Special Weather Statement, NWS Goodland, KS

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
424 PM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021

.MESOSCALE DISCUSSION...
Issued at 405 PM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021

Key Message: Rapid storm development expected over the next couple
of hours ahead of the cold front. Strongest storms still expected
ahead of the line that will form along the front as the front
moves eastward. Line forms around Highway 25 but tornado risk
continues.

Latest surface observations show the cold front beginning to
advance eastward from the Rockies. A line of thunderstorms has
begun to form along it. Am expecting the line of storms to
continue to fill in as the cold front moves east. As the front
moves into the higher dew points east of the CO line, storms along
it should become more intense over the next couple of hours. The
primary threat with the line will be damaging wind gusts. The one
concern is the DCAPE is forecast to be out ahead of the line of
storms as they move east. This could be due to the stabilizing
effect of the outflow rushing out ahead of the line of storms.
Despite the lack of juxtaposition, damaging winds will be the
main concern.

Ahead of the line of storms, more discrete supercells are
expected to form. Storms have already begun to form in the more
unstable environment. These storms will be the most intense of the
day. The intensity of the storms increases to the south where the
environment will be more unstable.

East of Highway 25 satellite imagery shows a more stable
environment with the smoother looking cloud features. This more
stable airmass is eroding to the east. As storms move east of
Highway 25, the delay in destabilization may temper storm
intensity.

Latest guidance is continuing to indicate the transition to a line
of storms will be around Highway 25 area around 8 PM MT/9 PM CT.
The tornado risk will not be gone once storms form a line though.
Due to the speed of the 0-3 KM shear and its orientation to the
line, there could still be brief tornadoes form in the line.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 300 PM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021

Tornado Watch #522 is now in effect thru 10pm MDT/11 pm CDT for
all zones except Graham and Norton. Initiation looks to start near
the CO/KS border shifting east as the afternoon/evening
progresses. Other hazards still remain for storms with up to 2
inch hail, gusts to 70 mph and even potential flash flooding, but
speed/movement of expected convection may keep this hazard low but
will monitor.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday night)
Issued at 245 PM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021

500mb RAP analysis and satellite imagery showed a low centered over
eastern Utah and western Colorado, placing the High Plains under
southwest flow out ahead. This system is causing quite the variety
of weather today. South to southeast winds have been sustained at
approximately 25 to 45 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph observed so far.
These winds have produced patchy blowing dust this afternoon,
producing some slight reductions in visibility across portions of
the region. At 2 PM MT, temperatures ranged in the mid 60s to mid
70s. Some cumulus clouds and showers had developed in northeastern
Colorado.

A severe weather event is expected to occur this afternoon and
evening. Isolated thunderstorms will form in the vicinity of the
Colorado border in the next couple of hours. Activity will then
gradually shift to the east, increasing in coverage and intensity
through the evening.

Storm mode will play a large role in hazards through the event.
Initially, when storms are discrete, (while damaging winds will be
possible) large hail and tornadoes will be the main threats. Low
level parameters as well as hodograph profiles and 0-1km helicity
suggest that the timeframe that is most favorable for tornadoes is
generally from sunset to a few hours afterwards. The area of most
concern is east of the Colorado border, particularly south of
Interstate 70. The threat of tornadoes is made even more dangerous
by a potential for long-track tornadoes occurring at nighttime when
they are more difficult to see.

As a frontal boundary pushes eastward, discrete storms will evolve
into a line of thunderstorms in the late evening. As this occurs,
hazards will transition to predominantly a wind threat. Storms are
anticipated to move rather quickly, minimizing the concern for flash
flooding. Severe thunderstorm activity should exit to the east
around midnight; however, some showers/non-severe storms may linger
in the eastern zones overnight.

Quiet weather is expected to return tonight behind the severe
threat, with low temperatures falling into the upper 20s to low 40s
(from west to east). Patchy frost will be possible in eastern
Colorado early Wednesday morning.

On Wednesday, our system tracks north of the region, leaving behind
dry weather. Breezy northwest winds are forecast north of Interstate
70 on the backside of the low through the morning and into the
afternoon hours as temperatures climb into the low to mid 60s.
Relative humidities may fall as low as 18 percent in eastern
Colorado in the afternoon; fortunately, the lowest values do not
seem to be collocated with the higher wind gusts at this time.

Southwest flow resumes aloft Wednesday night, with lows in the 30s.
Overall, quiet weather is expected. Clear skies and light winds do
allow for a potential of patchy frost north of Interstate 70.

.LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday)
Issued at 324 PM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021

At the beginning of the extended period, long-term models show the
CWA having a southwesterly flow aloft as the CWA is underneath the
front part of an upper air trough over the western CONUS on
Thursday. Going into Friday, the upper air trough moves slowly
eastward with the upper air flow turning northwesterly by the
evening hours as the back part of the trough moves over the CWA with
a ridge moving behind it in the western CONUS. On Saturday, models
show the upper air ridge moving eastward over the CWA. Going into
Sunday, long term models show the ridge remaining over the CWA
and then the models start to deviate from their solutions in how
the upper air pattern develops behind it. The GFS has an upper air
low developing over southern CA during the evening with another
trough moving over the Pacific Northwest. On Monday, the GFS has
the southern low moving east into AZ with the trough moving over
central Canada along with a ridge moving over the western CONUS.
On Tuesday, the GFS shows the CWA between the ridge in the west
and the upper air trough to the east which makes its way over the
Great Lakes area. As an alternate solution, the ECMWF shows a
trough reaching down to northern CA behind the ridge on Sunday
evening. For Monday, the ECMWF moves the trough eastward over the
Rockies and starts to close off into a low. By Tuesday, the ECMWF
looks to move the low over the CWA. As there is a good amount of
uncertainty between long term models beginning Sunday and beyond,
this situation will be monitored for better agreement in future
runs.

At the surface, the CWA looks to see chances for precipitation
Thursday evening into Friday morning with the remainder of the long
term period staying relatively dry. Chances for precipitation are
expected to begin on Thursday evening west of a line from
Benkelman, NE to Hoxie, KS with these chances increasing going
westward. Precipitation starts as rain for a P-type across the
aforementioned area with chances for snow mixing in starting
during the nighttime hours along and west of the CO border. Areas
in CO may see light snow showers instead of a mixed P-type
overnight though snowfall amounts look to be negligible at this
time. With overnight temperatures getting colder, the Tri-State
area may see frost develop during the long term period. Friday,
Saturday, and Monday nights look to have the best chances for
frost development within the Tri-State area. At or below freezing
temperatures can be expected as well along and west of the CO
border on Thursday night, across most of the Tri-State area on
Friday night, and Yuma county on Monday night.

The Tri-State area expects daytime highs on Thursday in the lower
50s to lower 60s followed by highs on Friday being in the middle to
upper 50s. The Tri-State area sees daytime highs on Saturday warming
to the middle to upper 60s before highs increase to the lower to
middle 70s on Sunday. Monday looks to be the warmest day in the long
term period with highs in the middle to upper 70s with Tuesday's
highs expect to be in the middle 60s to lower 70s. The Tri-State
area expects to see overnight lows on Thursday between the upper 20s
and upper 30s while Friday sees lows ranging from the middle 20s to
lower 30s. Overnight lows on Saturday look to be in the middle 30s
followed by Sunday night seeing lows in the upper 30s to middle 40s.
Overnight lows for the remainder of the long term expect to range
between the lower 30s to the lower 40s.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon)
Issued at 1139 AM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021

VFR conditions are expected to start off the TAF period at both
KGLD and KMCK terminals. Strong southerly winds will persist
through the afternoon hours, gusting up to 40-50 knots or so.
Attention then turns towards the threat of thunderstorms. Storms
are anticipated to develop along the Colorado border around 21-22Z
and increase in coverage as they shift east through the evening.
Both terminals are expected to be impacted by lowered visibilities
and ceilings (sub-VFR). It is also worth noting the potential for
severe storms, with large hail and damaging wind gusts possible.
Storm activity shifts east of the region in the late evening, with
VFR conditions returning. Beyond this, winds shift to the
northwest Wednesday morning and increase with gusts around 25
knots.

&&

.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...High Wind Warning until 6 PM MDT this evening for KSZ013-027.

CO...High Wind Warning until 6 PM MDT this evening for COZ091-092.

NE...NONE.
&&

MESOSCALE...JTL
UPDATE...JN
SHORT TERM...JBH
LONG TERM...MRC
AVIATION...JBH

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Goodland KS
256 PM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-132100-
Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne-Rawlins-Decatur-Norton-Sherman-Thomas-
Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Logan-Gove-Greeley-Wichita-Dundy-Hitchcock-
Red Willow-
256 PM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021 /356 PM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021/

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

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

A High Wind Warning remains in effect this afternoon for Cheyenne
and Kit Carson counties in Colorado, Sherman and Wallace counties in
Kansas. South winds gusting up to 60 mph are expected along with some
patchy blowing dust which may cause reduced visibilities and poor
air quality. Elsewhere, wind gusts up to 50 mph are expected.

A Tornado Watch is in effect for all counties except Norton and
Graham through 1000 PM MDT/1100 PM CDT. All modes of severe weather
are possible including large hail up to two inches in diameter,
damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, and tornadoes. It is important to
note the tornado threat will exist into the evening, potentially
making them difficult to see.

Elevated to near critical fire weather conditions are expected
across eastern Colorado through the afternoon.

Frost is possible around sunrise Wednesday morning across parts of
far eastern Colorado.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

Elevated fire weather conditions are expected along and west of the
Colorado Kansas border Wednesday afternoon. Areas of frost are
possible Wednesday night along and north of Interstate 70.

Elevated to near critical fire weather conditions return Saturday
afternoon, Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon, generally along
and west of Highway 27.

Freezing and sub freezing temperatures are expected across nearly
the entire Tri-State area Friday night through Saturday morning and
again Saturday night through Sunday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be required later today.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1218 PM MDT TUE OCT 12 2021

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

1155 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 S BURLINGTON          39.24N 102.28W
10/12/2021  M51 MPH          KIT CARSON         CO   ASOS

            PEAK WIND GUST ON HOURLY.

&&

JN

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1238 PM MDT TUE OCT 12 2021

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

1155 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N COLBY               39.43N 101.05W
10/12/2021  M51 MPH          THOMAS             KS   AWOS

            SUSTAINED AT 35 MPH.

1155 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 S BURLINGTON          39.24N 102.28W
10/12/2021  M51 MPH          KIT CARSON         CO   ASOS

            PEAK WIND GUST ON HOURLY.

1104 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NNE GOODLAND          39.37N 101.70W
10/12/2021  M60 MPH          SHERMAN            KS   ASOS

            ASOS STATION KGLD GOODLAND. G52 KTS.
            VISIBILITY 8SM DUE TO BLOWING DUST.

1053 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  1 NNE GOODLAND          39.37N 101.70W
10/12/2021  M43 MPH          SHERMAN            KS   ASOS

            ASOS STATION KGLD GOODLAND. VISIBILITY 8SM
            DUE TO BLOWING DUST.

&&

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
105 PM MDT TUE OCT 12 2021

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

1253 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 E MCCOOK              40.21N 100.59W
10/12/2021  M52 MPH          RED WILLOW         NE   ASOS

            PEAK GUST DURING THE PAST HOUR.

&&

JN

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
136 PM MDT TUE OCT 12 2021

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

0115 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 16 NNW RULETON          39.56N 101.96W
10/12/2021  M50 MPH          SHERMAN            KS   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SUSTAINED AT 37 MPH.

&&

JN

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
146 PM MDT TUE OCT 12 2021

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

1229 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST VONA                    39.30N 102.74W
10/12/2021  M62 MPH          KIT CARSON         CO   MESONET

            WUNDERGROUND STATION KCOVONA4 REPORTS 61.5
            MPH WIND GUST.

&&

TT

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Goodland KS
459 PM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021

KSZ013-122330-
Sherman KS-
459 PM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Sherman
County through 530 PM MDT...

At 459 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 5
miles south of Goodland, moving north at 60 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of central Sherman
County, including the following locations... Edson.

This includes Interstate 70 in Kansas between mile markers 9 and 28.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT for northwestern
and west central Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3914 10189 3957 10188 3956 10140 3913 10161
      3913 10187
TIME...MOT...LOC 2259Z 192DEG 54KT 3926 10171

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

024