Alert archive / Nebraska / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 166, NWS North Platte, NE

June 28, 2026Sheridan County, Nebraska

NWS North Platte, NE issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 28, 2026, 10:40 PM MDT for Sheridan County, Nebraska. It was in force for 34 min. 2 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
Jun 28, 2026, 10:40 PM MDT (04:40 UTC)
Expired
Jun 28, 2026, 11:14 PM MDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS North Platte, NE
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.25 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Sheridan County, NE

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 148 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:44 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
Jun 28, 10:45 PM MDTHAIL 1.25Hay Springs, NEDelayed report via social media with pictures. Time estimated from radar.
Jun 28, 10:50 PM MDTHAIL 2Hay Springs, NEReport with photo via social media. Time estimated from radar.

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 2 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 5 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 nearest sounding before it

Rapid City, SD (KUNR), launched 00:00Z, 4.7 hours before the alert went out and 142 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, Rapid City, SD at 00:00Z on 2026-06-29Temperature 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°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Rapid City, SD at 00:00Z on 2026-06-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 53 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
3486 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
78 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
53 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
121 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

032 
WUUS53 KLBF 290440
SVRLBF
NEC161-290530-
/O.NEW.KLBF.SV.W.0166.260629T0440Z-260629T0530Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1040 PM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026

The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northwestern Sheridan County in the Panhandle of Nebraska...

* Until 1130 PM MDT.

* At 1040 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Hay Springs,
  moving northeast at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

* Locations impacted include...
  Hay Springs, Intersection of Beaver Creek Road and White Clay Creek
  Road, Intersection of Highway 87 and Antelope Road, and Metcalf
  State Wildlife Management Area.

This includes Highway 20 between mile markers 74 and 84.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

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

&&

LAT...LON 4300 10260 4278 10263 4275 10256 4255 10269
      4259 10277 4277 10278 4278 10277 4279 10279
      4300 10279
TIME...MOT...LOC 0440Z 209DEG 24KT 4267 10275 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

NMJ
1 follow-up statement
619 
WWUS53 KLBF 290514
SVSLBF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1114 PM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026

NEC161-290524-
/O.CAN.KLBF.SV.W.0166.000000T0000Z-260629T0530Z/
Sheridan NE-
1114 PM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN SHERIDAN COUNTY
IS CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

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

LAT...LON 4300 10260 4278 10263 4275 10256 4255 10269
      4259 10277 4277 10278 4278 10277 4279 10279
      4300 10279
TIME...MOT...LOC 0512Z 209DEG 24KT 4285 10258 

$$

NMJ

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 Jun 28, 5:07 PM MDT, 5 hours 33 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • A few strong thunderstorms are possible tonight across the northwest Sandhills.
  • Thunderstorm chances will persists each day Tuesday through Saturday, mainly during the evening hours. Highs mostly from the upper 90s to low 90s.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 28, 5:07 PM MDT, 5 hours 33 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
607 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A few strong thunderstorms are possible tonight across the
  northwest Sandhills.

- Thunderstorm chances will persists each day Tuesday through Saturday,
  mainly during the evening hours. Highs mostly from the upper
  90s to low 90s.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 146 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026

Tonight...an upper trough will be in place across the Intermountain
West, and and upper ridge centered over the Southeastern U.S. Deep
surface low pressure near 988mb across northeast CO, moving into
northern NE late tonight. A few strong storms are possible across
the far northwest Sandhills overnight. A weak cold front will move
into the panhandle later tonight. Lows coolest in the upper 50s far
northwest, to the low 70s far southeast.

Monday and Monday night...a shortwave trough will move across the
Northern Plains Monday, which will push a weak cold front through
the forecast area. This will bring westerly winds and lower
dewpoints from the upper 30s to low 50s across the west. For fire
weather concerns, the far northwest Sandhills will see afternoon
humidity fall in the upper teens and westerly winds gusting to 30
mph will create elevated fire concerns.

A frontal boundary will extend front near Sioux City IA through
Colby KS by early evening. This will be a focus for thunderstorms
southeast of the area during the evening. After midnight the front
will lift north as a low level jet increases, bringing a slight
chance for elevated thunderstorms to eastern portions of north
central NE.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Issued at 146 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026

Upper troughing across the Western U.S, and a strong upper ridge
across the Southeastern U.S. will persist through Friday and keep
western Nebraska in southwesterly flow aloft each day. Storm
development will be focused during the evening and overnight through
Thursday night, as a frontal boundary meanders across the region
each day. Tuesday looks to have the best potential for thunderstorms
with a frontal boundary located just southeast of the forecast area.
Deep moisture will be transport from the Southern High Plains into
the region on tuesday as a disturbance lifts northeast. Chance to
likely POPs remain in the forecast. Lesser chances Wednesday and
Thursday.

Highs 85 to 90 Tuesday and Wednesday should return to the upper 80s
to low 90s Thursday and the low to mid 90s Friday, cooling back to
the mid to upper 80s by next Sunday.

Looking into Friday through Sunday for Independence Day weekend, an
upper trough will approach the Northern Plains Friday, and cross the
Northern and Central Plains Saturday into Sunday. Thunderstorm
chances will remain in the forecast each day, though the extent of
thunderstorm activity appears limited.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 606 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail through the next 24 hours.
Southeast winds of 5 to 15 knots will increase this evening, with
gusts to 30 knots possible. Isolated thunderstorms may develop
across northwest and north-central Nebraska tonight, though they are
expected to remain away from both terminals. Low-level wind shear is
expected to develop across southwest and central Nebraska overnight
through early Monday morning, including the KLBF terminal. Winds
will shift to the west overnight before becoming northwesterly by
late Monday morning into the afternoon, increasing to 10 to 20 knots
with gusts up to 35 knots, especially across the Sandhills. Low-
level cloud cover may develop near the KVTN terminal Monday morning,
though confidence in any aviation impacts remains low at this
time.

&&

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

&&

SHORT TERM...Roberg
LONG TERM...Roberg
AVIATION...Labenz
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 28, 2:32 PM MDT, 8 hours 8 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
332 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-292045-
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-
332 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026 /232 PM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026/

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Isolated thunderstorms are possible tonight across northern Sheridan
and northwest Cherry County. A few storms could be strong, with a
threat for hail and strong winds.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Additional thunderstorms are possible Monday night, primarily east
of Highway 183 and Tuesday across all of western and north central
Nebraka. A few storms could be strong to severe on Tuesday, with
large hail and damaging winds as the primary hazards.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 28, 6:14 PM MDT, 4 hours 26 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
714 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026

NEZ094-290100-
Western Cherry NE-
714 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN CHERRY COUNTY
THROUGH 800 PM CDT...

At 714 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 20
miles north of Whitman, or 36 miles northwest of Mullen, moving
northeast at 30 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 hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Medicine Lake, Indian Hill, Speckel Meir Lake, Schoolhouse Lake,
Round Lake, and Intersection of Highway 61 and Survey Valley Road.

This includes the following highways...
 Highway 61 between mile markers 180 and 186.
 Highway 97 near mile marker 105.

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4222 10165 4233 10178 4280 10137 4250 10088
TIME...MOT...LOC 0014Z 220DEG 28KT 4234 10163

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

NMJ
Special weather statement, Jun 28, 6:39 PM MDT, 4 hours 1 minute before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
739 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026

NEZ094-290115-
Western Cherry NE-
739 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN CHERRY COUNTY
THROUGH 815 PM CDT...

At 739 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 20
miles southwest of Medicine Lake, or 35 miles southeast of Gordon,
moving north at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Medicine Lake, Highway 61 Crossing The Niobrara River, Intersection
of Highway 61 and Shadbolt Road, and Highway 61 crossing the Snake
River.

This includes Highway 61 between mile markers 188 and 223.

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4239 10171 4241 10177 4290 10174 4281 10135
TIME...MOT...LOC 0039Z 194DEG 23KT 4248 10166

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

NMJ
Special weather statement, Jun 28, 8:10 PM MDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
910 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026

NEZ094-290300-
Western Cherry NE-
910 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN CHERRY COUNTY
THROUGH 1000 PM CDT...

At 910 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 21
miles southeast of Gordon, moving north at 25 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 hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Merriman, Highway 61 Crossing The Niobrara River, Intersection of
Highway 61 and Shadbolt Road, and Intersection of Highway 20 and
Irwin Road.

This includes the following highways...
 Highway 20 between mile markers 119 and 137.
 Highway 61 between mile markers 208 and 226.

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4249 10185 4254 10204 4298 10189 4289 10155
TIME...MOT...LOC 0210Z 200DEG 22KT 4259 10190

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

NMJ
Local storm report, Jun 28, 8:55 PM MDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
955 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026

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

0952 PM     Hail             11 S Merriman           42.76N 101.72W
06/28/2026  E1.00 Inch       Cherry             NE   Trained Spotter

&&
Special weather statement, Jun 28, 9:32 PM MDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
932 PM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026

NEZ004-094-290400-
Sheridan NE-Western Cherry NE-
932 PM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN CHERRY AND
NORTHEASTERN SHERIDAN COUNTIES THROUGH 1000 PM MDT...

At 931 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Gordon, moving northeast at 40 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 hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Gordon, Hoover Lake, and Shell Lake State Wildlife Management Area.

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4300 10191 4281 10211 4281 10235 4300 10230
TIME...MOT...LOC 0331Z 207DEG 35KT 4287 10218

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

NMJ
Special weather statement, Jun 28, 9:59 PM MDT, 41 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
959 PM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026

NEZ004-290500-
Sheridan NE-
959 PM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN SHERIDAN COUNTY
THROUGH 1100 PM MDT...

At 959 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Hay Springs, moving north at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Rushville, Hay Springs, White Clay, Pine Ridge, Intersection of
Highway 87 and Craven Creek Road, Metcalf State Wildlife Management
Area, Intersection of Beaver Creek Road and White Clay Creek Road,
Intersection of Highway 87 and Larabee Road, Intersection of Highway
87 and Antelope Road, Walgren Lake State Recreation Area, and Mount
Maria.

This includes the following highways...
 Highway 20 between mile markers 79 and 95.
 Highway 250 between mile markers 44 and 48.

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4300 10231 4267 10240 4257 10270 4300 10269
TIME...MOT...LOC 0359Z 191DEG 36KT 4269 10258

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

NMJ

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 28, 6:14 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFCherry46 min
Jun 28, 6:39 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFCherry36 min
Jun 28, 6:58 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFCherry47 min
Jun 28, 7:17 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFCherry27 min
Jun 28, 8:24 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFCherry51 min
Jun 28, 8:58 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFCherry47 min
Jun 28, 9:32 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFSheridan28 min
Jun 28, 9:59 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFSheridan61 min
Jun 28, 10:05 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFSheridan40 min
Jun 28, 10:37 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLBFSheridan38 min
Jun 28, 11:11 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFSheridan64 min
Jun 28, 11:47 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLBFCherry, Sheridan4 hr
Jun 29, 12:15 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLBFSheridan60 min
Jun 29, 1:06 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLBFCherry, Sheridan54 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Nebraska, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

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.