Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 17, NWS Omaha, NE

December 15, 2021Douglas County, Saunders County, Nebraska

NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at Dec 15, 2021, 3:45 PM CST for Douglas County, Saunders County, Nebraska. It was in force for 30 min. 6 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Dec 15, 2021, 3:45 PM CST (21:45 UTC)
Expired
Dec 15, 2021, 4:15 PM CST
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS Omaha, NE
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Douglas County, NE, Saunders County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 15 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:48 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Dec 15, 3:46 PM CSTTORNADO1 Nnw Ithaca, NEA SHORT TRACK EF-1 TORNADO BEGAN JUST WEST OF CR 13 AND TRAVELED OVER A FARMSTEAD. THIS TORNADO CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO SEVERAL OUTBUILDINGS AND A GRAIN BIN. A CATTLE FEEDER THAT WAS SECURED TO THE GROUND VIA 3 FOOT DEEP CONCRETE POSTS WAS LIFTED AND THRO
Dec 15, 3:50 PM CSTTSTM WND GST 634 N Memphis, NEMESONET STATION NB075 MEMPHIS 4N.
Dec 15, 3:51 PM CSTTSTM WND GST 993 E Ithaca, NEUNL CSP1 PIVOT NEAR INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD H AND COUNTY ROAD 10.
Dec 15, 3:53 PM CSTTSTM WND GST 1284 Se Mead, NECorrects previous tstm wnd gst report from 4 SE Mead for wrong date. Very delayed report (2021). Received from UNL School of Natural Resources. Appears to have occurred in the rear flank downdraft region to the east (right) of a tornado track of the 12/15/2021
Dec 15, 4:03 PM CSTTSTM WND GST 601 Wnw Valley, NE
Dec 15, 4:04 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG2 E Mead, NEPOWER LINES DOWN AND THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE ALONG HIGHWAY 92.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Dec 15, 1:23 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 15 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 2021-12-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 2021-12-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 346 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2165 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
346 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
384 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

803 
WFUS53 KOAX 152145
TOROAX
NEC055-155-152230-
/O.NEW.KOAX.TO.W.0017.211215T2145Z-211215T2230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
345 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Western Douglas County in east central Nebraska...
  Eastern Saunders County in east central Nebraska...

* Until 430 PM CST.
    
* At 345 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 8 miles south of Mead, or 21 miles northeast of
  Lincoln, moving northeast at 75 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Mead around 350 PM CST.
  Yutan around 355 PM CST.
  Valley, Waterloo and Elkhorn around 400 PM CST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4104 9650 4105 9662 4139 9648 4139 9643
      4129 9620
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 216DEG 66KT 4110 9653 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

CA
3 follow-up statements
690 
WWUS53 KOAX 152149
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
349 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

NEC055-155-152230-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-211215T2230Z/
Douglas NE-Saunders NE-
349 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM CST FOR WESTERN
DOUGLAS AND EASTERN SAUNDERS COUNTIES...
        
At 348 PM CST, a confirmed tornado was located 5 miles south of Mead,
or 25 miles west of Omaha, moving northeast at 75 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This tornado will be near...
  Valley, Waterloo and Elkhorn around 400 PM CST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4104 9650 4105 9662 4139 9648 4139 9643
      4129 9620
TIME...MOT...LOC 2148Z 216DEG 66KT 4116 9648 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

CA
349 
WWUS53 KOAX 152151 RRA
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
351 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

NEC055-155-152230-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-211215T2230Z/
Douglas NE-Saunders NE-
351 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM CST FOR WESTERN
DOUGLAS AND NORTHEASTERN SAUNDERS COUNTIES...
        
At 351 PM CST, a confirmed tornado was located near Mead, or 22 miles
west of Omaha, moving northeast at 75 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This tornado will be near...
  Valley, Waterloo and Elkhorn around 400 PM CST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4112 9640 4119 9655 4139 9648 4139 9643
      4129 9620
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 216DEG 66KT 4120 9644 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

CA
593 
WWUS53 KOAX 152215
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
415 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

NEC055-155-152225-
/O.CAN.KOAX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-211215T2230Z/
Douglas NE-Saunders NE-
415 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WESTERN DOUGLAS AND NORTHEASTERN SAUNDERS
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CST for east central
Nebraska.

LAT...LON 4112 9640 4119 9655 4139 9648 4139 9643
      4129 9620
TIME...MOT...LOC 2213Z 216DEG 66KT 4156 9609 

$$

CA

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 15, 2:19 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatOAXAntelope, Boone, Butler, Colfax, Madison, Pierce and 2 more56 min
Dec 15, 2:26 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXButler, Gage, Jefferson, Lancaster, Saline, Saunders and 1 more64 min
Dec 15, 2:39 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXBoone, Madison, Platte, Stanton24 min
Dec 15, 2:50 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXColfax, Platte40 min
Dec 15, 2:54 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatOAXCass, Dodge, Douglas, Gage, Johnson, Lancaster and 5 more81 min
Dec 15, 2:59 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXButler, Colfax, Dodge, Platte31 min
Dec 15, 3:06 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXMadison, Platte, Stanton24 min
Dec 15, 3:09 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatOAXBurt, Butler, Colfax, Cuming, Dodge, Saunders and 4 more51 min
Dec 15, 3:13 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXAntelope, Cedar, Colfax, Knox, Madison, Pierce and 3 more62 min
Dec 15, 3:23 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXLancaster, Seward16 min
Dec 15, 3:25 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXColfax, Cuming, Stanton35 min
Dec 15, 3:29 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXMadison, Stanton, Wayne31 min
Dec 15, 3:35 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatOAXCass, Douglas, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee and 3 more70 min
Dec 15, 3:41 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatOAXBurt, Cuming, Thurston, Washington64 min
Dec 15, 3:45 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedOAXCuming, Thurston45 min
Dec 15, 3:54 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedOAXDodge, Douglas, Washington28 min
Dec 15, 4:01 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXCass, Otoe14 min
Dec 15, 4:11 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXNemaha, Pawnee, Richardson34 min
Dec 15, 4:12 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXCass33 min
Dec 15, 4:16 PM CSTTornado WarningOAXWashington17 min
Dec 15, 5:08 PM CSTBlowing Dust AdvisoryOAXCass, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha and 5 more4 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Nebraska, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes in 2021

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.