Alert archive / Nebraska / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 38, NWS North Platte, NE

May 30, 2026Arthur County, Keith County, McPherson County, Nebraska

NWS North Platte, NE issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 30, 2026, 5:51 PM MDT for Arthur County, Keith County, McPherson County, Nebraska. It was in force for 39 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: May 30, 2026, 5:51 PM MDT (23:51 UTC)
Expired: May 30, 2026, 6:30 PM MDT
In force: 39 min
Issued by: NWS North Platte, NE
Area: Storm-based polygon
Damage threat: Considerable
Hail: 1.75 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Arthur County, NE, Keith County, NE, McPherson County, NE

The radar

The North Platte radar (KLNX), 94 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:52 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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 30, 3:59 PM MDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

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 30, 5:32 PM MDT, 19 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Moderate to high confidence in severe thunderstorms late this afternoon through the evening with large hail and damaging winds being the main threats, and tornadoes being a secondary threat.
Low confidence in continued near-daily afternoon/evening thunderstorms through mid-week.
High confidence in mild temperatures through the end of next week.

Area forecast discussion, May 30, 5:32 PM MDT, 19 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
632 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Moderate to high confidence in severe thunderstorms late this
afternoon through the evening with large hail and damaging winds
being the main threats, and tornadoes being a secondary threat.

- Low confidence in continued near-daily afternoon/evening
thunderstorms through mid-week.

- High confidence in mild temperatures through the end of next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 256 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

The greatest potential for severe storms in the next week will occur
late this afternoon and evening as a mid level trough pushes across
Nebraska. In addition to this, current observations show a
developing surface low across the Colorado/Kansas border with a well
defined dry line line draped to the south. As this low pushes
northeastward, the dry line will also move into southwest and
southern Nebraska bringing with it a steep gradient of dewpoints and
moisture across the front. With increased moisture across portions
of our forecast area combined with ample instability (CAPE values
potentially above 3000 J/kg, lapse rates near 7 to 9 C/km, and 0-6
km shear up to 50 knots), a favorable environment will exist for
severe thunderstorm development by late this afternoon and into the
evening. Storms will develop into supercells initially before
becoming more linear in nature as they progress northeastward into
central Nebraska. The main threats remain relatively unchanged from
previous forecasts with large hail (at least 2 inches in diameter)
and strong winds (at least 65 mph) being the primary threats along
with the potential for a few tornadoes. Storms are expected to
remain severe throughout much of the evening, gradually weakening
after Midnight CT when instability begins to wane. Despite the
severe potential lessening after Midnight, some lingering
thunderstorms, some on the stronger side even, will be possible
across north central Nebraska through sunrise Sunday morning when
storms completely move off to the east and slowly dissipate.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Issued at 256 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

Another round of convection is possible on Sunday as the severe
threat shifts slightly to the east. A shortwave will push
through northern and eastern Nebraska on Sunday afternoon
combining with a dryline across central Nebraska providing a
favorable environment for convective initiation. Development
will be primarily focused along and to the east of this dryline
(mainly east of US-183) where the best moisture will be present.
Even then, the latest model soundings suggest a lot of mid-
level dry air around through the afternoon and early evening.
This may inhibit any thunderstorm development in our area with
the main action focused more across northeast Nebraska.
Regardless, not expecting widespread severe, but a small window
of some isolated strong to briefly severe storms could be
possible before pushing to the east out of our area.

Beyond Sunday, the active weather pattern will continue as a series
of shortwaves continue to track through Nebraska creating near-daily
rain and thunderstorm chances through mid-week. At this time the
severe risk remains uncertain, but with mild temperatures in the 80s
though much of the week and some modest instability across the
region, confidence in a stronger or briefly severe storm is high
especially in the afternoon and evening. Stay tuned as we will
continue to monitor the environment headed into next week for the
severe potential.

Temperatures through the extended period remain warm and mild as
continued WAA pushes into the central Plains. Highs will remain in
the 80s with lows in the low to mid 50s through next week.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 629 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

Scattered thunderstorms will occur this evening and overnight
across all of western and north central Nebraska. Otherwise area
of MVFR ceilings are expected for areas east of a line from ANW
to BBW. Winds will strong, variable and gusty near any
thunderstorm activity.

&&

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

&&

SHORT TERM...Kulik
LONG TERM...Kulik
AVIATION...Taylor

Hazardous weather outlook, May 30, 1:56 PM MDT, 3 hours 55 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
256 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-312000-
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-
256 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026 /156 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026/

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Severe thunderstorms are possible through this evening across
western and north central Nebraska. Large to very large hail and
damaging winds are the main threats, however, a tornado or two is
also possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Near critical fire weather conditions are possible Sunday afternoon
across the western Sandhills and southwest Nebraska, where low
humidity and gusty west winds exist.

Daily chances for showers and thunderstorms are possible Monday
through Thursday night. However, the severe risk remains uncertain
at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 30, 4:35 PM MDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
435 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

NEZ035-057-302315-
Arthur NE-Keith NE-
435 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN ARTHUR AND NORTH
CENTRAL KEITH COUNTIES THROUGH 515 PM MDT...

At 435 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles southwest of Arthur, moving north at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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...
Arthur, Velma, Haythorn Lake, and McKeag.

This includes the following highways...
 Highway 61 between mile markers 109 and 128.
 Highway 92 between mile markers 165 and 166.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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.

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

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT for southwestern
and west central Nebraska.

&&

LAT...LON 4137 10171 4138 10195 4164 10197 4163 10164
TIME...MOT...LOC 2235Z 183DEG 15KT 4146 10183

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

NMJ

Local storm report, May 30, 4:55 PM MDT, 56 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
555 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

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

0547 PM     Hail             4 E Lamar               40.55N 101.91W
05/30/2026  M1.00 Inch       Chase              NE   Public

&&

Local storm report, May 30, 5:08 PM MDT, 43 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
608 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

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

0604 PM     Hail             4 N Hayes Center        40.56N 101.03W
05/30/2026  M1.00 Inch       Hayes              NE   Public

&&

Local storm report, May 30, 5:23 PM MDT, 28 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
623 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

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

0621 PM     Hail             10 S Wallace            40.69N 101.12W
05/30/2026  M2.00 Inch       Hayes              NE   Public

&&

Local storm report, May 30, 5:28 PM MDT, 23 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
628 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

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

0622 PM     Hail             10 S Wallace            40.70N 101.13W
05/30/2026  E2.75 Inch       Lincoln            NE   Public

&&

Local storm report, May 30, 5:33 PM MDT, 18 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
633 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

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

0615 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 WSW Ogallala          41.12N 101.77W
05/30/2026  M64 MPH          Keith              NE   ASOS

&&

RMK

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 29, 6:30 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	LBF	Chase	45 min
May 29, 7:21 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	LBF	Hayes	39 min
May 29, 7:56 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	LBF	Hayes	49 min
May 29, 8:18 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	LBF	Frontier	42 min
May 29, 9:32 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	LBF	Frontier	43 min
May 30, 4:19 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	LBF	Chase	56 min
May 30, 4:21 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	LBF	Hayes	39 min
May 30, 4:35 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	LBF	Arthur	40 min
May 30, 4:37 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LBF	Hayes	38 min
May 30, 4:53 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LBF	Arthur, Garden, Keith	52 min
May 30, 5:10 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LBF	Hayes, Lincoln, Perkins	50 min
May 30, 5:19 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LBF	Deuel, Garden, Keith, Perkins	41 min
May 30, 5:25 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	LBF	Hayes, Lincoln, Perkins	50 min
May 30, 5:36 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	LBF	Keith, Perkins	39 min
May 30, 5:39 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	LBF	Arthur, Garden, Grant	51 min
May 30, 5:44 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	LBF	Lincoln	46 min
May 30, 5:44 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	LBF	Frontier	46 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Nebraska, 2026 Every 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.