Flash Flooding and Hail in Kansas, July 28 to 29, 2011

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in Kansas, July 28 to 29, 2011
Start: 2011-07-28T15:35
End: 2011-07-29T02:06
Location: Kansas

July 28 to 29, 2011 · NWS GLD · 10 events in 3 counties and zones

A cluster of thunderstorms affected the Tri-State area during the afternoon and evening hours of July 28, 2011. These storms brought hail up to golf ball size, strong and damaging winds, and heavy rains which caused several reports of flash flooding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $1,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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 happened

The episode as NWS GLD wrote it up.

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 Jul 28, 2:00 PM CST, 1 hour 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 28, 2:00 PM CST, 1 hour 35 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
200 PM MDT THU JUL 28 2011

.SHORT TERM... (TONIGHT - SUNDAY)
200 PM MDT THU JUL 28 2011

VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY AT 19Z SHOWS CUMULUS DEVELOPING NEAR 700MB
TROUGH AXIS IN THE WESTERN FORECAST AREA AND ALONG A SURFACE
BOUNDARY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN FORECAST AREA. SHORTWAVE TROUGH ALSO
EVIDENT COMING OUT OF NORTHERN COLORADO ON WATER VAPOR. SO WITH
CONTINUED HEATING EXPECTED SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS
THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. SLOW STORM MOTIONS TO THE ENE WILL
PROMOTE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. SOUNDINGS A BIT MORE MOIST THAN
RECENTLY AND DCAPE NOT REALLY FAVORABLE FOR ANOTHER MICROBURST
EVENT. HOWEVER SBCAPE PUSHING 3000 J/KG AND HAIL HEIGHTS NOT AN
UNREACHABLE 30-35KFT...SO HAIL MAY BE MORE OF A THREAT TODAY.
OVERNIGHT...LIGHT EASTERLY SURFACE WINDS AND HIGH DEW POINTS MAY
LEAD TO SOME FOG DEVELOPMENT AFTER THE RAIN ENDS...WHICH RUC IS
HINTING MAY BE WIDESPREAD.

FRIDAY...AFTER ANY MORNING FOG BURNS OFF THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW
LONG DO THE CLOUDS LINGER. NAM IS MOST PESSIMISTIC OF THE GUIDANCE
AND CONSEQUENTLY THE COOLEST...WHILE RUC AND GFS SUGGEST SOME
AFTERNOON BREAKS. SURFACE WINDS WILL BE SOUTHEAST BY THE AFTERNOON
WHICH WOULD PROMOTE A SLOW CLEARING MORE IN THE RUC AND GFS CAMP SO
WILL SHADE TEMPERATURES TOWARD THE WARMER GUIDANCE. CANT RULE OUT AN
ISOLATED SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM IN THE AFTERNOON IF CLEARING DOES
INDEED OCCUR...BUT BETTER CHANCES WILL BE TO THE WEST WHERE IT WILL
CLEAR FASTER AND NEXT SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL COME OUT OF THE
MOUNTAINS. SOME OF THOSE MAY SURVIVE THE TREK ACROSS THE PLAINS AND
MAKE IT HERE FRIDAY NIGHT. CONFIDENCE IS LOW FOR EITHER SCENARIO AND
WILL CARRY ONLY 20 POPS.

RISING HEIGHTS ARE FORECAST FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AS RIDGE
REBUILDS OVER THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS. AS A RESULT TEMPERATURES WILL
BE APPROACHING TRIPLE DIGITS ONCE AGAIN. ORIENTATION OF THE RIDGE
FAVORS THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING NEAR THE FRONT RANGE WITH ONLY A
SLIGHT CHANCE OF THEM MAKING IT TO FAR EASTERN COLORADO IN THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS.

.LONG TERM... (MONDAY - THURSDAY)
200 PM MDT THU JUL 28 2011

UPPER RIDGE WILL REMAIN PARKED OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS THIS PERIOD.
SHORTWAVE TROUGHS RIDING THE RIDGE WILL MOVE OUT OF COLORADO AND
ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. LOCAL FORECAST AREA WILL BE CLOSE ENOUGH
TO THAT STORM TRACK FOR DAILY CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
TOWARDS THE END OF THE PERIOD THE RIDGE IS FORECAST TO UNDERGO A
SUBTLE WEAKENING AND SHIFT A BIT FURTHER SOUTHEAST. SURFACE WIND
FORECASTS SHOW AN EASTERLY COMPONENT BY WEDNESDAY AND ESPECIALLY
THURSDAY. 850MB TEMPERATURE ANOMALIES ALSO DROP FROM +1 TO +2
STANDARD DEVIATIONS EARLY IN THE PERIOD TO NEAR NORMAL BY THE END OF
THE PERIOD. AS A RESULT...WILL TREND TEMPERATURES SLIGHTLY DOWNWARD
FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...AT LEAST BACK TO NEAR NORMAL.

024
&&

.AVIATION...
1140 AM MDT THU JUL 28 2011

FOR THE 18Z TAFS AT KGLD AND KMCK...VFR EXPECTED AT BOTH TERMINALS
OVERALL. LOCATIONS OF THUNDERSTORM INITIATION THIS AFTERNOON ARE
STILL UNCERTAIN GIVEN WEAK SURFACE WIND FIELD. HAVE INCLUDED A
THUNDERSTORM IN VICINITY OF BOTH TERMINALS AFTER 21Z WITH POTENTIAL
CONTINUING UNTIL AROUND 04-05Z. KEPT STORMS OUT OF THE TERMINALS
THEMSELVES FOR NOW GIVEN UNCERTAIN COVERAGE AND LOCATIONS...BUT SHOULD ONE
MOVE OVER A TERMINAL...MVFR/IFR VIS IS POSSIBLE.

&&

.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...NONE.
NE...NONE.
CO...NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 28, 10:48 AM CST, 4 hours 47 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1048 AM MDT THU JUL 28 2011

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-291215-
YUMA-KIT CARSON-CHEYENNE CO-CHEYENNE KS-RAWLINS-DECATUR-NORTON-
SHERMAN-THOMAS-SHERIDAN-GRAHAM-WALLACE-LOGAN-GOVE-GREELEY-WICHITA-
DUNDY-HITCHCOCK-RED WILLOW-
1048 AM MDT THU JUL 28 2011 /1148 AM CDT THU JUL 28 2011/

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND INCREASE
IN COVERAGE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. STORMS WHICH DEVELOP THIS
AFTERNOON WILL INITIALLY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE STRONG
WINDS AND MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL BEFORE THE THREAT BECOMES LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL DURING THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED NON SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE
FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS RETURN TO THE AREA
MONDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY. WIDESPREAD SEVERE
WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 28, 2:31 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
231 PM MDT THU JUL 28 2011

KSZ001-282045-
CHEYENNE-
331 PM CDT THU JUL 28 2011

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GOODLAND HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CHEYENNE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST KANSAS...

AT 328 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT
THUNDERSTORMS WERE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING 8 MILES NORTH OF ST. FRANCIS...
MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.

PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WINDS TO 55 MPH AND HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED
WITH THESE STORMS.

BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN THE EVENT THESE STORMS INTENSIFY AND
BECOME SEVERE.

&&

LAT...LON 3981 10159 3975 10194 3994 10199 4001 10181
      4000 10169
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 254DEG 3KT 3988 10184

JLUNDQUI

Special weather statement, Jul 28, 2:50 PM CST, 45 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
250 PM MDT THU JUL 28 2011

COZ090-091-282115-
KIT CARSON COUNTY-YUMA COUNTY-
250 PM MDT THU JUL 28 2011

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GOODLAND HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR KIT CARSON COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO AND
YUMA COUNTY IN NORTHEAST COLORADO...

AT 245 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF JOES TO 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BONNY RESERVOIR...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 5 MPH.

PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...AND WINDS TO 55 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN THE EVENT THESE STORMS INTENSIFY AND
BECOME SEVERE.

&&

LAT...LON 3956 10300 3957 10281 3959 10281 3961 10267
      3965 10205 3961 10205 3936 10217 3933 10300
TIME...MOT...LOC 2050Z 241DEG 3KT 3952 10275 3955 10232

JLUNDQUI

Special weather statement, Jul 28, 3:08 PM CST, 27 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
308 PM MDT THU JUL 28 2011

NEZ080-282130-
HITCHCOCK-
408 PM CDT THU JUL 28 2011

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GOODLAND HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HITCHCOCK COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA...

AT 403 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF PALISADE...MOVING NORTH AT 5
MPH.

PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE
PALISADE AREA WITH THIS STORM.

PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN HITCHCOCK COUNTY...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER
SITUATION CLOSELY. A WARNING MAY BE NEEDED IF THE STORMS MOVE INTO
THE AREA. BE READY TO SEEK SHELTER IF SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS.

&&

LAT...LON 4028 10106 4031 10133 4035 10132 4035 10104
TIME...MOT...LOC 2107Z 196DEG 6KT 4040 10123

JLUNDQUI

Special weather statement, Jul 28, 3:19 PM CST, 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
319 PM MDT THU JUL 28 2011

COZ091-092-282145-
CHEYENNE COUNTY-KIT CARSON COUNTY-
319 PM MDT THU JUL 28 2011

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GOODLAND HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CHEYENNE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO AND KIT
CARSON COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO...

AT 316 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 14 MILES NORTH OF CHEYENNE WELLS...MOVING EAST AT
5 MPH.

PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH
THIS STORM.

BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN THE EVENT THESE STORMS INTENSIFY AND
BECOME SEVERE.

&&

LAT...LON 3909 10220 3887 10225 3896 10254 3911 10251
TIME...MOT...LOC 2119Z 280DEG 5KT 3901 10242

FOLTZ

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 45 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:35 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Cheyenne

When: July 28, 3:35 PM CST to 3:40 PM CST
Where: Cheyenne County, Bird City
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.750, -101.530

Thunderstorm Wind, Cheyenne

When: July 28, 3:40 PM CST
Where: Cheyenne County, Bird City
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.750, -101.530

Spotter estimated peak wind gusts to be near 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cheyenne

When: July 28, 4:02 PM CST
Where: Cheyenne County, 1.74 mi WSW of Bird City
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.740, -101.560

Trained spotter also received 1.41 inches of rain.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cheyenne

When: July 28, 4:23 PM CST
Where: Cheyenne County, 8.29 mi S of Bird City Arpt
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.610, -101.530

Trained spotter reports round-top calf shed was blown over. The calves appear uninjured. Spotter also reports pea to dime sized hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sherman

When: July 28, 4:03 PM MST
Where: Sherman County, 11.17 mi N of Goodland Arpt
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 39.530, -101.670

Hail, Sherman

When: July 28, 4:03 PM MST to 4:30 PM MST
Where: Sherman County, 11.17 mi N of Goodland Arpt
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 39.530, -101.670

Hail was estimated to be between half dollar and ping pong ball in size. Hail was covering the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sherman

When: July 28, 4:18 PM MST
Where: Sherman County, 8.89 mi NNE of Goodland Arpt
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.490, -101.640

Trained spotter also reports pea-sized hail.

Flash Flood, Sherman

When: July 28, 4:55 PM MST to 7:55 PM MST
Where: Sherman County, 10.52 mi N of Goodland Arpt to 11.89 mi NNE of Goodland Arpt
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 39.521, -101.675

Rapidly flowing waist deep water was reported across county road 77.

Flash Flood, Graham

When: July 28, 10:15 PM CST to July 29, 12:15 AM CST
Where: Graham County, 13.85 mi NNW of (Hlc)hill City Muni to 13.82 mi NNW of (Hlc)hill City Muni
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 39.575, -99.893

Law enforcement advises that roads west of Highway 283 near County Road CC are impassable due to water.

Flash Flood, Graham

When: July 29, 12:06 AM CST to 2:06 AM CST
Where: Graham County, 3.86 mi WNW of Studley to 2.19 mi WSW of Studley
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 39.374, -100.235

Sheridan County sheriff's deputy reports heavy rain on U.S. 24 from Studley west with visibility to zero and water running over the road.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, July 2011

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: 330535, 331451, 330536, 330527, 330525, 330526, 330537, 330528, 330529, 330530.