Alert archive / Nebraska / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2024

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 48, NWS North Platte, NE

May 23, 2024Deuel County, Keith County, Perkins County, Nebraska

NWS North Platte, NE issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 23, 2024, 5:26 PM MDT for Deuel County, Keith County, Perkins County, Nebraska. It was in force for 49 min. 7 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: May 23, 2024, 5:26 PM MDT (23:26 UTC)
Expired: May 23, 2024, 6:15 PM MDT
In force: 49 min
Issued by: NWS North Platte, NE
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Possible
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Deuel County, NE, Keith County, NE, Perkins County, NE

The radar

The North Platte radar (KLNX), 151 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:29 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 23, 5:35 PM MDT	TORNADO	2 Wsw Brule, NE	Trained spotter reported a tornado.
May 23, 5:46 PM MDT	HAIL 1.5	Brule, NE	Fire department reported ping pong sized hail in Brule.
May 23, 5:49 PM MDT	FUNNEL CLOUD	1 S Ogallala, NE
May 23, 5:53 PM MDT	HAIL 1	Ogallala, NE
May 23, 5:56 PM MDT	HAIL 1	1 S Ogallala, NE	Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
May 23, 5:56 PM MDT	HAIL 2.75	1 S Ogallala, NE	Report from mPING: Baseball (2.75 in.).
May 23, 5:56 PM MDT	HAIL 2.75	1 Sse Ogallala, NE	Report from mping.

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 5 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 20 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 23, 2:25 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 113 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 50 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -307 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1275 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 312 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 450 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

984 
WUUS53 KLBF 232326
SVRLBF
NEC049-101-135-240015-
/O.NEW.KLBF.SV.W.0048.240523T2326Z-240524T0015Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service North Platte NE
526 PM MDT Thu May 23 2024

The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northwestern Perkins County in southwestern Nebraska...
  Southwestern Keith County in southwestern Nebraska...
  Southeastern Deuel County in the Panhandle of Nebraska...

* Until 615 PM MDT.

* At 525 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Big Springs, 
  moving east at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...
  Brule around 530 PM MDT.
  Ogallala around 545 PM MDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Megeath.

This includes the following highways...
 Highway 61 between mile markers 74 and 86.
 Interstate 80 in Nebraska between mile markers 105 and 135.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4122 10206 4111 10152 4089 10155 4099 10205
      4101 10205 4100 10210 4101 10213
TIME...MOT...LOC 2325Z 278DEG 27KT 4110 10199 

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Taylor

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 North Platte, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 23, 1:02 PM MDT, 4 hours 24 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

An Enhanced Risk (risk level 3 of 5) of severe weather is forecast this evening with large hail up to baseball size, severe winds up to 80 mph, and an isolated tornado possible.
Thunderstorms chances increase Saturday afternoon through Sunday during the Memorial Day holiday as temperatures range near to slightly below normal.
A gradual warming trend is expected for next week with highs returning to the upper 70s to low 80s by next Wednesday and Thursday. Thunderstorm chances return Wednesday night into Thursday.

Area forecast discussion, May 23, 1:02 PM MDT, 4 hours 24 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
202 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- An Enhanced Risk (risk level 3 of 5) of severe weather is
  forecast this evening with large hail up to baseball size,
  severe winds up to 80 mph, and an isolated tornado possible.

- Thunderstorms chances increase Saturday afternoon through
  Sunday during the Memorial Day holiday as temperatures range
  near to slightly below normal.

- A gradual warming trend is expected for next week with highs
  returning to the upper 70s to low 80s by next Wednesday and
  Thursday. Thunderstorm chances return Wednesday night into
  Thursday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 202 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected late this afternoon and
evening across much of western and north central Nebraska.

An upper trough was currently located  from eastern Montana back
through southwest Colorado, with a closed low centered over north
central Wyoming. Surface low pressure ahead of the upper trough near
995mb, positioned from west central South Dakota through the western
Sandhills into eastern Colorado will advance into central Nebraska
by mid evening. Increasing southerly winds ahead of this feature
will bring dewpoints into the mid 50s and SBCAPEs to 2500 J/KG as
highs reach near 80, with near 85 far southwest. The focus for
thunderstorms to initiate will be along the advancing cold front
across the northwest Sandhills and also a distinct dryline near 21Z.
Ahead of the dryline, surface winds will tend to be more backed to
the southeast across southwest Nebraska. Aloft, H7 to H5 lapse rates
will steepen to 8.5 to 9C/KM. The location favoring discrete
supercells will be near and east of the dryline from western Deuel
County, far northeast Colorado into Chase and Dundy County. Across
southwest Nebraska, the supercell composite index will be highest
and supportive of a few severe thunderstorms. These storms would
favor a northeastward movement. Storms will also begin to develop
along the cold front across the northwest Sandhills.  As surface
convergence increases ahead of the cold front and dryline, isolated
thunderstorms are expected to develop by late afternoon within an
environment supportive of organized severe weather given a
moderately unstable environment and deep layer shear near 40kts.
Coverage of thunderstorms is expected to increase significantly east
of Highway 83 where PoPs increase to as high as 80-90%. The Storm
Prediction Center (SPC) has a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for areas
east of a Crookston through Wauneta line and an Enhanced Risk (Level
3 of 5) over central Nebraska, east of a Eustis to Arnold, Brewster
and O'Neill line. Forecast soundings depict clockwise curving
hodographs, favorable for a brief tornado by early evening across
west central and southwest Nebraska, then possible along the cold
front as a QLCS may support a brief tornado spinup through mid
evening. Isolated very large hail to baseball size is also possible.
As storms congeal along the advancing cold front, a severe MCS is
likely to develop into eastern portions of north central Nebraska as
well as central Nebraska during the evening hours. Very large hail
and damaging wind gusts up to 80 mph may occur. With the progressive
nature of the frontal boundary, expect the main line of storms to
exit southeastern zones by 06Z. While not overly significant,
rainfall amounts up to 1.25" is possible near and east of Ainsworth
through Broken Bow. With recent rainfall, this may present at least
a localized flooding risk.

Winds behind the cold front may gust up to 35 mph tonight, as 3 hr
pressure rises reach up to 6 to 9mb. Lows fall to the upper 30s to
mid 40s, aided by winds keeping the surface mixed.

On Friday, strong northwesterly winds will continue through Friday
morning with gusts up to 35 mph, lessening in the afternoon. Weak
cold air advection will keep afternoon highs on the cooler side from
near 65 to 70 with sunny skies.

Friday night, an upstream upper trough will cross the Great Basin,
with the upper flow across western Nebraska becoming southwesterly.
Moisture will increase with a very low chance for a few showers or
thunderstorms. Will keep the forecast dry attm, as most models are
mainly dry. Lows not as cool in the mid to upper 40s.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 202 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

Saturday and beyond...active weather is expected Saturday afternoon
through Sunday. An upper trough over the Great Basin will cross
the region Saturday afternoon through Saturday night, followed
by a Northern Stream upper trough Sunday into Sunday night.

The main frontal boundary during this time will be draped across
southern and eastern Kansas during this time. The severe weather
risk Saturday will mainly extend across Kansas, with a Marginal
Risk extending northward into central Nebraska, Saturday afternoon
into Saturday night. Highs range in the 70s, with low 80s far
southwest on Saturday and upper 60s to mid 70s Sunday behind a cold
front.

Northwest flow aloft Monday, with a transitory upper ridge by
Wednesday, with as slight chance for showers Monday across north
central Nebraska, then dry conditions Tuesday and Wednesday, with
returning storm chances Wednesday night into Thursday. Highs warming
into the upper 70s to low 80s by Wednesday and Thursday.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 101 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

VFR conditions are expected to prevail across all of western and
north central Nebraska through Friday. The exception would be
late this afternoon and evening when a line of thunderstorms
will develop and move southeast across the area. Brief MVFR/IFR
will accompany the line. Strong winds will be likely with the
storms as well. Otherwise gusty south winds expected this
afternoon with winds switching to the northwest tonight and
remaining gusty into Friday morning.

&&

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

&&

SHORT TERM...Roberg
LONG TERM...Roberg
AVIATION...Taylor

Hazardous weather outlook, May 23, 2:51 PM MDT, 2 hours 35 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
351 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-242100-
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-
351 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024 /251 PM MDT Thu May 23 2024/

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are are expected this
this evening across much of central and western Nebraska east of
Highway 61. Some storms may become severe and may produce very large
hail, significant winds gusts of 75 mph, and tornado or two are all
possible.

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

There is potential for scattered thunderstorms Saturday evening into
early Sunday. A few strong or perhaps a severe storm will be
possible but widespread severe storms are not expected.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed this evening.

Taylor

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 23, 4:25 PM MDT, 1 hour 1 minute before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
525 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

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

0517 PM     Hail             7 WNW Oshkosh           41.45N 102.46W
05/23/2024  M1.50 Inch       Garden             NE   Trained Spotter

            Report via spotter network.

&&

Brown

Local storm report, May 23, 4:29 PM MDT, 57 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
529 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

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

0515 PM     Tornado          5 S Bingham             41.94N 102.06W
05/23/2024                   Grant              NE   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Fire Department reported a tornado south of
            Bingham.

&&

CR

Special weather statement, May 23, 4:30 PM MDT, 56 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
530 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

NEZ005-094-232330-
Eastern Cherry NE-Western Cherry NE-
530 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

...Brief Landspout Tornadoes Possible...

At 530 PM CDT, conditions are becoming favorable for the development
of landspout tornadoes in and close to the highlighted area. However,
at this time it is unknown which if any storm would produce a
landspout. Any landspouts which develop are expected to pose a
limited threat.

Locations impacted include...
Kilgore, Nenzel, Medicine Lake, Crookston, Steer Creek Campground,
Anderson Bridge State Wildlife Management Area, Round Lake, Indian
Hill, Schoolhouse Lake, and Intersection of Highway 61 and Survey
Valley Road.

This includes the following highways...
 Highway 20 between mile markers 161 and 189.
 Highway 61 between mile markers 173 and 196.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service
office in North Platte.

Landspout tornadoes can form with a developing thunderstorm before
rain, hail, and even thunder is observed. Landspout tornadoes are not
usually associated with a wall cloud and are often difficult to
detect with weather radar.

&&

LAT...LON 4215 10164 4230 10196 4300 10116 4299 10056

Taylor

Local storm report, May 23, 4:47 PM MDT, 39 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
547 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

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

0544 PM     Hail             9 S Oshkosh             41.28N 102.34W
05/23/2024  M1.50 Inch       Garden             NE   Trained Spotter

&&

CR

Local storm report, May 23, 5:01 PM MDT, 25 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
601 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

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

0558 PM     Tornado          5 ESE Lewellen          41.32N 102.05W
05/23/2024                   Keith              NE   NWS Employee

            Tornado reported by NWS employee.

&&

CR

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 23, 3:02 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LBF	Garden	58 min
May 23, 3:54 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	LBF	Garden	51 min
May 23, 3:59 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	LBF	Garden	46 min
May 23, 4:17 PM MDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	LBF	Garden, Grant, Sheridan	28 min
May 23, 4:30 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	LBF	Cherry	60 min
May 23, 4:30 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LBF	Deuel, Garden, Keith	45 min
May 23, 4:37 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LBF	Cherry	41 min
May 23, 4:55 PM MDT	Tornado Warning	LBF	Garden, Keith	35 min
May 23, 5:29 PM MDT	Tornado Warning	LBF	Keith	35 min
May 23, 5:30 PM MDT	Tornado Warning	LBF	Keith, Perkins	45 min
May 23, 5:51 PM MDT	Tornado Warning	LBF	Keith	24 min
May 23, 5:52 PM MDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	LBF	Keith, Perkins	38 min
May 23, 5:57 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	LBF	Arthur, Keith, Lincoln, McPherson	48 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Nebraska, 2024 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2024

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.