.