This Sunday afternoon event was part of the same large-scale system that produced a couple severe thunderstorms the previous day. A digging upper-level trough was over the western United States, while low pressure continued to organize over South Dakota, becoming vertically-stacked by evening.
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.
This Sunday afternoon event was part of the same large-scale system that produced a couple severe thunderstorms the previous day. A digging upper-level trough was over the western United States, while low pressure continued to organize over South Dakota, becoming vertically-stacked by evening. The associated cold front progressed through North Central Kansas during peak heating, initiating the thunderstorms. Prior to thunderstorm development, a subtle short-wave trough moved through, introducing cooler and drier air aloft and increasing potential instability. The exit region of an 85 knot upper-level jet streak nosed into Oklahoma, coupling with the cold front to create deep, large-scale lift.
Surface temperatures peaked around 80, while dewpoints were in the 60s ahead of the front. MLCAPE was not overly impressive, with 1000-1500 J/kg ahead of the front. Thunderstorms were numerous this afternoon, especially over eastern Kansas where the first batch of multicell storms developed. A second batch also affected eastern Kansas but they began modestly over North Central Kansas as a few scattered storms. The strongest of these storms developed over eastern Rooks county, just after 6 pm CDT, and intensified as it moved east across Osborne and Mitchell counties. Upon entering Mitchell county around 7:10 pm CDT, the storm bowed outward. This is when it began producing wind damage roughly along Highway 24, from Glen Elder east to Beloit. Trees and large branches were blown down, and a roof was blown off a building at a lumber yard. In Beloit, winds of 63 mph were measured at the airport.
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 19, 5:28 PM CST, 27 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE 628 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 235 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013 WE ARE MONITORING RADAR. PLEASE SEE THE 1113 AM AFD FOR OUR MORE EXTENSIVE THINKING ON THE CONVECTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND EXPECTATIONS. ALOFT: AN 85 KT ULJ ON THE DYNAMIC TROPOPAUSE WAS EJECTING ONTO THE SRN PLAINS WITH A CUT-OFF LOW DEVELOPING OVER SD. SFC: A COOL FRONT BISECTED THE FCST AREA AT 19Z /ROUGHLY JUST W OF HWY 281/. THIS FRONT WILL SLOWLY DEPART TO THE E THIS EVNG... PUTTING THE FCST AREA IN THE COOL SECTOR OF THE CUT-OFF. NOW THRU SUNSET: DESTABILIZATION IS UNDERWAY. SO EXPECT SCT TSTMS WILL CONTINUE TO ERUPT. THE WIND PROFILE IS BECOMING UNIDIRECTIONAL AND 0-5 KM SHEAR WILL BE DECREASING OVER THE NEXT 6 HRS. MLCAPE SHOULD PEAK AROUND 1500 J/KG. STORMS SHOULD ORGANIZE INTO SHORT LINE SEGMENTS OF MULTICELLS. OVERALL EXPECT A DECENT AMT OF SUB- SEVERE HAIL WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS. WHILE TOR WW 181 IS IN EFFECT FROM GENEVA NEB-BELOIT KS...THIS IS MAINLY TO COVER THE INITIAL TSTM DEVELOPMENT THAT IS LIKELY TO TAKE THE FORM OF MARGINAL 1" HAIL AND G60 MPH. AS THE STORM STRENGTHEN THE MAIN SHOW WILL BE FURTHER E. TNGT: TSTMS WANE WITH LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING. FCST MAY BE A LITTLE PESSIMISTIC ON CLOUDS. EXPECT M/CLEAR TO P/CLOUDY. MON: A DECENT START TO THE DAY BUT UPR-LVL COLD POOL WILL RESULT IN DESTABILIZATION AND ISOLATED AFTN SHWRS AND POSSIBLY A TSTM. BEST CHANCE FOR THUNDER WILL BE S AND E OF THE TRI-CITIES. MOST PLACES WILL REMAIN DRY. BREEZY W WINDS WILL GUST 25-35 MPH AFTER 10 AM. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY) ISSUED AT 318 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013 MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS WILL BE CHANCES FOR SHOWERS MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY AND TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS WILL CONTINUE TO DRIFT TO THE EAST FOR MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY IT IS CLOSE ENOUGH THAT THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS ACROSS THE AREA. THE MUCAPE IS LITTLE TO NOTHING. IN ADDITION DURING THIS TIME THERE IS A COLD FRONT THAT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. THIS WILL HELP TO KEEP TEMPERATURES BELOW NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. BY TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY THE UPPER LOW MOVES FURTHER TO THE NORTHEAST...BUT STILL SENDS SOME WEAK LOBES OF ENERGY THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA. MOISTURE CONTINUES ACROSS MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE AREA AND EXPECT THERE TO BE CLOUDS. THE SHOWERS SHOULD BE CONFINED TO THE FAR NORTH AND THE CHANCES ARE MINIMAL. THE COOLER AIR REMAINS ACROSS THE AREA. A SHORT WAVE RIDGE BUILDS BEHIND THE UPPER LEVEL LOW IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS. WITH THE UPPER LEVEL LOW TO THE NORTHEAST...THERE IS A BREAK IN THE PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER UPPER LEVEL WAVE THAT DEVELOPS IN THE NORTHWEST CONUS WILL START TO AFFECT THE AREA AGAIN BY THURSDAY. THE FIRST WEAK WAVE MOVES INTO THE AREA THURSDAY AND BRINGS A SMALL CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS. THE WEAK WAVES CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO THE AREA THROUGH SUNDAY. MODELS HAVE SOME DIFFERENCES IN THE TIMING OF THE WAVES AND THEREFORE SOME DIFFERENCES IN HOW MUCH PRECIPITATION THERE WILL BE. IT LIKELY WILL NOT BE RAINING ALL OF THE TIME IN EVERY LOCATION...BUT HAVE KEPT CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE PERIOD. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN AROUND NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...BUT BY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AS A SURFACE LOW DEVELOPS ON THE HIGH PLAINS...WINDS TURN TO THE SOUTH AND THERE IS SOME WARM ADVECTION. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM BACK ABOVE NORMAL AGAIN FOR THE WEEKEND. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY EVENING) ISSUED AT 628 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013 THUNDERSTORMS EXITING THE KGRI TERMINAL AREA IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OR SO. A COUPLE OF CONCERNS DURING THE TAF PERIOD. WINDS WILL BE TURNING TO THE WEST BEHIND THE THUNDERSTORMS AND COULD GET GUSTY LATER THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. BY MORNING SOME LOWER CLOUDS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA...BUT SHOULD BE SCATTERED AND REMAIN VFR. THE WINDS WILL INCREASE AGAIN DURING THE DAY ON MONDAY. THE NEXT QUESTION WILL BE WHETHER THERE WILL BE ANY THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY AFTERNOON TOWARD THE END OF THE PERIOD. WILL KEEP IT DRY FOR NOW...BUT NEED TO WATCH IT. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. KS...NONE. && SHORT TERM...HALBLAUB LONG TERM...JCB AVIATION...JCB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE 323 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 202030- 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- 323 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK SOME THUNDERSTORMS COULD TURN SEVERE. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE ONE INCH HAIL...AND DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. THE THREAT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL DIMINISH BY 9 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE MONDAY ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA. NO SEVERE STORMS WILL OCCUR. THUNDERSTORM ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO DEFINITIVELY DETERMINE THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT LEVEL WITH THOSE THUNDERSTORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS PLEASE RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HASTINGS. && MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HASTINGS (ALL LOWERCASE) HALBLAUB
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
537 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0536 PM HAIL HASTINGS 40.59N 98.39W
05/19/2013 E1.25 INCH ADAMS NE PUBLIC
&&
REEDSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
543 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
NEZ046-061-192315-
BUFFALO NE-SHERMAN NE-
543 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN SHERMAN AND EASTERN
BUFFALO COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM CDT...
AT 538 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM RAVENNA TO GIBBON...
AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS IS EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
SHELTON...
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 284 AND 291.
THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 4075 9872 4073 9872 4068 9881 4069 9889
4110 9906 4111 9876
TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 237DEG 25KT 4105 9892 4080 9876
FAYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
547 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0546 PM HAIL 2 W FULLERTON 41.36N 98.01W
05/19/2013 E1.00 INCH NANCE NE FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
&&
JCBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
549 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0320 PM HAIL 6 ENE KEARNEY 40.73N 98.98W
05/19/2013 E1.00 INCH BUFFALO NE PUBLIC
0336 PM HAIL 3 S COZAD 40.82N 99.99W
05/19/2013 E1.00 INCH DAWSON NE STORM CHASER
0342 PM HAIL 3 SE COZAD 40.83N 99.95W
05/19/2013 E1.50 INCH DAWSON NE STORM CHASER
0346 PM HAIL 1 N GIBBON 40.76N 98.84W
05/19/2013 E2.75 INCH BUFFALO NE LAW ENFORCEMENT
LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS BASEBALL SIZE HAIL NORTH OF
GIBBON NEAR 85TH ROAD
0359 PM HAIL 10 NW LEXINGTON 40.88N 99.88W
05/19/2013 E1.50 INCH DAWSON NE STORM CHASER
STORM CHASER REPORTS QUARTER AND PING PONG SIZE HAIL
0400 PM HAIL 2 E GIBBON 40.75N 98.81W
05/19/2013 E1.00 INCH BUFFALO NE PUBLIC
0407 PM HAIL 10 NNW LEXINGTON 40.91N 99.82W
05/19/2013 E1.75 INCH DAWSON NE STORM CHASER
STORM CHASER REPORTS GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL COVERING THE
ROAD.
0413 PM HAIL 15 N LEXINGTON 41.00N 99.74W
05/19/2013 E1.75 INCH DAWSON NE STORM CHASER
0425 PM HAIL 5 NW WOOD RIVER 40.87N 98.67W
05/19/2013 E1.00 INCH HALL NE PUBLIC
0435 PM HAIL 1 N WOOD RIVER 40.84N 98.60W
05/19/2013 E0.88 INCH HALL NE LAW ENFORCEMENT
DEPUTY REPORTS NICKEL SIZE HAIL 1 MILE NORTH OF WOOD
RIVER.
0444 PM HAIL 4 N ST. LIBORY 41.14N 98.35W
05/19/2013 E1.75 INCH HOWARD NE LAW ENFORCEMENT
0446 PM HAIL WOOD RIVER 40.82N 98.60W
05/19/2013 E1.00 INCH HALL NE LAW ENFORCEMENT
0449 PM HAIL 2 N PROSSER 40.72N 98.58W
05/19/2013 E0.50 INCH HALL NE TRAINED SPOTTER
DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY TRAINED SPOTTER
0451 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 3 N WOLBACH 41.44N 98.39W
05/19/2013 GREELEY NE LAW ENFORCEMENT
FUNNEL DID NOT TOUCH DOWN AND DISSIPATED AS OF THIS TIME.
0454 PM HAIL ST. PAUL 41.21N 98.46W
05/19/2013 E0.50 INCH HOWARD NE CO-OP OBSERVER
NWS CO-OP OBSERVER REPORTS DIME SIZE HAIL.
0458 PM HAIL ALDA 40.86N 98.47W
05/19/2013 E1.00 INCH HALL NE PUBLIC
0500 PM FUNNEL CLOUD WOLBACH 41.40N 98.39W
05/19/2013 GREELEY NE CO-OP OBSERVER
DELAYED REPORT OF FUNNEL CLOUD
0505 PM HAIL 2 S ALDA 40.84N 98.47W
05/19/2013 E1.00 INCH HALL NE PUBLIC
0511 PM HAIL ALDA 40.86N 98.47W
05/19/2013 E1.00 INCH HALL NE PUBLIC
0513 PM HAIL GRAND ISLAND 40.92N 98.37W
05/19/2013 E0.50 INCH HALL NE PUBLIC
DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED ON SOUTH SIDE OF GRAND ISLAND
0527 PM HAIL GRAND ISLAND 40.92N 98.37W
05/19/2013 E0.88 INCH HALL NE PUBLIC
0527 PM HAIL HASTINGS 40.59N 98.39W
05/19/2013 E1.00 INCH ADAMS NE NWS EMPLOYEE
NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTS HAIL UP TO ONE INCH
0528 PM HAIL HASTINGS 40.59N 98.39W
05/19/2013 M1.00 INCH ADAMS NE NWS EMPLOYEE
MOSTLY PENNY TO NICKEL SIZED
0529 PM HAIL DONIPHAN 40.77N 98.37W
05/19/2013 E0.75 INCH HALL NE FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0536 PM HAIL HASTINGS 40.59N 98.39W
05/19/2013 E1.25 INCH ADAMS NE PUBLIC
0546 PM HAIL 2 W FULLERTON 41.36N 98.01W
05/19/2013 E1.00 INCH NANCE NE FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
&&
REEDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
558 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0556 PM HAIL 4 S PHILLIPS 40.84N 98.21W
05/19/2013 E0.50 INCH HAMILTON NE FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY PHILLIPS FIRE DEPARTMENT 4
MILES SOUTH OF PHILLIPS
&&
REEDSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE 627 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013 KSZ017-018-192345- OSBORNE KS-ROOKS KS- 627 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN OSBORNE AND SOUTHEASTERN ROOKS COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT... AT 625 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF NATOMA...OR 35 MILES SOUTH OF PHILLIPSBURG...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF EXTREME EASTERN ROOKS AND WESTERN OSBORNE COUNTIES. THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. LAT...LON 3940 9893 3914 9890 3915 9915 3936 9914 TIME...MOT...LOC 2327Z 241DEG 25KT 3929 9907 FAY
The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:54 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A measured wind gust of 71 mph was recorded by a home weather station.
Wind gusts out ahead of and with this thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated near 70 mph. These wind gusts resulted in roof damage at a lumber yard in Glen Elder and a tree 18 inches in diameter being uprooted 4 miles south of town. Dime to nickel size hail was also reported, with some piles of hail being 6 inches deep.
Wind gusts out ahead of and with this thunderstorm produced wind gusts in excess of 60 mph, including a measured gusts of 63 and 67 mph by the Beloit Airport AWOS. These wind gusts resulted in damage to a garage in Beloit and knocked down a couple power poles west-northwest of town.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, May 2013
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: 450122, 450124, 450117, 450110.