Alert archive / Nebraska / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 9, NWS Omaha, NE

March 19, 2020Douglas County, Nebraska; Pottawattamie County, Iowa

NWS Omaha, NE issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 19, 2020, 5:18 PM CDT for Douglas County, Nebraska; Pottawattamie County, Iowa. It was in force for 12 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
Mar 19, 2020, 5:18 PM CDT (22:18 UTC)
Expired
Mar 19, 2020, 5:30 PM CDT
In force
12 min
Issued by
NWS Omaha, NE
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
50.0 mph

Counties Pottawattamie County, IA, Douglas County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 43 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:21 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
Mar 19, 3:29 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 44 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 12:00Z on 2020-03-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 55 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 12:00Z on 2020-03-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 301 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
55 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-226 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
527 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
301 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
304 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.3

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 Mar 19, 3:32 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 19, 3:32 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
332 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2020

...Updated Forecast Discussion for Tonight through Thursday...

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 327 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2020

Forecast Summary:

A somewhat active weather pattern is setting through the middle of
next week. The most active is certainly tonight, with severe
thunderstorms, winter weather and strong winds all expected. Cold
temps follow to end the week, but gradual warming along with a
couple of precipitation chances through the middle of next week
are expected.

Tonight:

Broad diffluent mid level flow has overspread eastern Nebraska and
western Iowa ahead of closed low moving into northwest Kansas.
Surface warm front extended from surface low in northwest Kansas
into eastern Nebraska just south of Lincoln and the Omaha Metro
area. Break in cloud cover south of front along with lower 60s dew
points has destabilized airmass there, with SBCAPE approaching 1500
J/kg. Storms had begun to pop just west and south of our area just
before 3 PM, and are expected to continue to develop northeast with
time this afternoon. Bulk shear approaching 50kt along with slightly
curved but long hodographs suggest severe thunderstorms with all
modes of severe are possible as storms race east-northeast across
southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Severe hail is possible a
couple of counties north of the warm front, including Lincoln,
Omaha, Council Bluffs areas. Storms should shift east of our area
later this evening as surface low ripples along front through then
east of southwest Iowa.

North of warm front, much colder air will continue spilling into our
area overnight. Temperatures dropping toward freezing will turn rain
to snow in far northeast Nebraska late this afternoon, with a
transition to snow spreading southward as north winds increase cold
advection on back side of exiting low. Parts of north central
Nebraska have already switched to snow. A consensus of short-range
mesoscale models suggests average snowfall in northeast Nebraska
will be in the 1 to 3 inch range, but there are signals that
localized amounts could exceed 5 inches as convective bands increase
snow rates briefly. But given progressive nature of these expected
bands, and overall duration of snow limited to a period of about 6
hours, don't expect widespread amounts over advisory levels. Also,
north winds will increase into the 25 to 40 mph range in cold
advection regime, so blowing snow and reduced visibilities are
likely. Will continue with our Winter Weather Advisory as is.

Friday:

Precipitation will have ended by sunrise Friday, and clouds
generally clearing from northwest to southeast. Cold high pressure
will continue to build into the region, so not expecting much of a
warmup despite some sunshine. Have highs only in the 20s and 30s
north to south.

Saturday through Thursday:

Mid level flow regime looks to remain generally zonal through much
of next week, with a couple of shortwaves riding through the flow
Saturday night and Monday night. Temperatures will also gradually
warm from the 40s Saturday to the 60s by Wednesday.

Saturday night shortwave looks to stay mainly to our south, but we
could see some light snow skirting southeast Nebraska and southwest
Iowa. The Monday night shortwave will have more moisture to work
with and will track farther north. Showers and a few thunderstorms
are probable then. Another system approaching Thursday may bring

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon)
Issued at 1250 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2020

A warm front along Interstate 80 early in the TAF period will
separate mainly IFR conditions to the north and MVFR conditions to
the south. Cigs below FL010 will be common north of the front,
including KOFK, with occasional rain showers and fog dropping vsbys
to between 1SM and 4SM. From KLNK to KOMA, cigs will vary between
IFR and MVFR through 20Z when scattered thunderstorms are expected.
Storms will bring IFR conditions to those site, and could contain
wind gusts over 40kt and some hail. The strongest storm are expected
to sink southeast by 00Z, with lowering cigs in rain and fog
bringing a return to widespread IFR conditions. North winds are
forecast to increase into the 25 to 35kt range by 03Z and continue
through the night. Rain is expected to gradually transition to
snow between 03Z and 07Z, then begin to move to the east by 10Z.
Clearing from the north will occur after 12Z at all sites.

&&

.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...Winter Weather Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 7 AM CDT
     Friday for NEZ015-032-033-042.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 7 AM CDT Friday for NEZ011-012-
     016>018-030-031.

IA...None.
&&

DISCUSSION...Dergan
AVIATION...Dergan
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 19, 3:38 PM CDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
338 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2020

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-201045-
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-
338 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 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 Friday

Severe thunderstorms are likely into the evening as a strong
storm system moves through the region. Most of the severe storms
will occur south of a warm front extending through southeast
Nebraska and southwest Iowa, generally south of a line from
Saline to Plattsmouth and Oakland Iowa. Large hail, damaging
winds, and isolated tornadoes are possible in these areas. Large
hail could occur north of this area, generally from Lincoln to the
Omaha Metro and to Harlan Iowa. The storms are forecast to move
east of our area by mid evening.

Also, a winter weather advisory is in effect through tonight for
northeast Nebraska. Rain will change to snow this evening, with
total snow amounts in the 1 to 4 inch range, especially north of
a line from Albion to West Point and Onawa. Along with the snow,
north winds gusting over 40 mph will cause blowing snow, severely
reducing visibilities.

The rain and snow is expected to be east of our area by sunrise
Friday.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday night through Thursday

There is a small chance of snow for parts of the area Saturday
night into Sunday morning. A few thunderstorms will be possible
from Monday night through Tuesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to call in any severe weather reports
through this evening. There is a chance storm spotter activation
may be needed.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 19, 4:43 PM CDT, 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
443 PM CDT THU MAR 19 2020

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

0436 PM     HAIL             STANTON                 40.98N 95.10W
03/19/2020  E1.75 INCH       MONTGOMERY         IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.

&&
Local storm report, Mar 19, 5:03 PM CDT, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
503 PM CDT THU MAR 19 2020

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

0500 PM     HAIL             1 SSW GRETNA            41.13N 96.25W
03/19/2020  E0.88 INCH       SARPY              NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&
Local storm report, Mar 19, 5:09 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
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Local storm report, Mar 19, 5:10 PM CDT, 8 minutes before
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Local storm report, Mar 19, 5:14 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
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Local storm report, Mar 19, 5:17 PM CDT, 1 minute before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 19, 3:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXLancaster, Saline, Seward26 min
Mar 19, 4:24 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXCass, Otoe36 min
Mar 19, 4:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXCass, Otoe24 min
Mar 19, 5:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXButler, Seward30 min
Mar 19, 6:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXRichardson40 min
Mar 19, 6:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXRichardson26 min
Mar 19, 4:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXFremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page44 min
Mar 19, 4:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXFremont, Page45 min
Mar 19, 4:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXMontgomery15 min
Mar 19, 5:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXPage13 min
Mar 19, 5:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXFremont, Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie34 min
Mar 19, 5:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXFremont, Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie34 min
Mar 19, 5:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXMontgomery28 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Nebraska, 2020Severe 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.