Damaging Wind in Kansas, June 16, 2011

Name: Damaging Wind in Kansas, June 16, 2011
Start: 2011-06-16T20:03
End: 2011-06-16T20:03
Location: Kansas

June 16, 2011 · NWS GLD · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A line of strong to severe storms moved across NW Kansas during the evening, resulting in a wind gust to 59 mph in Bird City.

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

A line of strong to severe storms moved across NW Kansas during the evening, resulting in a wind gust to 59 mph in Bird City.

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 Jun 16, 5:20 PM CST, 2 hours 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 16, 5:20 PM CST, 2 hours 43 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
520 PM MDT THU JUN 16 2011

.DISCUSSION...
330 PM MDT THU JUN 16 2011

19Z WATER VAPOR IMAGERY DEPICTING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH DIGGING INTO THE
NORTHWEST CONUS WITH SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT OUT AHEAD OF IT ACROSS THE
FORECAST AREA. A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAD FORMED ACROSS NORTH
CENTRAL COLORADO WITH CUMULUS FORMING ACROSS SOUTHEAST COLORADO. AT
THE SURFACE WINDS WERE GENERALLY FROM THE EAST/SOUTHEAST WITH A FRONT
AND DRY LINE LOCATED JUST TO THE SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. MAIN FORECAST
ISSUES WILL BE OFF AND ON CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AS SHORTWAVES
MOVES THROUGH THE MEAN FLOW OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

TONIGHT INGREDIENTS COMING TOGETHER FOR THUNDERSTORM FORMATION AS AREA
COMES UNDER UPPER LEVEL DIFFLUENT FLOW ALOFT WITH THE FIRST IN A
SERIES OF SHORTWAVES TROUGH OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS MOVING
THROUGH THE AREA THIS EVENING. BEST COUPLING OF LARGE SCALE AND
MESOSCALE FORCING FOR ASCENT LOOKS TO BE MAINLY ACROSS NORTHEAST
COLORADO. DURING THE EVENING HOURS CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY MAY SPREAD
ACROSS THE NORTHEAST FA AND BECOME A BIT MORE GENERAL IN COVERAGE
WITH INCREASING LLJ PROGGED TO STRENGTHEN JUST TO THE EAST OF THE
CWA OVERNIGHT AND THEREFORE WILL ADD IN SLIGHT POPS BETWEEN 06Z-
12Z ACROSS THE NORTH AND EAST ZONES. A SECONDARY AREA OF
THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL WILL BE ALONG OUR SOUTHEAST BORDER WHERE
THE FRONT AND DRY LINE INTERACT TO INITIATE HIGH-BASED STORMS IN
THIS AREA. AM A BIT SKEPTICAL ABOUT AVAILABLE MOISTURE IN THIS
AREA AS IT APPEARS THAT THE BETTER MOISTURE WILL REMAIN JUST TO
THE SOUTHEAST OF FA BUT CERTAINLY CANNOT RULE OUT STORMS IN THIS
AREA AS WELL SO I/VE CONTINUED CHANCE POPS HERE AS WELL. DURING
THE MORNING HOURS ON FRIDAY SOME INDICATION THAT SHOWER ACTIVITY
MAY REDEVELOP ACROSS EASTERN COLORADO IN ADVANCE OF NEXT SHORTWAVE
TROUGH BUT WILL KEEP POPS SILENT AT THIS TIME IN ANTICIPATION OF
POST-CONVECTIVE MESOSCALE SUBSIDENCE IN PLACE ALONG WITH MORNING
CLOUD COVER...AND WILL WAIT UNTIL MORE INSOLATION AND BETTER
FORCING FOR ASCENT DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS TO INTRODUCE POPS
ONCE AGAIN IN THIS AREA. MEAN 0-6KM WINDS WOULD TAKE THESE STORMS
EAST DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING HOURS BUT INSTABILITY WILL
SIMULTANEOUSLY BE SHUNTED SOUTHWARD. THUS SOME QUESTION AS TO HOW
FAR EASTWARD STORMS THAT FORM IN NORTHEAST COLORADO WILL BE ABLE
TO SURVIVE WHEREAS STORMS WHICH FORM FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS THE EAST
CENTRAL/PALMER DIVIDE AREA OF COLORADO SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT
AT LEAST A BIT FURTHER EASTWARD INTO THE SW PART OF FA AND HAVE
THUS HAVE RAISED POPS TO CHANCE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST FA WITH THE
HIGHEST QPF HERE AS WELL.

IN THE EXTENDED (SUN-WED)...SW FLOW ALOFT PERSISTS THROUGH MUCH OF
THE PERIOD AS CLOSED H5 LOW DIGS INTO THE CENTRAL/NORTHERN ROCKIES
AREA. GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO BE RATHER DIVERGENT IN THEIR DEPICTIONS
OF PERIODIC SHORTWAVE TROUGHS MOVING ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE
MEAN FLOW AND HAVE THUS ONLY MADE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO ONGOING
PRECIPITATION AND TEMPS FORECAST AT THIS TIME.

50
&&

.AVIATION...
520 PM MDT THU JUN 16 2011

FOR THE 00Z TAFS...PLENTY OF WX EXPECTED THIS TAF PERIOD...THUS
SOME UNCERTAINITY EXISTS IN THIS PERIOD. TSRA ONGOING IN CENTRAL
CO AND SE WY/W NE PUSHING EASTWARD. SHORT TERM MODEL GUIDANCE IS
INCONSISTENT ON HANDLING OF TSRA...SO...WILL INCLUDE CB/S AND
TEMPO -TSRA AT BOTH TERMINALS AND TAKE WORST CASE CONDS. ONCE
TSRA/S CLEAR TERMINALS...NEXT EVENT WILL BE FOG/STRATUS AT BOTH
LOCATIONS. MOST MODEL GUIDANCE PICKS THIS UP...HOWEVER...SOME
DISCREPANCIES EXIST ON TIMING/DURATION. AGAIN...WILL TAKE WORST
CASE CONDS AND HAVE LIFR AT BOTH TERMINALS FROM 08/09Z THROUGH
16Z...THEN A PERIOD OF MVFR BEFORE SCATTERING OUT LOW CIGS. WINDS
WILL SWITCH BEHIND A COLD FRONT WHICH WILL MOVE THROUGH FRIDAY AM
AND BECOME GUSTY. AGAIN...UNCERTAINTIES EXIST DURING THIS PERIOD
AND HAVE OPTED FOR WORST CASE CONDS AT BOTH TERMINALS.

BAS
&&

.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MDT /10 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING FOR
     KSZ041-042.

NE...NONE.
CO...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR COZ254.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 16, 2:35 PM CST, 5 hours 28 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
235 PM MDT THU JUN 16 2011

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-171200-
YUMA-KIT CARSON-CHEYENNE CO-CHEYENNE KS-RAWLINS-DECATUR-NORTON-
SHERMAN-THOMAS-SHERIDAN-GRAHAM-WALLACE-LOGAN-GOVE-GREELEY-WICHITA-
DUNDY-HITCHCOCK-RED WILLOW-
235 PM MDT THU JUN 16 2011 /335 PM CDT THU JUN 16 2011/

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING
ACROSS FAR SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA...FAR EASTERN COLORADO...AND AREAS IN
WESTERN KANSAS SOUTH OF A TRIBUNE TO HILL CITY LINE. THE MAIN
THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...LARGE
HAIL...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO. THE GREATEST
THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL EXTEND GENERALLY NORTH OF A LINE FROM
JOES COLORADO TO SAINT FRANCIS KANSAS TO MCCOOK NEBRASKA.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CHEYENNE COUNTY
COLORADO...GREELEY AND WICHITA COUNTIES OF KANSAS LATE THIS
AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE EACH DAY THROUGH TUESDAY. A FEW STORMS
MAY BE SEVERE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING OTHERWISE THE MAIN
THREAT WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED AFTER 5 PM MDT (6 PM CDT)
GENERALLY NORTH OF A LINE FROM JOES COLORADO TO SAINT FRANCIS KANSAS
TO MCCOOK NEBRASKA.

007

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 16, 6:44 PM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
644 PM MDT THU JUN 16 2011

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

0630 PM     TSTM WND GST     SEIBERT                 39.30N 102.87W
06/16/2011  M63 MPH          KIT CARSON         CO   MESONET

&&

50

Local storm report, Jun 16, 6:51 PM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
651 PM MDT THU JUN 16 2011

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

0630 PM     TSTM WND DMG     12 N STRATTON           39.48N 102.60W
06/16/2011                   KIT CARSON         CO   PUBLIC

            PORCH DESTROYED AND THREE TREES UPROOTED

&&

BAS

Local storm report, Jun 16, 7:02 PM CST, 1 hour 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
702 PM MDT THU JUN 16 2011

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

0620 PM     TSTM WND GST     VONA                    39.30N 102.74W
06/16/2011  E80 MPH          KIT CARSON         CO   STORM CHASER

            RELAYED FROM ESPOTTER NETWORK. SHINGLES BLOWN OFF ROOFS,
            4-INCH TREE BRANCHES SNAPPED, 30-FT TALL SPRUCE TREE
            TOPPLED ONTO A HOME. NO INJURIES REPORTED.

&&

50

Local storm report, Jun 16, 7:16 PM CST, 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
716 PM MDT THU JUN 16 2011

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

0550 PM     HAIL             6 E KIRK                39.62N 102.49W
06/16/2011  E1.25 INCH       YUMA               CO   COCORAHS

&&

BAS

Local storm report, Jun 16, 7:28 PM CST, 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
728 PM MDT THU JUN 16 2011

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

0715 PM     HAIL             1 SW IDALIA             39.69N 102.31W
06/16/2011  E1.00 INCH       YUMA               CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

50

Special weather statement, Jun 16, 7:59 PM CST, 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
759 PM MDT THU JUN 16 2011

COZ091-170215-
KIT CARSON COUNTY-
759 PM MDT THU JUN 16 2011

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

AT 754 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES NORTH OF BURLINGTON...MOVING EAST AT 25
MPH.

PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3955 10237 3957 10205 3945 10204 3937 10206
      3934 10228
TIME...MOT...LOC 0159Z 249DEG 20KT 3945 10221

JRM

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 45 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:03 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cheyenne

When: June 16, 8:03 PM CST
Where: Cheyenne County, Bird City
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 39.750, -101.530

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.

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, June 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: 315316.