Around 7 PM CDT on this Saturday evening, a small but intense high-based supercell storm barreled into Rooks County from the south, striking Zurich with estimated 70 MPH winds and hail up to quarter size. Some wind damage was reported in Zurich, including sections of a privacy fence blown down.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS GID wrote it up.
Around 7 PM CDT on this Saturday evening, a small but intense high-based supercell storm barreled into Rooks County from the south, striking Zurich with estimated 70 MPH winds and hail up to quarter size. Some wind damage was reported in Zurich, including sections of a privacy fence blown down. Shortly after departing the Zurich area, this storm rapidly weakened and had all but dissipated by the time it reached far northern Rooks County. Before it reached the local area, this storm already had a long history of damaging winds, as it first developed along a north-south oriented dryline near Dodge City around 430 PM CDT. It was able to intensify despite the presence of warm mid level temperatures, overcoming this capping inversion within a deeply-mixed environment with very steep low level lapse rates. On the larger scale aloft, synoptic forcing was fairly weak with broad south-southwest flow in place over the Central Plains on the eastern periphery of a deep large scale trough centered over the Intermountain West. Early evening mesoscale parameters featured around 1000 J/kg mixed layer CAPE but only around 30 knots of 0-6 kilometer vertical wind shear.
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 Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 26, 3:16 PM CST, 2 hours 41 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
416 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 2012
.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. PRIMARY FORECAST
CONCERN LIES WITH THUNDERSTORM/SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL.
NOT A LOT OF CHANGE ACROSS THE REGION IN REGARD TO THE UPPER LEVEL
PATTERN...SATELLITE AND UPPER AIR PROFILER DATA CONTINUE TO SHOW
SOUTH/SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW...AS A LARGE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM SPINS OVER
THE NV/UT BORDER AREA AND AN AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS ANCHORED
OVER PORTIONS OF THE MIDWEST REGION/SOUTHEASTERN CONUS. LOOKING AT
THE SURFACE...THE DAY STARTED OUT WITH THE WARM FRONT A LITTLE
FURTHER SOUTH THAN EXPECTED...NEAR THE NEB/KS BORDER. THIS WARM
FRONT HAS MADE NORTHWARD PROGRESS THROUGH THE DAY...SITTING JUST
OUTSIDE THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE CWA...AND TOOK A LITTLE LONGER TO
GET OUT OF THOSE NORTHERN LOCATIONS WITH SOME STUBBORN STRATUS
HANGING AROUND THIS MORNING. TEMPS HAVE REACHED TO AT LEAST THE 90S
CWA-WIDE...WITH REACHING EVEN NEAR 100 DEGREES IN THE
SOUTHWEST...WHICH WAS HELPED BY INCREASED MIXING AND DEWPOINTS
DROPPING INTO THE LOWER 50S.
AS EXPECTED...STEEP LOW/MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES HAVE DEVELOPED ACROSS
THE REGION AND WAA CONTINUES...CERTAINLY PLENTY OF INSTABILITY IN
PLACE. WARM MID LEVEL TEMPS KEEPING THINGS CAPPED...BUT THERE IS
STILL CONCERN THAT AT LEAST A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP LATER
THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. OVERALL FORCING IS FAIRLY
WEAK...WITHOUT A EASILY NOTABLE DISTURBANCE WORKING THROUGH THE
REGION WHILE THE MAIN SYSTEM REMAINS WELL TO THE WEST. A STRONG
SOUTHERLY LLJ DOES DEVELOP THIS EVENING..BUT BEST CONVERGENCE SHOULD
QUICKLY SHIFT OFF TO THE NORTH OF THE CWA. KEPT THE LOW POPS GOING
THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THIS EVENING...VERY DIFFICULT TO
NARROW IT DOWN TO A SPECIFIC AREA HAVING BETTER CHANCES THAN
ANOTHER...WITH MODELS THAT DO SHOW THINGS DEVELOPING VARYING ON
LOCATION. THERE ARE BOUNDARIES IN THE AREA TO CAUSE CONCERN...THE
DRYLINE ACROSS/JUST TO THE WEST...AS WELL AS THE WARM FRONT...WHICH
ISNT FAR ENOUGH NORTH THAT COULD COMPLETELY SAY IT WOULD HAVE NO
IMPACT. ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE...AND WILL KEEP MENTION GOING
AS IS IN THE HWO. POST 06Z...KEPT THE DRY FORECAST GOING WITH MOST
MODELS KEEPING IT QUIET...THOUGH CONFIDENCE CERTAINLY NOT 100
PERCENT. WILL JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW THINGS DEVELOP/EVOLVE LATER
TODAY AND ADJUST AS NECESSARY. WITH THE TIGHTENED PRESSURE GRADIENT
IN PLACE...EXPECTING THE GUSTY SOUTH WINDS TO CONTINUE
OVERNIGHT...AND TEMPERATURES TO REMAIN MILD WITH OVERNIGHT LOWS IN
THE MID 60S TO LOWER 70S.
SUNDAY STILL ON TAP TO BE THE BUSIER DAY OF THE HOLIDAY
WEEKEND...AND THERE REALLY HASNT BEEN ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES. BY
12Z SUNDAY...MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT SHOWING THE MAIN UPPER LEVEL
LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM HAVING MOVED E/ENE...AND CENTER ROUGHLY OVER
WRN/SCENTRAL MONTANA...WITH THE TROUGH AXIS EXTENDING SOUTH THROUGH
THE CENTRAL ROCKIES. THROUGH SUNDAY/SUNDAY NIGHT...THIS LOW
CONTINUES SHIFTING EAST...BY 00Z IS EXPECTED TO BE OVER ERN PORTIONS
OF MONTANA...AND BY 12Z MONDAY IS STARTING TO OR HAS MOVED INTO
WRN/CENTRAL ND. THE MAIN SFC FRONT REMAINS OFF TO THE WEST OF THE
CWA THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY...AND MODELS NOT IN TOO BAD OF AGREEMENT
WITH ITS LOCATION BY 00Z...HAVING MOVED THROUGH ABOUT THE WRN THIRD
OF THE CWA. THIS FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL PROVIDE THE MAIN FOCUS FOR
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT...LARGER SCALE ASCENT INCREASES AS THE
SYSTEM MOVES FURTHER EAST AND THE TROUGH STARTS TO SWING INTO THE
REGION. LOWERING HEIGHTS/COOLING TEMPS WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE
CAP TO BE OVERCOME...AND EXPECT THINGS TO START FIRING DURING THE
MID AFTERNOON HOURS. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT SHOWING CAPE VALUES
IN EXCESS OF 2000 J/KG...AS WELL AS GOOD SHEAR. HWO ALREADY HAD
MENTION OF VERY LARGE HAIL/WINDS AND TORNADOES...SEE NO REASON THAT
POTENTIAL ISNT STILL IN PLACE...BUT HAIL/WIND REMAIN THE PRIMARY
THREATS. ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME
FLOODING...THERE IS GOOD MOISTURE IN PLACE AND EXPECT THERE TO BE
HEAVY RAIN...BUT THE FACT THAT THE CWA IS PRETTY DRY WILL HELP LOWER
THE THREAT. MAIN CHANGES MADE TO THE FORECAST FOR SUNDAY/SUNDAY
NIGHT WAS TO TIGHTEN UP THE POP GRADIENT ACROSS THE CWA...AND KEEP
THE HIGHEST POPS ACROSS CENTRAL/ERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA. REALLY
TRENDED DOWN THE WRN EDGE OF THE CWA TO LOW CHANCE POPS...THERE IS
THE POSSIBILITY LOCATIONS LIKE ODX/LXN SEE VERY LITTLE AS THE MAIN
ACTIVITY WILL BE TO THEIR WEST. ALSO ADJUSTED POPS TO BE A LITTLE
MORE SPECIFIC WITH TIME...WITH THE HIGHEST CHANCES COMING BETWEEN
21-06Z. BETWEEN 06-09Z ONLY KEPT LINGERING POPS ACROSS ROUGHLY THE
EASTERN THIRD OF THE CWA...AND DRY CONDITIONS FORECAST FROM 09-12Z.
.LONG TERM...MEMORIAL DAY MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. ALTHOUGH THERE
ARE NO HIGH CONFIDENCE CHANCES FOR SEVERE WEATHER DURING THIS TIME
FRAME YET...THE WEDNESDAY/WEDNESDAY NIGHT PERIOD MAY BEAR SOME
WATCHING...AS IT CORRESPONDS TO THE STRONGEST SYNOPTIC SCALE
FORCING OF THE PERIOD. OTHERWISE...TEMPERATURES THROUGH THIS 6-DAY
PERIOD WILL AVERAGE CLOSE TO SEASONAL NORMALS...WITH NOTHING LIKE
THE SCORCHER OF TODAY IN SIGHT.
STARTING OFF MONDAY/MONDAY NIGHT...12Z RUNS OF THE NAM/GFS/ECWMF
ARE IN HIGH CONFIDENCE IN A STORM-FREE AND RATHER PLEASANT PERIOD
FOR THE HOLIDAY...AS THE PARENT MID LEVEL LOW GRADUALLY MIGRATES
FROM THE WESTERN ND AREA TO THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES. AT THE
SURFACE...THE COLD FRONT WILL SETTLE SOUTH OF THE REGION AND STALL
OUT OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS...TAKING ANY APPRECIABLE INSTABILITY
SOUTH WITH IT. WITH PLENTY OF SUN ANTICIPATED...DEEP MIXING TO
AROUND 700MB WILL PROMOTE A BIT BREEZY WESTERLY WINDS...WITH
SUSTAINED SPEEDS COMMONLY 15-20 MPH WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS DURING
THE DAY. FOLLOWED 12Z NAM 2M TEMPS CLOSELY FOR HIGHS...NUDGING UP
NEB ZONES SLIGHTLY MAINLY INTO THE 76-80 RANGE...WITH LOW 80S
COMMON IN KS. WITH THE WESTERLY WINDS AND MIXING...LOWERED
DEWPOINTS AT LEAST 5 DEGREES MOST AREAS. MONDAY NIGHT...LOWERED
LOW TEMPS A SOLID 3-5 DEGREES THANKS TO THE COMBINATION OF DRIER
AIR...LIGHT NORTHERLY WINDS AND MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES...NOW AIMING
FOR UPPER 40S NORTHWEST TO LOW 50S SOUTHEAST.
TUESDAY/TUESDAY NIGHT...DECIDED TO REMOVE SLIGHT CHANCE OF STORMS
FROM KS ZONES DURING THE DAY...BUT MAINTAINED AT LEAST 20 PERCENT
CHANCES ALL AREAS TUESDAY NIGHT. AT THE SURFACE...THE PRIMARY
SYNOPTIC EAST-WEST FRONT INITIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WILL
STALL OUT AND START TO LIFT BACK NORTH SLIGHTLY...BUT STILL REMAIN
SOUTH OF THE CWA. AS MENTIONED...PULLED THUNDERSTORM MENTION FROM
KS ZONES DURING THE AFTERNOON...AS MODEL CONSENSUS KEEPS HIGHER
POTENTIAL FOR ELEVATED CONVECTION NEAR AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE
70...BUT IT COULD BE CLOSE. AFTER 00Z AND INTO THE NIGHT
HOURS...WOULD THEN EXPECT AT LEAST A FEW ELEVATED STORMS TO CREEP
INTO MAINLY SOUTHERN ZONES...WITH POPS IN NORTHERN/NORTHEASTERN
COUNTIES LIKELY STANDING ON SHAKY GROUND AND COULD BE REMOVED IN
FUTURE FORECASTS. TEMP WISE...NUDGED DOWN HIGH TUESDAY A FEW
DEGREES MOST AREAS...WITH ALL NEB ZONES SOMEWHERE IN THE 70S...AND
KS ZONES MAINLY LOW 80S.
WEDNESDAY/WEDNESDAY NIGHT...THIS 24 HOUR PERIOD LIKELY BEARS THE
MOST WATCHING FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE STORMS...ALTHOUGH INSTABILITY
COULD BE A LIMITING FACTOR. IN THE BIG PICTURE...NORTHWEST FLOW
ALOFT IS PRESENT...WITH A RATHER WELL-DEFINED SHORTWAVE SLIPPING
SOUTHEAST FROM THE NORTHERN ROCKIES TOWARD THE UPPER MS VALLEY BY
THURSDAY MORNING. EARLY INDICATIONS FROM THE GFS FOR WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON/EVENING SUGGEST MAYBE UP TO 1000 J/K OR SO
MLCAPE ACROSS SOUTHWEST AREAS...WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF 40KT OR SO OF
DEEP LAYER COULD YIELD SOME SEVERE. ALTHOUGH THE SEVERE THREAT IS
STILL QUESTIONABLE...CONFIDENCE CONTINUES TO GROW IN A SOMEWHAT
DECENT COVERAGE OF SHOWERS/STORMS...AND HAVE POPS AT 40-50 PERCENT
AND HIGHEST WED NIGHT. HAVE HIGH TEMPS WED ONLY RANGING FROM MID
60S NORTH TO MID 70S SOUTH.
THURSDAY/THURSDAY NIGHT...THE AFOREMENTIONED SHORTWAVE CONTINUES
TRACKING SOUTHEAST...AND POTENTIALLY DEEPENS QUITE A BIT OVER THE
MID-SOUTH PER THE GFS SOLUTION. ALTHOUGH INSTABILITY SHOULD BE
FAIRLY NEGLIGIBLE...CONTINUED FORCING IN THE NORTHWEST FLOW COULD
EASILY GENERATE SOME SHOWERS AND A FEW STORMS...AND HAVE SLIGHT
POPS ALL AREAS. HIGHS CONTINUE ON THE COOL SIDE...WITH HIGHS MID
60S TO LOW 70S ALL AREAS.
FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...OPTED TO LEAVE THE FORECAST STORM FREE
FOR NOW...ALTHOUGH AT LEAST SATURDAY MAY ULTIMATELY NEED SOME POPS
ADDED AS INSTABILITY INCREASES FROM WEST TO EAST AND THE FLOW
TURNS A BIT MORE ZONAL. PLENTY OF TIME TO FINE TUNE. TEMP
WISE...HAVE A GRADUAL INCREASE IN HIGHS FROM FRI INTO SAT...BUT
STILL STRUGGLING TO REACH 80 EXCEPT IN SOUTHERN COUNTIES.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1221 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 2012/
AVIATION...18Z TAF. VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR THIS FORECAST
PERIOD...WITH PRIMARY CONCERNS LYING WITH THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL
LATER TODAY AND WINDS. THE MAIN SURFACE WARM FRONT HAS SHIFTED
NORTH OF THE TERMINAL...LEAVING S/SWRLY WINDS BEHIND. WITH LOW
PRESSURE REMAINING THE MAIN SFC FEATURE THROUGH THE PERIOD...AND
BEING LOCATED OFF TO THE WEST...WINDS WILL CONTINUE OUT OF THAT
DIRECTION...WITH BREEZY AND GUSTY SPEEDS. ANY CLOUD COVER IS
EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THE MID/UPPER LEVELS...AND MODELS CONTINUE
TO VARY WITH THUNDERSTORM CHANCES LATER THIS AFTERNOON. WAS NOT
CONFIDENT ENOUGH IN THE TERMINAL BEING IMPACTED TO INSERT A
PREVAILING OR EVEN TEMPO GROUP...DECIDED TO GO WITH A VC MENTION
FOR NOW...AND WILL ADJUST AS NECESSARY IF/WHEN THINGS GET GOING.
&&
.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NEZ060-061-072>074-
082>085.
KS...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR KSZ005>007-017>019.
&&
SHORT TERM/AVIATION...ADO
LONG TERM...PFANNKUCHHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE 311 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 2012 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 271215- PHILLIPS-SMITH-JEWELL-ROOKS-OSBORNE-MITCHELL-VALLEY-GREELEY-NANCE- SHERMAN-HOWARD-MERRICK-POLK-DAWSON-BUFFALO-HALL-HAMILTON-YORK- GOSPER-PHELPS-KEARNEY-ADAMS-CLAY-FILLMORE-FURNAS-HARLAN-FRANKLIN- WEBSTER-NUCKOLLS-THAYER- 311 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS. .DAY ONE...LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS REMAINS LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING HOURS. THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE SOMEWHAT ISOLATED BUT WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLF BALLS...WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH...AND MAYBE EVEN A BRIEF TORNADO. STRONG SOUTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY EVENING ACROSS THE REGION...WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS LOCATED SOUTHWEST OF A LINE FROM LEXINGTON...TO MINDEN...TO RED CLOUD...TO MANKATO KANSAS WHERE A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE HIGHEST LIKELIHOOD OF A MORE WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER EVENT WILL BE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WITH THE BEST CHANCES EXPECTED ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM ORD TO BEAVER CITY NEBRASKA...INCLUDING ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS...DAMAGING WINDS TO 70 MPH...TORRENTIAL RAINFALL...AND A FEW TORNADOES. BETWEEN TUESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT...THUNDERSTORM CHANCES RETURN TO THE OUTLOOK AREA. AT THIS POINT...NO PARTICULAR DAYS APPEAR TO FEATURE A WIDESPREAD THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER...ALTHOUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING COULD HAVE A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. && MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HASTINGS (ALL LOWERCASE) ADO/RDP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE 543 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 2012 NEZ039-262300- VALLEY NE- 543 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN VALLEY COUNTY UNTIL 600 PM CDT... AT 542 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF ORD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHEASTERN VALLEY COUNTY. LAT...LON 4155 9877 4163 9915 4174 9917 4174 9877 TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 216DEG 34KT 4169 9882 ROSSI
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
633 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 2012
KSZ017-270015-
ROOKS KS-
633 PM CDT SAT MAY 26 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN ROOKS COUNTY UNTIL 715 PM
CDT...
AT 630 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 22 MILES SOUTH OF PALCO...OR 33 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF HILL CITY...MOVING NORTH AT 55 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM AS WELL AS JUST
AHEAD OF THIS STORM AS IT APPROACHES WESTERN PORTIONS OF ROOKS
COUNTY.
LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
ZURICH...
PALCO...
PLAINVILLE...
DAMAR...
WEBSTER STATE PARK...
STOCKTON...
LAT...LON 3913 9961 3933 9961 3951 9961 3956 9960
3956 9926 3915 9927 3913 9929 3913 9960
TIME...MOT...LOC 2332Z 189DEG 48KT 3896 9959
ROSSIThe Grand Island radar (KUEX), 148 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:58 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Damage caused by strong winds reported in Zurich included a pontoon boat being flipped over, numerous tree branches knocked down, and damage to a privacy fence and outdoor grill.
Hail up to the size of nickels to quarters was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, May 2012
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: 376115, 376116.