Alert archive / Nebraska / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2023

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 360, NWS Cheyenne, WY

August 8, 2023Box Butte County, Morrill County, Nebraska

NWS Cheyenne, WY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 8, 2023, 3:20 PM MDT for Box Butte County, Morrill County, Nebraska. It was in force for 40 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
Aug 8, 2023, 3:20 PM MDT (21:20 UTC)
Expired
Aug 8, 2023, 4:00 PM MDT
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Cheyenne, WY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.25 in
Wind
50.0 mph

Counties Box Butte County, NE, Morrill County, NE

The radar

The Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 172 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:21 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
Aug 8, 2:37 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 12:00Z, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 224 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, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 12:00Z on 2023-08-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 4 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, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 12:00Z on 2023-08-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 61 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
4 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-289 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
695 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
61 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
205 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.1

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 Cheyenne, WY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 8, 11:43 AM MDT, 3 hours 37 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 8, 11:43 AM MDT, 3 hours 37 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
1143 AM MDT Tue Aug 8 2023

.SHORT TERM...(Today through Wednesday night)
Issued at 300 AM MDT Tue Aug 8 2023

Current surface observations have kept a fairly calm and pleasant
night across the CWA, with mostly clear skies on the Wyoming side
and temperatures hovering in the 50s for southeast Wyoming and the
Nebraska Panhandle and continued moist conditions as dewpoints
remain high. Some concerns for the early morning hours in regards to
fog with the HRRR hinting towards reduced visibilities and low
stratus for the northern Panhandle and extending eastward into
Platte and Goshen County, with KCDR having BKN skies at 900ft, which
started shortly before 06z. Surface upslope flow through the
early morning hours, combined with the moist lower levels and
clearing overhead skies, will be conducive for fog and low stratus
to develop across the remaining regions and felt confident enough
to add fog into the zones.

In terms of the weather today, a piece of the dynamic features will
depend on where the low stratus sets up in the Panhandle and far the
west it pushes, in addition to how early those features begin to mix
out. Current near term forecast suggests surface winds will shift
from an easterly direction, providing pure upslope, to a
south/southeasterly flow for the Nebraska Panhandle, which will aid
in mixing out the low level features and creating a decent boundary
for convection later in the late morning along the I-25 corridor.
RAP model outputs have begun picking up on this boundary, with CAMS
having convection beginning around 18z for southeast Wyoming, mainly
along the I-25 corridor, and moving east into the Nebraska Panhandle
after 21z today. Otherwise, main forcing will be from a more potent
and energetic shortwave, that is expected to dig to the southeast
across the Intermountain West and High Plains, effectively kicking
up convection along the way. Similar to yesterday, HiRes model
guidance has been consistent over the last few days, with MUCAPEs
hovering around 1500 on the Wyoming side and up to 3000 J/kg where
current Enhanced Risk of Severe Thunderstorms resides, 45 to 55 kts
of 0-6 km shear, 700-500mb Lapse Rates around 8.0C/km, and
increasing SHIP parameters further eastward into the Panhandle. In
addition, the moisture component will also be in play, as low-level
south/southeasterly flow will help maintain low level moisture
advection into the Nebraska Panhandle and for Laramie/Goshen/Platte
County in southeast Wyoming. Main threats include damaging winds,
large hail, and the increased chance for splitting storms aiding in
the risk for a tornado or two in the right movers of these splitting
systems.

Quieter weather expected by midweek in response to the existing
shortwave and a weak upper level ridge taking its place. Depending
to how quickly the weak upper level ridging transitions to quasi-
zonal flow, will result in the weather being more dry and breezy or
just an all around summer like day. As it currently stands, went
with more of the former scenario with some gusty winds across the
I-25 corridor and a decent bump in daytime highs. Stay tuned!

.LONG TERM...(Thursday through Monday)
Issued at 300 AM MDT Tue Aug 8 2023

Starting off Thursday...we have upper level ridging over the CWA.
A low pressure system is tracking across the southern Alberta and
Saskatchewan Provinces Thursday morning with a cold front draped
across southern Montana. Ahead of this front...looking at breezy
wind conditions over the CWA. GFS showing 30-35kts at 700 and
750mbs...so had to increase winds over guidance across southeast
Wyoming.

Surface cold front never really makes it through our CWA Thursday
night into Friday. It looks to wash out over southern Montana
Friday as parent upper low tracks east. Friday looks mainly dry.
Layered PWATS over southeast Wyoming down under a half inch...with
0.7 inch in the Panhandle. The exception may be some showers over
the Snowy and Sierra Madre Ranges in southern Carbon County.

GFS forecasting increased PWATS over the CWA for the weekend. So
afternoon and evening convection looks to return. By Saturday
afternoon...PWATS in the Panhandle back up near 1.25 inches and
near an inch along the Laramie Range. At the same time...a
backdoor cold front looks to move into the area from the northeast
Sunday. Could be looking at severe thunderstorms once again
Saturday and Sunday.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon)
Issued at 1126 AM MDT Tue Aug 8 2023

A relatively potent weather disturbance aloft will sweep across
the terminals today, producing isolated to scattered strong to
severe thunderstorms this afternoon and this evening, especially
for far southeast Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle.

Wyoming TAFS...Occasional thunderstorms are expected from 20Z to
00Z, producing wind gusts to 40 knots, visibilities from 4 to 5
miles and ceilings near 5000 feet AGL. Otherwise, expect broken
clouds from 7000 to 10000 feet AGL this afternoon, with scattered
to broken clouds around 10000 feet overnight.

Nebraska TAFS...Occasional thunderstorms will occur from 21Z to
01Z, producing wind gusts up to 50 knots, visibilities from 2 to 4
miles and ceilings from 2500 to 5000 feet AGL, along with possible
hail. Scattered to broken clouds near 10000 feet AGL will prevail
late this evening and overnight.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 300 AM MDT Tue Aug 8 2023

Little to no fire weather concerns for the start to the work week
with several days of wetting rains leading to fuels remaining in
green up. Could see some elevated fire weather concerns Thursday
onward for Carbon County with minimum RH in the mid-teens and wind
speeds increasing to around 25+ knots. However, much will depend on
the fuels status and how quickly they change over. Precipitation
chances resumes this weekend.

&&

.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...None.
NE...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...MRD
LONG TERM...GCC
AVIATION...RUBIN
FIRE WEATHER...MRD
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 8, 2:53 PM MDT, 27 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 8, 2:38 PM MDT, 42 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
238 PM MDT Tue Aug 8 2023

WYZ117>119-082100-
Central Laramie County WY-South Laramie Range Foothills WY-
East Laramie County WY-
238 PM MDT Tue Aug 8 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of south central
Laramie County through 300 PM MDT...

At 237 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Frontier Park, or over Cheyenne, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny 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.

Locations impacted include...
Cheyenne, South Greeley, Ranchettes, Warren AFB, Frontier Park, North
Cheyenne, Warren Af Base, Fox Farm-College and South Greeley High.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 25 in Wyoming between mile markers 2 and 19.
 Interstate 80 in Wyoming between mile markers 357 and 379.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT for
southeastern Wyoming.

&&

LAT...LON 4102 10492 4126 10491 4130 10450 4102 10447
TIME...MOT...LOC 2037Z 269DEG 26KT 4115 10482

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Fuller
Local storm report, Aug 8, 2:42 PM MDT, 38 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
242 PM MDT Tue Aug 8 2023

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

0238 PM     Hail             2 E Cheyenne            41.15N 104.75W
08/08/2023  M0.88 inch       Laramie            WY   Storm Chaser

&&
Local storm report, Aug 8, 2:43 PM MDT, 37 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 8, 2:48 PM MDT, 32 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 8, 3:10 PM MDT, 10 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
310 PM MDT Tue Aug 8 2023

NEZ003-021-082145-
Box Butte NE-Morrill NE-
310 PM MDT Tue Aug 8 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Box
Butte and northeastern Morrill Counties through 345 PM MDT...

At 309 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles southwest of Alliance, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny 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.

Locations impacted include...
Alliance and Alliance Airport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT for
the Panhandle of Nebraska.

&&

LAT...LON 4191 10312 4207 10309 4213 10274 4210 10274
      4209 10271 4207 10270 4201 10270 4200 10267
      4183 10268
TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 261DEG 19KT 4200 10298

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Trudel

The office that day

Everything else NWS Cheyenne, WY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 8, 2:38 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSLaramie22 min
Aug 8, 4:52 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSGoshen23 min
Aug 8, 5:39 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSPlatte36 min
Aug 7, 6:03 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatCYSDawes42 min
Aug 7, 6:41 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatCYSDawes49 min
Aug 7, 6:51 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSBox Butte39 min
Aug 7, 7:16 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSDawes44 min
Aug 8, 3:10 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSMorrill35 min
Aug 8, 3:23 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSMorrill37 min
Aug 8, 3:36 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSKimball24 min
Aug 8, 3:59 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatCYSBox Butte, Morrill31 min
Aug 8, 4:29 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSBox Butte, Morrill46 min
Aug 8, 4:48 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSCheyenne42 min
Aug 8, 5:01 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSCheyenne, Morrill29 min
Aug 8, 5:22 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSBox Butte23 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Nebraska, 2023Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2023

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.