Tornadoes and Hail in Nebraska, March 18, 2012

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Nebraska, March 18, 2012
Start: 2012-03-18T17:15
End: 2012-03-18T21:21
Location: Nebraska

March 18, 2012 · NWS LBF · 17 events in 7 counties and zones

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: 5
Property damage: $1.8 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 17

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 LBF wrote it up.

A large upper level trough of low pressure emerged onto the Central Plains on March 18th, 2012. Isolated severe thunderstorms developed during the evening hours, where one isolated severe thunderstorm produced several tornadoes from central Lincoln County north into eastern Cherry County. One of the tornadoes produced significant damage near North Platte, in central Lincoln County. Additional damage was reported north in southeast McPherson County in the Ringgold area.

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 North Platte, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 18, 4:21 PM MST, 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 18, 4:21 PM MST, 54 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
621 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

.UPDATE...

.AVIATION...
VFR IS EXPECTED WEST OF HIGHWAY 83 TONIGHT AND MONDAY.

A POWERFUL PACIFIC COLD FRONT WILL MOVE EAST THROUGH THE FCST
OVERNIGHT. ISOLATED STRONG OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
POSSIBLE...MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 83. MVFR CIGS MAY
DEVELOP ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 83 TONIGHT THROUGH 15Z AHEAD OF
THE COLD FRONT. VFR IS EXPECTED AFTER 15Z ALL AREAS.

WINDS AT 18030G45KT WILL SUBSIDE TO BY ROUGHLY 06Z.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 325 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012/

SYNOPSIS...
H5 HAND ANALYSIS THIS MORNING INDICATING A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE
EXTENDING ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST FROM WASHINGTON TO SRN CALIFORNIA.
HT FALLS WERE GREATEST OVER FAR SRN CA AND ARIZONA WITH 120 METER
FALLS AT FLAGSTAFF AND 110 METER FALLS AT TUSCON. WINDS HAVE FINALLY
BEGUN TO PICK UP ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA THIS
AFTERNOON WITH OGALLALA GUSTING TO 45 MPH LAST HOUR AND IMPERIAL 43
MPH. RECORD HIGHS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SET AT IMPERIAL AND VALENTINE THIS
AFTERNOON. AS OF 3 PM CDT...NORTH PLATTE TIED ITS RECORD OF 84
DEGREES. RED FLAG CONDS WERE BEING MET ACROSS ALL FIRE WEATHER
FORECAST ZONES BUT 209 THIS AFTERNOON...AND WITH THE STRENGTH OF THE
WINDS...GLAD WE HAVE A RED FLAG WARNING IN PLACE EVERYWHERE.

DISCUSSION...

NEAR TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...FORECAST CHALLENGES THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...DEAL WITH WIND AND CONVECTION TONIGHT...FIRE WEATHER
CONCERNS TOMORROW...A COLD FROPA TOMORROW NIGHT...THEN THE THREAT
FOR PRECIPITATION INTO WEDS AS A CLOSED UPPER LEVEL LOW MEANDERS
ACROSS THE SRN PLAINS.

FOR TONIGHT...WINDS AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL BE THE MAIN
FORECASTING CONCERNS. WITH RESPECT TO WINDS...SURFACE LOW
PRESSURE WILL DEEPEN ACROSS NERN WYOMING LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND
THIS EVENING...THEN LIFT NORTH INTO SERN MT AND WRN ND OVERNIGHT.
THE LOW LEVEL PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL STEEPEN EAST OF THE PANHANDLE
LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING...BEFORE RELAXING TOWARD
MORNING...AS A SURFACE TROUGH TRANSITIONS EAST. H85 WINDS INCREASE
TO 40 TO 60 KTS EAST OF THE PANHANDLE LATER THIS EVENING...PEAKING
AROUND 06Z. IF WE COULD MIX THE BULK OF THIS OUT...THE HIGH WIND
WARNING UNTIL 01Z MAY NEED TO BE EXTENDED THIS EVENING. H925 AND H85 WINDS
ARE UNIDIRECTIONAL THROUGH ABOUT 03Z...THEN DIVERGE TOWARD LATE
EVENING. THIS WOULD LESSEN MIXING AND LEAD TO SLIGHTLY LOWER
BOUNDARY LAYER WINDS. FOR NOW...WILL LET THE HIGH WIND WARNING RIDE
TILL 8 PM CDT AND LET THE EVENING CREW DECIDE ON WEATHER OR NOT TO
EXTEND THE WARNING OR ISSUE A WIND ADVZY.

POPS THIS EVENING WERE TRIMMED OUT OF THE WESTERN ZONES AND WILL BE
CONFINED TO THE CENTRAL AND SERN ZONES THIS EVENING. THE CHANGE WAS
MADE TO ACCOMMODATE THE DRY LINE POSITION WHICH IS ALREADY EAST OF
HIGHWAY 83 AS OF 2 PM CDT. SLIGHT CHANCE POPS WERE RETAINED IN THESE
AREAS IF CONVECTION DECIDES TO FIRE ALONG THE DRYLINE LATE THIS
AFTERNOON. BETTER CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION IN EASTERN AREAS WILL
ARRIVE OVERNIGHT AS TSRAS FROM WRN KS LIFT NEWD INTO THE CENTRAL
AND EASTERN ZONES. INITIATION FORCING IS MUCH MORE FAVORABLE IN WRN
KS AND THE TX AND OK PANHANDLES THIS EVENING AND ANY STORMS IN THE
ERN ZONES WILL HAVE TO ORIGINATE IN THESE AREAS. WITH TIMING BEING IN THE
OVERNIGHT...SEVERE THREAT IS EXPECTED TO BE MINIMAL...THOUGH GUSTY
WINDS MAY BE POSSIBLE INVOF OF ANY THUNDERSTORMS...THANKS TO DECENT
H85 WINDS.

FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS AND PRECIPITATION CHANCES IN THE EAST
HIGHLIGHT THE MONDAY FORECAST. BY MONDAY AFTERNOON...THE DRYLINE
WILL PUSH EAST OF HIGHWAY 83...WITH VERY LOW DEW POINTS NOTED WEST
OF THIS FEATURE IN THE WRN SANDHILLS AND ERN PANHANDLE. EVEN WITH
COOLER HIGHS IE. 60S...FCST DEW POINTS IN THE HIGH SINGLE DIGITS AND
LOWER TEENS WILL LEAD TO MIN RH'S AROUND 15 PERCENT MONDAY AFTERNOON
WHICH IS NEAR CRITICAL CRITERIA. WINDS WILL BE THE WILD CARD IN ALL
OF THIS AS LIGHTER WINDS ARE EXPECTED WEST OF THE DRYLINE TOMORROW.
GUIDANCE FOR OGA HAS AFTERNOON WINDS RANGING FROM 10 TO 20 KTS WHICH
WOULD BE BLO RED FLAG CRITERIA. WINDS ARE A TAD HIGHER IN THE
PANHANDLE AND ACTUALLY APPROACH 25 MPH BRIEFLY BY MID AFTERNOON.
ATTM THE GREATEST THREAT FOR RFW CONDS IS IN THE EASTERN
PANHANDLE...BUT NOT ENOUGH CONFIDENCE YET TO PUSH OUT A FIRE WEATHER
WATCH.

BY MONDAY NIGHT...A COLD FRONT WILL TRACK ACROSS THE FORECAST
AREA...JOINING THE DRYLINE ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF NEBRASKA.
DECIDED TO HOLD ONTO SOME POPS IN EASTERN AREAS MONDAY EVENING EAST
OF THE APPG FRONT AND INVOF OF THE DRY LINE...WITH DRY CONDS
EXPECTED FURTHER WEST. H85 TEMPS WILL STRUGGLE TO GET OUT OF THE
SINGLE DIGITS TUESDAY...WHICH WILL LEAD TO HIGHS IN THE 50S...AND
WILL BE THE COOLEST DAY OF THE PERIOD. IRONICALLY...TUESDAY...WILL
HAVE HIGH TEMPS AROUND OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL. DRY CONDS WILL
CARRY OVER INTO WEDNESDAY AS THE CENTRAL PLAINS ARE CAUGHT BETWEEN
EXITING LOW PRESSURE TO THE NORTH AND A DEVELOPING CLOSED LOW OFF TO
THE SOUTH. THE SECOND FEATURE WILL MEANDER...THEN DRIFT NORTH
TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK...POSING A PLETHORA OF FORECASTING
ISSUES TO THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY AS THIS SYSTEM
DRIFTS NORTH INTO KANSAS AND SRN NEBRASKA. CONFIDENCE IN THE TRACK
AND TIMING OF THIS FEATURE STILL IN DOUBT AS THE FORECAST MODELS
HAVE ONLY RECENTLY HINTED AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DOWN STREAM
BLOCKING RIDGE AND A NWD MOVING CLOSED LOW.

LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...AS MENTIONED EARLIER...THE
MODELS ARE TRENDING TOWARD A CUTOFF LOW CREEPING NORTH INTO
KANSAS...THEN EAST INTO THE LOWER MISSOURI VALLEY LATE IN THE WEEK
AND INTO THE WEEKEND. ON THIS TRACK...POPS WILL NEED TO BE INCREASED
IN SOME CENTRAL...SRN AND EASTERN AREAS TO ACCOMMODATE PRECIPITATION
DEVELOPMENT ON THE NORTHWESTERN PERIPHERY OF THE LOW. WENT AHEAD AND
INTRODUCED POPS IN THE SOUTHEAST AND EASTERN ZONES FOR WEDS NIGHT
THROUGH THURSDAY. BEYOND FRIDAY...DRY CONDS ARE EXPECTED AS RIDGING
ALOFT BUILDS BACK INTO THE CENTRAL CONUS. TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO BE
BACK IN THE 70S BY THE WEEKEND.

AVIATION...
AVIATION CONCERNS THROUGH MONDAY DEAL WITH WINDS AS VISIBILITIES AND
CEILINGS WILL REMAIN VFR. STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO
THE EVENING WITH GUSTS OF 45KTS OR HIGHER FROM MID AFTERNOON THROUGH
EARLY EVENING. DO EXPECT A DECREASE IN THE SPEEDS AFTER
SUNSET...HOWEVER IT MAY BE AFTER MIDNIGHT BEFORE THE STRONG GUSTS
DIMINISH. LOOK FOR THE WINDS TO FALL TO 12KTS OR LOWER AROUND
DAYBREAK MONDAY...BUT WILL INCREASE AGAIN BY MID MORNING AS THE
BOUNDARY LAYER MIXES...WITH SPEEDS OF 15 TO 20KTS AND GUSTS TO
AROUND 25KTS...PRIMARILY EAST OF A LINE FROM KVTN TO KLBF.

CONVECTION IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY
EVENING ALONG THE DRYLINE OVER WESTERN KANSAS. THE TRAJECTORY OF ANY
STORMS WILL BE NORTH NORTHEAST...SO THERE IS AN OUTSIDE CHANCE THAT
LOCATIONS EAST OF A KIML TO KTIF TO KONL LINE COULD SEE STORMS THIS
EVENING. THIS IS HIGHLY RELIANT ON WHERE CONVECTION DEVELOPS AND
WITH LITTLE CONFIDENCE ON IT GETTING INTO THE LOCAL AREA HAVE NOT
INCLUDED ANY RAIN...TS...OR CB IN THE TAF AT KLBF.

FIRE WEATHER...

FIRE CONCERNS WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING. WINDS ALOFT WILL BE
ON THE INCREASE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON. AND WITH
DEEP MIXING CONTINUING THROUGH EARLY EVENING...WILL CONTINUE TO GET
THE STRONG WINDS BLOWING ACROSS ALL OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL
NEBRASKA. WILL NOT BEGIN TO SEE RELATIVE HUMIDITY BEGIN TO RECOVER
ABOVE CRITICAL LEVELS UNTIL AFTER SUNDOWN...SO RED FLAG WARNING WILL
CONTINUE UNTIL THIS EVENING AS CONDITIONS REMAIN CRITICAL TO EXTREME
FOR DANGEROUS FIRE BEHAVIOR.

THE DRY AIR WILL STAY IN PLACE FOR MONDAY...ALTHOUGH TEMPERATURES
WILL BE ABOUT 15 TO 20 DEGREES COOLER THAN TODAY. RELATIVE HUMIDITY
WILL FALL TO AROUND 15 PERCENT IN LOCATIONS WEST OF HIGHWAY
83...HOWEVER WINDS IN THESE AREAS ARE EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN 20KTS
THROUGHOUT THE DAY. IN LOCATIONS TO THE EAST INTO CENTRAL
NEBRASKA...WINDS WILL BE A BIT STRONGER /STILL 25KTS OR LOWER/ IN
THE AFTERNOON...HOWEVER RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE HIGHER AS
WELL...25 TO 30 PERCENT. THEREFORE FIRE DANGER ON MONDAY IS NOT
EXPECTED TO BE CRITICAL.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT
/7 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR
NEZ004>006-008-009-022>026-035>037-056>059-069-070-094.

RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR
NEZ204-206-208>210-219.

WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NEZ007-010-027>029-
038-071.

&&

SHORT TERM/EXTENDED...CLB
AVIATION...CDC

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 18, 1:43 PM MST, 3 hours 32 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
343 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-191030-
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-
343 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 /243 PM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND
NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT EAST OF A LINE FROM
IMPERIAL...TO OGALLALA....TO MERRIMAN. AT THIS TIME...WIDESPREAD SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED...HOWEVER SOME STRONG WINDS ARE
POSSIBLE IN THE VICINITY OF ANY ISOLATED STORMS WHICH DEVELOP.

IN ADDITION TO THUNDERSTORMS...ELEVATED FIRE DANGER WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH THE LATE EVENING HOURS...DUE TO A COMBINATION OF STRONG
SOUTHERLY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES. A RED FLAG WARNING IS
IN EFFECT FOR CRITICAL FIRE DANGER UNTIL 8 PM CDT (7 PM MDT).

STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH
ARE LIKELY THROUGH MID EVENING ACROSS CENTRAL AND WESTERN PORTIONS
OF THE OUTLOOK AREA. A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM
CDT (7 PM MDT) FOR LOCATIONS ROUGHLY WEST OF A LINE FROM HAYES
CENTER...TO NORTH PLATTE...TO BASSETT. WINDS WILL DIMINISH SOME
AFTER SUNSET...BUT ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN ON THE GUSTY SIDE
THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EAST OF HIGHWAY 83 ON MONDAY.
STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE.

EXTREME FIRE DANGER IS EXPECTED WEST OF HIGHWAY 83 FROM VALENTINE
TO NORTH PLATTE MONDAY AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE UPPER
50S...ALONG WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY AROUND 15 PERCENT AND
BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL ALLOW THE RAPID SPREAD OF FIRE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED TONIGHT.

&&

THIS PRODUCT IS NOW AVAILABLE...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...
HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATOLOGICAL INFORMATION...AT
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/NORTHPLATTE

CLB

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 18, 4:25 PM MST, 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
625 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

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

0538 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WNW RUSHVILLE         42.72N 102.48W
03/18/2012  M51.00 MPH       SHERIDAN           NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0548 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST IMPERIAL                40.52N 101.64W
03/18/2012  M51.00 MPH       CHASE              NE   ASOS

0553 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 W BIG SPRINGS        41.06N 102.31W
03/18/2012  M53.00 MPH       DEUEL              NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

CDC

Local storm report, Mar 18, 4:26 PM MST, 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
626 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

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

0235 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST OGALLALA                41.13N 101.72W
03/18/2012  M47.00 MPH       KEITH              NE   AWOS

            AIRPORT AWOS

0237 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST IMPERIAL                40.52N 101.64W
03/18/2012  M48.00 MPH       CHASE              NE   ASOS

            ASOS

0255 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 E BIG SPRINGS         41.06N 102.02W
03/18/2012  M51.00 MPH       KEITH              NE   MESONET

            UNION PACIFIC

0313 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 W BIG SPRINGS        41.06N 102.31W
03/18/2012  M54.00 MPH       DEUEL              NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            NEDOR

0330 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST ELLSWORTH               42.06N 102.29W
03/18/2012  M49.00 MPH       SHERIDAN           NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            NEDOR

0333 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 W BIG SPRINGS        41.06N 102.31W
03/18/2012  M53.00 MPH       DEUEL              NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            NEDOR

0333 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST IMPERIAL                40.52N 101.64W
03/18/2012  M54.00 MPH       CHASE              NE   ASOS

0335 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST OGALLALA                41.13N 101.72W
03/18/2012  M52.00 MPH       KEITH              NE   AWOS

            AIRPORT AWOS

0336 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 29 S MERRIMAN           42.50N 101.70W
03/18/2012  M47.00 MPH       CHERRY             NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            NEDOR

0403 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 SSW OSHKOSH          41.25N 102.43W
03/18/2012  M53.00 MPH       GARDEN             NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0416 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 29 S MERRIMAN           42.50N 101.70W
03/18/2012  M52.00 MPH       CHERRY             NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0423 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 W BIG SPRINGS        41.06N 102.31W
03/18/2012  M55.00 MPH       DEUEL              NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0446 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 29 S MERRIMAN           42.50N 101.70W
03/18/2012  M57.00 MPH       CHERRY             NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0448 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST IMPERIAL                40.52N 101.64W
03/18/2012  M55.00 MPH       CHASE              NE   ASOS

            ASOS

0458 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST CRESCENT LAKE NWR       41.74N 102.41W
03/18/2012  M50.00 MPH       GARDEN             NE   PARK/FOREST SRVC

0500 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST ELLSWORTH               42.06N 102.29W
03/18/2012  M50.00 MPH       SHERIDAN           NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0512 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST CALLAWAY                41.29N 99.92W
03/18/2012  M51.00 MPH       CUSTER             NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

0519 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST IMPERIAL                40.52N 101.64W
03/18/2012  M51.00 MPH       CHASE              NE   ASOS

0538 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WNW RUSHVILLE         42.72N 102.48W
03/18/2012  M51.00 MPH       SHERIDAN           NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0548 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST IMPERIAL                40.52N 101.64W
03/18/2012  M51.00 MPH       CHASE              NE   ASOS

0553 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 W BIG SPRINGS        41.06N 102.31W
03/18/2012  M53.00 MPH       DEUEL              NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

CDC

Local storm report, Mar 18, 4:28 PM MST, 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
628 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

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

0538 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WNW RUSHVILLE         42.72N 102.48W
03/18/2012  M52.00 MPH       SHERIDAN           NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0553 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 W BIG SPRINGS        41.06N 102.31W
03/18/2012  M54.00 MPH       DEUEL              NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

CDC

Local storm report, Mar 18, 4:29 PM MST, 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
629 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

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

0235 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST OGALLALA                41.13N 101.72W
03/18/2012  M47.00 MPH       KEITH              NE   AWOS

            AIRPORT AWOS

0237 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST IMPERIAL                40.52N 101.64W
03/18/2012  M48.00 MPH       CHASE              NE   ASOS

            ASOS

0255 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 E BIG SPRINGS         41.06N 102.02W
03/18/2012  M51.00 MPH       KEITH              NE   MESONET

            UNION PACIFIC

0313 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 W BIG SPRINGS        41.06N 102.31W
03/18/2012  M54.00 MPH       DEUEL              NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            NEDOR

0330 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST ELLSWORTH               42.06N 102.29W
03/18/2012  M49.00 MPH       SHERIDAN           NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            NEDOR

0333 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST IMPERIAL                40.52N 101.64W
03/18/2012  M54.00 MPH       CHASE              NE   ASOS

0333 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 W BIG SPRINGS        41.06N 102.31W
03/18/2012  M53.00 MPH       DEUEL              NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            NEDOR

0335 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST OGALLALA                41.13N 101.72W
03/18/2012  M52.00 MPH       KEITH              NE   AWOS

            AIRPORT AWOS

0336 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 29 S MERRIMAN           42.50N 101.70W
03/18/2012  M47.00 MPH       CHERRY             NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            NEDOR

0403 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 SSW OSHKOSH          41.25N 102.43W
03/18/2012  M53.00 MPH       GARDEN             NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0416 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 29 S MERRIMAN           42.50N 101.70W
03/18/2012  M52.00 MPH       CHERRY             NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0423 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 W BIG SPRINGS        41.06N 102.31W
03/18/2012  M55.00 MPH       DEUEL              NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0446 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 29 S MERRIMAN           42.50N 101.70W
03/18/2012  M57.00 MPH       CHERRY             NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0448 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST IMPERIAL                40.52N 101.64W
03/18/2012  M55.00 MPH       CHASE              NE   ASOS

            ASOS

0458 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST CRESCENT LAKE NWR       41.74N 102.41W
03/18/2012  M50.00 MPH       GARDEN             NE   PARK/FOREST SRVC

0500 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST ELLSWORTH               42.06N 102.29W
03/18/2012  M50.00 MPH       SHERIDAN           NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0512 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST CALLAWAY                41.29N 99.92W
03/18/2012  M51.00 MPH       CUSTER             NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

0519 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST IMPERIAL                40.52N 101.64W
03/18/2012  M51.00 MPH       CHASE              NE   ASOS

0538 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WNW RUSHVILLE         42.72N 102.48W
03/18/2012  M52.00 MPH       SHERIDAN           NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0548 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST IMPERIAL                40.52N 101.64W
03/18/2012  M51.00 MPH       CHASE              NE   ASOS

0553 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 W BIG SPRINGS        41.06N 102.31W
03/18/2012  M54.00 MPH       DEUEL              NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

CDC

Local storm report, Mar 18, 5:07 PM MST, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
707 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

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

0613 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 W BIG SPRINGS        41.06N 102.31W
03/18/2012  M54.00 MPH       DEUEL              NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0623 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST VALENTINE               42.87N 100.55W
03/18/2012  M52.00 MPH       CHERRY             NE   ASOS

0623 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST IMPERIAL                40.52N 101.64W
03/18/2012  M52.00 MPH       CHASE              NE   ASOS

0630 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST ELLSWORTH               42.06N 102.29W
03/18/2012  M52.00 MPH       SHERIDAN           NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0630 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 29 S MERRIMAN           42.50N 101.70W
03/18/2012  M51.00 MPH       CHERRY             NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

CDC

Local storm report, Mar 18, 5:13 PM MST, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
713 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

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

0630 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 29 S MERRIMAN           42.50N 101.70W
03/18/2012  M52.00 MPH       CHERRY             NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0630 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST ELLSWORTH               42.06N 102.29W
03/18/2012  M53.00 MPH       SHERIDAN           NE   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

CDC

The radar

The North Platte radar (KLNX), 134 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:15 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 hail, 6 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Perkins

When: March 18, 5:15 PM MST
Where: Perkins County, 4.86 mi N of Elsie
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.920, -101.390

Hail, Keith

When: March 18, 5:28 PM MST
Where: Keith County, 0.87 mi SE of Paxton
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 41.120, -101.360

Hail, McPherson

When: March 18, 6:48 PM CST
Where: McPherson County, 17.19 mi W of Tryon
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.520, -101.300

Hail, Hooker

When: March 18, 6:19 PM MST
Where: Hooker County, 14.96 mi SW of Mullen
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.900, -101.240

Hail, Hayes

When: March 18, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Hayes County, 6.22 mi N of Hayes Center
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.610, -101.020

Hail, Lincoln

When: March 18, 7:59 PM CST
Where: Lincoln County, 9.73 mi N of Dickens
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.960, -101.000

Tornado, Lincoln

When: March 18, 8:10 PM CST to 8:12 PM CST
Where: Lincoln County, 10.48 mi SSW of North Platte to 5.11 mi WSW of North Platte
Rating: EF3
Path length: 6.7 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 41.015, -100.872

A tornado touched down 10 miles southwest of North Platte and traveled north and destroyed a large metal transmission tower. Two homes were damaged, several outbuildings and garages were damaged or destroyed. Two center pivot irrigation systems were overturned with one wood transmission tower destroyed and extensive power line damage along the path in addition to tree damage. The tornado dissipated while moving north of Walker road.

Tornado, Lincoln

When: March 18, 8:13 PM CST to 8:14 PM CST
Where: Lincoln County, 4.86 mi WSW of North Platte to 5.11 mi WSW of North Platte
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.49 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 41.115, -100.861

A tornado touched down 5 miles west southwest of North Platte just south of Interstate 80. The tornado moved north where a semi tractor and trailer was destroyed and driver injured. Extensive debris spread north and northwest as the tornado tracked northwest damaging a garage, overturning a center pivot irrigation system, destroying fence line and producing extensive tree damage along a one and a half mile long path before lifting just south of the South Platte river.

Tornado, Lincoln

When: March 18, 8:14 PM CST to 8:17 PM CST
Where: Lincoln County, 4.81 mi W of North Platte to 4.47 mi WNW of North Platte
Rating: EF3
Path length: 1.71 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $750,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 41.144, -100.872

A tornado touched down four and a half miles west of North Platte just south of west Front street and traveled north northeast. The tornado damage was extensive to include two homes destroyed and two additional homes with significant damage from trees blown over and windows blown out. Two residents were injured in their homes. As the tornado traveled north across the Union Pacific Bailey Yards, an estimated 15 tanker cars were blown over and debris was scattered northeast for one and a half miles. A center pivot irrigation system was overturned north of Highway 30 before the tornado lifted five and a half miles northwest of North Platte.

Tornado, Lincoln

When: March 18, 8:18 PM CST to 8:20 PM CST
Where: Lincoln County, 4.92 mi WNW of North Platte to 5.03 mi WNW of North Platte
Rating: EF2
Path length: 1.69 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 41.175, -100.869

A tornado touched down five miles west northwest of North Platte, just south of Platte Valley Road, where a two story barn was destroyed with several outbuildings damaged. The tornado tracked northeast where a field of boards from the barn were driven into the ground, along with other debris. As the tornado tracked northeast, two homes were damaged, a garage had structural damage, and an outbuilding was destroyed. Extensive tree damage occurred before the tornado dissipated five miles northwest of North Platte.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When: March 18, 8:34 PM CST
Where: Lincoln County, 13.86 mi N of (Lbf)bird Fld North
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.330, -100.660

Public reported a forty feet by 22 feet shed was destroyed. This was a result of damaging outflow winds from a severe thunderstorm.

Tornado, McPherson

When: March 18, 8:39 PM CST to 8:43 PM CST
Where: McPherson County, 6.05 mi S of Ringgold to 0.87 mi SE of Ringgold
Rating: EF0
Path length: 5.28 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 41.434, -100.778

A tornado touched down approximately five miles south southeast of Ringgold in McPherson County and tracked north and northwest before dissipating near the Ringgold church. Tornado damage included several large tree limbs broken off, cedar trees uprooted, a center pivot irrigation system twisted and overturned, damage to a church building and small storage building. The tornado was on the ground intermittently for four minutes.

Hail, Cherry

When: March 18, 8:42 PM CST
Where: Cherry County, 4.62 mi SSW of Merritt Res
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 42.570, -100.970

Hail, Lincoln

When: March 18, 8:45 PM CST
Where: Lincoln County, 2.08 mi SW of North Platte
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 41.130, -100.810

Hail, Cherry

When: March 18, 9:06 PM CST
Where: Cherry County, 4.05 mi W of Valentine
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 42.870, -100.630

Tornado, Cherry

When: March 18, 9:19 PM CST to 9:21 PM CST
Where: Cherry County, 4.02 mi NNW of Valentine to 4.07 mi NNW of Valentine
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.05 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 42.919, -100.592

Public reported a tornado briefly touched down over open rangeland near Highway 83 north of Valentine.

Hail, Cherry

When: March 18, 9:20 PM CST
Where: Cherry County, 6.91 mi N of Valentine
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 42.970, -100.550

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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 Nebraska in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Nebraska, 2012 Warnings in Nebraska, March 2012

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: 364362, 364363, 364365, 364367, 364368, 364369, 364383, 364384, 364385, 364386, 364394, 364391, 364370, 364371, 364372, 364393, 364373.