Severe Thunderstorm Warning 129, NWS North Platte, NE

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
237 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Thunderstorm chances, and the potential for severe thunderstorms
  and heavy rain, will be the focus both today and Friday.

- Rain chances diminish this weekend with a return to warmer
  temperatures.

- Above normal temperatures really take hold by Monday when far
  southwest Nebraska could approach 100F.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 233 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024

A warm front is lifting northward across western and north central
Nebraska this morning. By late this afternoon, it will extend
eastward along the NE/SD border from a deepening area of low
pressure across the Nebraska Panhandle. Scattered thunderstorms are
expected to develop mid-afternoon across eastern WY within a moist
up-slope environment. Initially, supercells will likely be the mode,
but storms should quickly organize into a line segment as it tracks
across the Panhandle into northwest Nebraska early this evening.
Strong winds appears to be the main threat though some hail could
accompany the stronger updrafts. Storms intensity should diminish by
late evening as they progress across north central Nebraska into
less favorable instability. Still, heavy rainfall may occur in this
area, as PWATS climb and exceed the 90th %tile as Gulf moisture
surges northward and the southerly LLJ increases. The better focus
may end up being north of the border in SD however, near the nose of
the LLJ.

Surface low pressure will develop southward into northeast CO during
the day Friday. A warm front will extend northeastward from the low
across southwest into north central Nebraska. This front will become
the focus for scattered afternoon thunderstorm development. The
overall shear profiles will be a little less than today, but still
favorable for storm organization. This will be especially true
across portions of far north central Nebraska where surface winds
will be locally backed. A few supercells will be possible early on,
especially near and just north of the warm front. Other higher based
more multicell type develop may occur across the Sandhills into
southwest Nebraska. The focus then becomes the potential for heavy
rainfall Friday night as the southerly LLJ once again increases.
Focus may again be more north in SD but will need to be monitored.
Cold front then crosses the area late Friday night into Saturday
morning. This will shift precipitation chances east of the area
Saturday into Saturday night.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 233 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024

Ridging aloft takes hold across the southern plains into the desert
southwest from Sunday into most of next week. This puts our area
beneath west or northwest flow aloft. This is a warm and drier
pattern. In fact a very warm day is expected Monday when portions of
southwest Nebraska could see highs topping out in the lower 100s. A
weak cold front then settles south through the area Tuesday into
Wednesday bringing temperatures back to near average. Regarding
precipitation chances, as mentioned this looks to be a drier
pattern, but still may see some isolated thunderstorm develoment
which is common in a west-northwest flow aloft pattern.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1234 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024

Cloud heights will lifts this afternoon with mainly VFR
conditions except across the far north where MVFR conditions
will be seen to include portions of the north central.
Convection will redevelop in the west this evening with a line
of showers and thunderstorms to move east around 35 mph. Short
term models are consistent in the line forming although eventual
radar will be telling with the main area of convection to focus
generally north of Interstate 80 this evening.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

SHORT TERM...Taylor
LONG TERM...Taylor
AVIATION...Keck

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
247 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-212000-
Sheridan-Eastern Cherry-Keya Paha-Boyd-Brown-Rock-Holt-Garden-Grant-
Hooker-Thomas-Blaine-Loup-Garfield-Wheeler-Arthur-McPherson-Logan-
Custer-Deuel-Keith-Perkins-Lincoln-Chase-Hayes-Frontier-
Western Cherry-
247 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024 /147 PM MDT Thu Jun 20 2024/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and north
central Nebraska.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Thunderstorms are expected to develop east into the eastern Nebraska
Panhandle this evening with a line to move east northeast through
midnight. A slight risk for severe thunderstorm development continues tonight
across the eastern Nebraska Panhandle and northeast, north of a line
from Ogallala to Chappell and O'Neill. A marginal risk for
severe thunderstorms then extends south to a line near Imperial
northeast through Westerville. Main hazards tonight will be large
hail and damaging winds.

There is an excessive rainfall outlook across the north with the
greatest risk over much of Boyd County as thunderstorms redevelop
this evening and move east overnight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Strong to severe storms are possible, mainly Friday afternoon and
evening, mainly north of a line from Imperial to Ansley. Large hail
and damaging winds are the main threats. In addition, heavy rain is
possible over north central Nebraska.

Next week temperatures will again approach 100 degrees especially
over portions of far southwestern Nebraska on Monday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed in portions of the eastern
Panhandle and north tonight.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
405 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024

NEZ005-008-202145-
Brown NE-Eastern Cherry NE-
405 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL CHERRY AND CENTRAL
BROWN COUNTIES THROUGH 445 PM CDT...

At 405 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles west of Johnstown, or 21 miles west of Ainsworth, moving east
at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
Ainsworth, Johnstown, Wood Lake, and Antelope Peak.

This includes Highway 20 between mile markers 222 and 246.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 4240 10030 4255 10045 4276 9993 4248 9973
TIME...MOT...LOC 2105Z 250DEG 28KT 4253 10027

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Roberg