Alert archive / Nebraska / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 331, NWS North Platte, NE

August 16, 2026Sheridan County, Nebraska

NWS North Platte, NE issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 16, 2026, 9:12 PM MDT for Sheridan County, Nebraska. It was in force for 48 min. 1 report 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
Aug 16, 2026, 9:12 PM MDT (03:12 UTC)
Expired
Aug 16, 2026, 10:00 PM MDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS North Platte, NE
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 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 03:14 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
Aug 16, 9:41 PM MDTTSTM WND GST 561 E Gordon, NEKGRN AWOS.

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

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 00:00Z, 3.2 hours before the alert went out and 237 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 00:00Z on 2026-08-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 334 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 00:00Z on 2026-08-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 40 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
334 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-25 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1497 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
40 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
113 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

901 
WUUS53 KLBF 170312
SVRLBF
NEC161-170400-
/O.NEW.KLBF.SV.W.0331.260817T0312Z-260817T0400Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service North Platte NE
912 PM MDT Sun Aug 16 2026

The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a

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

* Until 1000 PM MDT.

* At 911 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Wolf Creek
  Housing, or 10 miles southeast of Pine Ridge, moving southeast at
  25 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.

* Locations impacted include...
  Gordon, Rushville, Clinton, Pine Ridge, Intersection of Highway 87
  and Craven Creek Road, Lone Butte, Intersection of Highway 87 and
  Larabee Road, Mount Maria, and Intersection of Highway 27 and Mills
  Road.

This includes the following highways...
 Highway 20 between mile markers 91 and 111.
 Highway 250 between mile markers 47 and 48.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

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

&&

LAT...LON 4300 10228 4290 10208 4279 10209 4278 10206
      4272 10206 4257 10239 4297 10263 4300 10255
TIME...MOT...LOC 0311Z 314DEG 22KT 4293 10241 

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

$$

NWS LBF
1 follow-up statement
387 
WWUS53 KLBF 170322
SVSLBF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
922 PM MDT Sun Aug 16 2026

NEC161-170400-
/O.CON.KLBF.SV.W.0331.000000T0000Z-260817T0400Z/
Sheridan NE-
922 PM MDT Sun Aug 16 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM MDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN SHERIDAN COUNTY...

At 922 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles northwest of
Gordon, moving southeast at 25 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.

Locations impacted include...
Gordon, Clinton, Lone Butte, Mount Maria, and Intersection of Highway
27 and Mills Road.

This includes Highway 20 between mile markers 95 and 111.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

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

&&

LAT...LON 4300 10228 4290 10208 4279 10209 4278 10206
      4272 10206 4262 10229 4289 10253 4298 10242
TIME...MOT...LOC 0322Z 314DEG 22KT 4288 10234 

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

$$

NWS LBF

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 Aug 16, 5:52 PM MDT, 3 hours 20 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Thunderstorms are possible this evening and overnight, mainly across north central Nebraska. Damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall are the primary threats.
  • Thunderstorms, some strong to severe, are possible both Monday and Tuesday. Large hail, damaging winds, and locally heavy rainfall are all possible.
  • The unsettled pattern continues Wednesday and Wednesday night, with drier conditions and a warming trend expected Thursday through Sunday.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 16, 5:52 PM MDT, 3 hours 20 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
652 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Thunderstorms are possible this evening and overnight, mainly across
  north central Nebraska. Damaging winds and locally heavy
  rainfall are the primary threats.

- Thunderstorms, some strong to severe, are possible both Monday and
  Tuesday. Large hail, damaging winds, and locally heavy rainfall
  are all possible.

- The unsettled pattern continues Wednesday and Wednesday night,
  with drier conditions and a warming trend expected Thursday
  through Sunday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 129 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026

Tonight...an upper ridge will reside over the Southeastern U.S. and
Southern Plains, with a west-northwest flow aloft across the
Northern and Central Plains. A disturbance currently located over
far southeast MT and northeast WY will track southeast across
southwest SD this afternoon, including the Black Hills, with
thunderstorms developing. A cluster of storms is forecast by some of
the CAMs as well as the deterministic NAM and GFS to moving into
north central NE this evening, and possibly into portions of central
NE late tonight. Hail will be possible through mid evening, mainly
across Sheridan and western Cherry county. Otherwise, the main
severe threat would be damaging wind gusts and locally heavy rain,
with PWAT values still exceeding the 90th percentile climo across
the area. Other storms are likely to develop in the higher terrain
to our west this afternoon, and should remain to our west this
evening.

Monday and Monday night...Upper ridging will increase across the
Rockies as a deep upper trough moves into Hudson Bay Canada. This
will maintain a west-northwest flow aloft across the region. Highs
to reach the mid to upper 80s. A surface trough will extend from
southwest MN into southwest NE by 00z. South of the trough, a
dewpoints in the mid to upper 60s are expected across southwest into
north central NE. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are likely to
develop by late afternoon ahead of the surface boundary. Modestly
steep lapse rates and strong heating of the moist boundary layer
will result in 2500-3500 J/kg MLCAPE amid 35+ kt effective shear
magnitudes. This should result in organized supercells capable of
large hail and damaging gusts. The area of greater concern will be
eat of Highway 61, where SPC is forecasting a Slight Risk of severe
storms. Some upscale growth could occur during the evening as a
modest low-level jet develops. If this occurs, damaging winds and
locally heavy rainfall would become the primary threat.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Issued at 129 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026

The active pattern continues Tuesday through Wednesday night, as
upper ridging begins to amplify across the western CONUS.

Tuesday afternoon, surface low pressure will deepen over CO, as a
cold front sags south from north central NE. South of the cold
front, moderate to strong instability is expected to develop by
afternoon. Forecast soundings show steep midlevel lapse rates, with
vertically veering wind profiles supporting 40+ kt effective shear.
Initial supercells could pose a risk for large hail and severe
gusts. The area of greater concern will be southeast of of a line
from Arthur through O'Neill, where SPC is forecasting a Slight Risk
of severe storms. With time, sufficient clustering could occur ahead
of the front as a low-level jet increases during the evening, and
MCS development may occur across central into southeast NE. Likely
POPS Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night, especially south of
Highway 2 and 91.

Wednesday, models have been indicating a fairly strong disturbance
dropping southeast through the region during the afternoon and
evening. Storms may linger into Wednesday morning from Tuesday night
activity as well. Storms developing during the afternoon and evening
may be strong to severe, as 0-6km shear ranges from 45-50 kts. With
highs only in the mid to upper 70s, instability may be limited to
around 1500 J/KG. POPs are fairly high at 50 to 60 percent Wednesday
into Wednesday evening.

Upper ridging over the Rockies will gradually build eastward into
the plains by this weekend, with drier conditions expected Thursday
through Sunday. Highs near to slightly below normal in the upper 70s
to mid 80s Thursday, then slightly above normal in the 80s, with
near 90 southwest Friday through Sunday.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 651 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026

Showers and thunderstorms return to portions of northern Nebraska
this evening with erratic, gusty winds along with hail being
possible, along with some small hail with these storms. Expect some
reductions in visibility as heavy rainfall is also possible. Showers
and thunderstorms push out of the region by 12Z Monday with a
gradual return to drier weather and VFR conditions. An another round
of thunderstorms are expected again later on Monday, but are
expected to hold off until after 00Z Tuesday.

&&

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

&&

SHORT TERM...Roberg
LONG TERM...Roberg
AVIATION...Kulik
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 16, 11:36 AM MDT, 9 hours 36 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1236 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-171745-
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-
1236 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026 /1136 AM MDT Sun Aug 16 2026/

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms are possible this
evening and tonight, primarily across portions of north central
Nebraska. A few storms could be strong to severe, with a threat for
damaging winds, hail, and locally heavy rainfall.

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

Thunderstorms chances continue into midweek across western and north
central Nebraska. Locally heavy rainfall will remain a possibility
each day. Storms could also be strong to severe as well, with large
hail and damaging winds as the primary threats.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 16, 7:42 PM MDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
842 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026

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

0837 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     13 SSE Johnstown        42.40N 100.00W
08/16/2026  M66 MPH          Brown              NE   Mesonet

&&

rk
Local storm report, Aug 16, 7:46 PM MDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
846 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026

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

0837 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     12 NW Brownlee          42.40N 100.00W
08/16/2026  M66 MPH          Brown              NE   Mesonet

            Corrects previous tstm wnd gst report from
            13 SSE Johnstown.

&&

rk
Local storm report, Aug 16, 7:49 PM MDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
849 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026

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

0837 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     12 NW Brownlee          42.40N 100.82W
08/16/2026  M66 MPH          Cherry             NE   Mesonet

&&

rk
Local storm report, Aug 16, 8:52 PM MDT, 20 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
952 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026

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

0951 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 WSW Eli               42.92N 101.56W
08/16/2026  M60 MPH          Cherry             NE   Mesonet

&&

rk
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 8:53 PM MDT, 19 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
853 PM MDT Sun Aug 16 2026

NEZ004-094-170345-
Sheridan NE-Western Cherry NE-
853 PM MDT Sun Aug 16 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WESTERN CHERRY AND NORTHEASTERN
SHERIDAN COUNTIES THROUGH 945 PM MDT...

At 853 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Wakpamni to near White Clay. Movement was
southeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch 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, Rushville, White Clay, Clinton, Intersection of Highway 87
and Craven Creek Road, Lone Butte, Intersection of Highway 87 and
Larabee Road, Mount Maria, Intersection of Highway 20 and Irwin Road,
Shell Lake State Wildlife Management Area, Bayonne, Intersection of
Highway 27 and Mills Road, Pine Ridge, and Hoover Lake.

This includes the following highways...
 Highway 20 between mile markers 90 and 121.
 Highway 250 between mile markers 44 and 48.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4300 10212 4280 10187 4265 10246 4300 10268
TIME...MOT...LOC 0253Z 313DEG 34KT 4302 10224 4294 10255

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

NWS LBF
Local storm report, Aug 16, 8:59 PM MDT, 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
959 PM CDT Sun Aug 16 2026

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

0955 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 WSW Eli               42.92N 101.56W
08/16/2026  M79 MPH          Cherry             NE   Mesonet

&&

rk

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 16, 6:33 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFCherry42 min
Aug 16, 7:03 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFCherry42 min
Aug 16, 7:41 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLBFCherry, Thomas49 min
Aug 16, 8:07 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFCherry53 min
Aug 16, 8:53 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFSheridan52 min
Aug 16, 8:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFCherry50 min
Aug 16, 8:58 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatLBFCherry47 min
Aug 16, 9:40 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLBFCherry50 min
Aug 16, 9:46 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFCherry, Sheridan44 min
Aug 16, 10:01 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFSheridan44 min
Aug 16, 10:16 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFSheridan44 min
Aug 16, 10:19 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFCherry41 min
Aug 16, 10:27 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFSheridan48 min
Aug 16, 10:58 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFSheridan47 min
Aug 16, 11:24 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFCherry51 min
Aug 16, 11:57 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFHooker48 min
Aug 17, 4:29 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFGarden31 min
Aug 17, 5:06 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFDeuel, Garden39 min
Aug 17, 5:41 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFSheridan49 min
Aug 17, 5:45 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFKeith30 min
Aug 17, 5:48 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFLoup27 min
Aug 17, 5:53 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLBFGarden, Sheridan52 min
Aug 17, 5:55 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFHolt50 min
Aug 17, 5:55 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementLBFPerkins35 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.