Damaging Winds and High Wind in Nebraska, May 29, 2004

Name: Damaging Winds and High Wind in Nebraska, May 29, 2004
Start: 2004-05-29T16:30
End: 2004-05-29T21:30
Location: Nebraska

May 29, 2004 · NWS GLD · 7 events in 2 counties and zones

5 thunderstorm wind, 2 high wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 29, 3:00 PM MST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 29, 3:00 PM MST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
400 PM MDT SAT MAY 29 2004

.DISCUSSION...CHALLENGES ARE SEVERE WEATHER AND WIND POSSIBILITIES
TONIGHT AND TEMPEATURES THROUGH TUE.

BOUNDARY/COLD FRONT LIES ORIENTED NE TO SW FROM NEAR MCCOOK NEB TO
NEAR TRIBUNE KS. IT CONTINUES TO MOVE VERY SLOWLY TO THE EAST. FROM
THERE TO THE EAST DEWPOINTS FROM THE UPPER 40S TO UPPER
50S...COMBINED WITH A WEAKENING CAP...90+ HEAT AND 3000+ JOULES OF
ENERGY ARE BEGINNING TO RESULT IN CUMULUS FIELDS AS SEEN ON VISIBLE
SAT. EXPECT SCT TSRAS TO DEVELOP RAPIDLY IN THE AREA...WITH THE
STRONGEST AND LONGEST (LIKELY) IN THE FAR EAST WHERE CAPE IS
GREATEST AND A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED.

THE SCENARIO LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT IS COMPLICATED BY AN
UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE NOW MOVING THROUGH CO AND KICKING OFF AN AREA
OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EASTERN CO NOW BEGINNING TO APPROACH/MOVE
INTO MY CWA FROM THE WEST. AM CURRENTLY ISSUING A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY CWA. BEHIND THIS FAST
MOVING TROUGH MODELS INDICATE A TRAILING STRONG SUBSIDENCE FIELD
WHICH LOOKS AS IF IT WILL PUSH THE GENERAL NW WIND FIELD INTO THE
ADVISORY AREA FOR A FEW HOURS AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA SEVERAL
HOURS BEHIND THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. ALL IN ALL A VERY ACTIVE
NIGHT WITH THE ATMOSPHERE BEGINNING TO STABILIZE SOME BEFORE DAWN.

PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO END BEFORE DAWN WITH SKIES CLEARING
FROM THE NIGHT FROM THE WEST. FROM THERE THE AREA COMES UNDER THE
AFFECT OF SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE AND NW UPPER FLOW THROUGH MID WEEK.
NO PRECIPITATION WITH TEMPERATURES BELOW NORMAL INTO
WED.

THEN...AS NOTED FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS...TEMPERATURES BEGIN TO WARM
AND A SERIES OF SHORTWAVES BEGIN TO RETURN THE CHANCE OF AFTERNOON
AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA. HOWEVER A DRYING TREND LOOKS
TO OCCUR BY THE WEEKEND.

THANKS PARTICULARLY TO LBF AND DDC FOR COLLABORATION.

&&

.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT FOR NORTON AND
GRAHAM COUNTIES. A SVR THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM
MDT (10 PM CDT) FOR THE REMAINDER OF NW KS. FINALLY A WIND ADVISORY
IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM CDT/MIDNIGHT MDT FOR ENTIRE AREA.
NE...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT (10 PM
CDT). A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1AM CDT/MIDNIGHT MDT.
CO...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT. A WIND
ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT.

&&

RJC

Hazardous weather outlook, May 29, 9:36 AM MST, 6 hours 54 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1036 AM MDT SAT MAY 29 2004

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-301200-
CHEYENNE KS-CHEYENNE COUNTY CO-DECATUR KS-DUNDY NE-GOVE KS-GRAHAM KS-
GREELEY KS-HITCHCOCK NE-KIT CARSON COUNTY CO-LOGAN KS-NORTON KS-
RAWLINS KS-RED WILLOW NE-SHERIDAN KS-SHERMAN KS-THOMAS KS-WALLACE KS-
WICHITA KS-YUMA COUNTY CO-

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST KANSAS...EXTREME
SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA...AND EAST CENTRAL COLORADO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A MODERATE TO HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING TORNADOES THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING EAST OF
HIGHWAY 83 FROM MCCOOK NEBRASKA TO GRAINFIELD KANSAS.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL EAST
OF A LINE FROM YUMA COLORADO TO KIT CARSON COLORADO. ISOLATED
TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE. THIS AREA EXTENDS EAST INTO NORTHWEST KANSAS
AND SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA TO HIGHWAY 83.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON ALONG A COLD
FRONT AND DRYLINE MOVING EAST ACROSS THE TRI STATE AREA. A STRONG
UPPER LOW PRESSURE MOVING OUT OF THE ROCKIES WILL INTERACT WITH A
MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS ACROSS THE REGION. SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS
ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AND MOVE NORTHEAST WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR
BASEBALL SIZE HAIL AND DAMAGING TORNADOES ESPECIALLY EAST OF HIGHWAY
83 IN KANSAS AND NEBRASKA.

EVERYONE SHOULD WEATHER TAKE THIS WEATHER THREAT SERIOUSLY AND PLAN
AHEAD FOR STORM SAFETY SHELTERS AND OTHER PRECAUTIONS. STAY TUNED TO
LOCAL RADIO AND TV FOR UPDATES TO THIS DEVELOPING SEVERE WEATHER
SITUATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE TRI STATE
REGION EACH EVENING FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE MAIN THREAT
WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

FS

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 29, 4:09 PM MST, 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
509 PM MDT SAT MAY 29 2004

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

0448 PM     TSTM WND GST     8 NE GOODLAND           39.43N 101.60W
05/29/2004  85 MPH           SHERMAN            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JOHNSON

Local storm report, May 29, 4:13 PM MST, 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
513 PM MDT SAT MAY 29 2004

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

0506 PM     TSTM WND GST     BIRD CITY               39.75N 101.53W
05/29/2004  60 MPH           CHEYENNE           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MINOR TREE DAMAGE

&&

JOHNSON

Local storm report, May 29, 4:15 PM MST, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
515 PM MDT SAT MAY 29 2004

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

0511 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG GOODLAND                39.35N 101.71W
05/29/2004                   SHERMAN            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WIDESPREAD TREE DAMAGE IN TOWN, 6 TO 8 INCH DIAMETER
            BRANCHES DOWN

&&

JOHNSON

Local storm report, May 29, 4:21 PM MST, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
521 PM MDT SAT MAY 29 2004

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

0514 PM     TSTM WND GST     BREWSTER                39.36N 101.38W
05/29/2004  60 MPH           THOMAS             KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0500 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 W GOODLAND            39.35N 101.78W
05/29/2004  66 MPH           SHERMAN            KS   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0512 PM     TSTM WND GST     GOODLAND                39.35N 101.71W
05/29/2004  67 MPH           SHERMAN            KS   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            MEASURED BY GLD ASOS

0428 PM     TSTM WND GST     RULETON                 39.34N 101.88W
05/29/2004  66 MPH           SHERMAN            KS   NWS EMPLOYEE

0520 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 NW LEVANT             39.43N 101.26W
05/29/2004  65 MPH           THOMAS             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JOHNSON

Local storm report, May 29, 4:23 PM MST, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
523 PM MDT SAT MAY 29 2004

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

0448 PM     TSTM WND GST     RULETON                 39.34N 101.88W
05/29/2004  68 MPH           SHERMAN            KS   NWS EMPLOYEE

            ZERO VISIBILITY FOR 15 MINUTES ON HIGHWAY 24

&&

JOHNSON

Local storm report, May 29, 4:30 PM MST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
530 PM MDT SAT MAY 29 2004

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

0515 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MCDONALD                39.79N 101.37W
05/29/2004                   RAWLINS            KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            NUMEROUS TREES UPROOTED AND LARGE LIMBS BROKEN

&&

JOHNSON

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 96 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:30 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hitchcock

When: May 29, 4:30 PM MST
Where: Hitchcock County, Stratton
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.150, -101.233

Power Poles snapped along Highway 34.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hitchcock

When: May 29, 4:34 PM MST
Where: Hitchcock County, Trenton
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.183, -101.017

Thunderstorm Wind, Hitchcock

When: May 29, 5:10 PM MST
Where: Hitchcock County, 8 mi NW of Trenton
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.267, -101.117

Irrigation pivot blown over.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hitchcock

When: May 29, 5:14 PM MST
Where: Hitchcock County, Trenton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.183, -101.017

Thunderstorm Wind, Hitchcock

When: May 29, 5:30 PM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where: Hitchcock County, 13 mi S of Trenton
Measured: 69 kt (79 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.000, -101.017

Strong thunderstorm outflow produced roof damage, took the top of grain bins and blew over chicken houses. Estimated wind gusts of 80 mph.

High Wind, Dundy

When: May 29, 6:00 PM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where: Dundy forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.176, -101.688 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Collapsing thunderstorms produced a prolonged period of strong outflow winds during the evening across portions of SW Nebraska.

High Wind, Hitchcock

When: May 29, 6:00 PM MST to 9:30 PM MST
Where: Hitchcock forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.176, -101.042 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Collapsing thunderstorms produced a prolonged period of strong outflow winds during the evening across portions of SW Nebraska.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Nebraska in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in Nebraska, May 2004

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5403207, 5403208, 5403210, 5403209, 5403285, 5403211, 5403212.