Hail in Colorado, September 4, 2016

Name: Hail in Colorado, September 4, 2016
Start: 2016-09-04T14:15
End: 2016-09-04T15:13
Location: Colorado

September 4, 2016 · NWS GLD · 3 events in 1 county or zone

During the afternoon a severe thunderstorm moved northeast across Yuma County. The largest hail size reported was softball near Alvin.

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: 3

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.

During the afternoon a severe thunderstorm moved northeast across Yuma County. The largest hail size reported was softball near Alvin.

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 Sep 4, 1:03 PM MST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 4, 1:03 PM MST, 1 hour 12 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
203 PM MDT SUN SEP 4 2016

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Monday)
Issued at 152 PM MDT Sun Sep 4 2016

Main concerns once again are thunderstorm coverage and heavy
rainfall/flash flooding/flooding concerns. Confidence is lowered
due to poor performance of models with yesterdays event, and some
model disagreement on how the evolution of tonight will pan out.
Air mass remains very moist and unstable. Area soundings this
morning showed precipitable water values near 1.5 inches.

A persistent instability/theta-e axis remains draped across the
center of the area from southwest to northeast. There one surface
boundary near the western end of the area and another draped over
the eastern end. PV/Satellite analysis show a decent shortwave
moving in from the southwest. At the same time all the models show
a right rear quadrant of the upper draped across the area. The
shortwave and jet lift move across the area from west/southwest to
the east through the evening.

Where the models are having trouble is where to put the
development. Some have it in the west and others in the east.
Considering that currently thunderstorms have developed and are
now moving into the western portion of the area, that looks to be
the way to go. Current trends favor the Rap and Hrrr.

So expect scattered thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall to move
across the area once again. Due to instability and shear in place,
severe looks likely as well. All in all a similar setup to the
last few days. So will keep the flash flood watch going with the
northeast portion of the area extremely susceptible to more
rainfall and flooding.

For Monday...with exception of jet lift, setup looks similar
tomorrow. Instability/moisture axis remains in the same place. So
more thunderstorms will be expected along with locally heavy
rainfall and possible severe.

.LONG TERM...(Monday night through Sunday)
Issued at 145 PM MDT Sun Sep 4 2016

Trough extends down out of western Canada all the say into the
southern portions of California Monday night into Tuesday morning
with high pressure over the southern Mississippi Valley. The surface
boundary draped from southwest to northeast across the CWA continues
to remain nearly stationary as we head through the day on Tuesday.
This will provide a focus for scattered thunderstorm activity
through the afternoon and into the evening once more with only
moderate instability and relatively weak upper level support
provided by passing shortwaves. A cold front will push through the
region later on Tuesday with slightly drier air behind it that will
linger into the middle to end of the week. Dry weather prevails
through Saturday with another, stronger cold front traversing the
region on Friday. Due to dry air in place preceding the front, PoPs
will be low across the CWA and should remain east of the region.

Afternoon high temperatures will be in the middle to upper 80s
Tuesday with a few 90 degree locations in the eastern portions of
the CWA. Slightly cooler highs prevail for Wednesday and Thursday
with highs in the middle 80s. Cold frontal passage will cool things
off a bit heading into Friday and Saturday with afternoon high
temperatures reaching the upper 70s to lower 80s.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday afternoon)
Issued at 1136 AM MDT Sun Sep 4 2016

Generally clearing skies are being observed at both TAF sites with
VFR conditions at kgld and becoming VFR at KMCK. We will see
another chance of thunderstorms this afternoon at both locations
with a better chance at KMCK. Stayed with VCTS at KGLD due to
uncertainty with regards to the location of the TS initiation. A
relatively strong low level jet will form and bring LLWS to KMCK
beginning later this afternoon.

&&

.GLD Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
KS...Flash Flood Watch until midnight MDT /1 AM CDT/ tonight for
     KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029.

CO...NONE.
NE...Flash Flood Watch until midnight MDT /1 AM CDT/ tonight for
     NEZ079>081.

&&

SHORT TERM...BULLER
LONG TERM...TL
AVIATION...TL

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 4, 9:46 AM MST, 4 hours 29 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1046 AM MDT SUN SEP 4 2016

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-051200-
YUMA COUNTY-KIT CARSON COUNTY-CHEYENNE COUNTY-CHEYENNE-RAWLINS-
DECATUR-NORTON-SHERMAN-THOMAS-SHERIDAN-GRAHAM-WALLACE-LOGAN-GOVE-
GREELEY-WICHITA-DUNDY-HITCHCOCK-RED WILLOW-
1046 AM MDT SUN SEP 4 2016 /1146 AM CDT SUN SEP 4 2016/

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON
AND MOVE NORTHEAST THROUGH THIS EVENING. THREATS INCLUDE GOLF BALL
SIZE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND HEAVY RAINFALL. A FEW TORNADOES
WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. FLASH FLOODING MAY OCCUR RAPIDLY FOR
LOCATIONS THAT HAVE RECEIVED HEAVY RAINFALL RECENTLY.

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

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS
OF THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAIN REGION MONDAY AND TUESDAY. A FEW THESE
THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING
WINDS...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 4, 8:29 AM MST, 5 hours 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
929 AM MDT SUN SEP 04 2016

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

0927 AM     FLOOD            3 NW MORLAND            39.37N 100.11W
09/04/2016                   GRAHAM             KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SHERIFF DEPARTMENT CLOSED THE ACCESS ROADS TO ANTELOPE
            LAKE DUE TO WATER COVERING THE ROADS.

&&

TLYNCH

Special weather statement, Sep 4, 12:53 PM MST, 1 hour 22 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
153 PM MDT SUN SEP 4 2016

COZ092-042015-
CHEYENNE COUNTY CO-
153 PM MDT SUN SEP 4 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHEYENNE COUNTY IN
EAST CENTRAL COLORADO UNTIL 215 PM MDT...

AT 152 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8
MILES NORTH OF EADS...OR 27 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHEYENNE
WELLS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
KIT CARSON.

LAT...LON 3890 10275 3877 10245 3861 10259 3861 10289
TIME...MOT...LOC 1952Z 208DEG 42KT 3860 10277

024

Special weather statement, Sep 4, 1:36 PM MST, 39 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
236 PM MDT SUN SEP 4 2016

COZ091-092-042045-
KIT CARSON COUNTY CO-CHEYENNE COUNTY CO-
236 PM MDT SUN SEP 4 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN KIT CARSON AND
NORTHEASTERN CHEYENNE COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO UNTIL 245 PM
MDT...

AT 235 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9
MILES NORTH OF CHEYENNE WELLS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

THIS STORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHEASTERN KIT
CARSON AND NORTHEASTERN CHEYENNE COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO.

THIS INCLUDES HIGHWAY 385 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 153 AND 179.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO
STATIONS AND AVAILABLE TELEVISION STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM MDT FOR
EAST CENTRAL COLORADO...AND WEST CENTRAL KANSAS.

LAT...LON 3920 10227 3899 10204 3899 10205 3883 10237
      3897 10252
TIME...MOT...LOC 2035Z 229DEG 30KT 3895 10238

HUSTED

Local storm report, Sep 4, 2:02 PM MST, 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
302 PM MDT SUN SEP 04 2016

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

1250 PM     FLOOD            HILL CITY               39.37N 99.85W
09/04/2016                   GRAHAM             KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SOUTH FORK OF THE SOLOMON RIVER IS CURRENTLY AT FLOOD
            STAGE, 9 FEET, AND CAUSING MINOR FLOODING NEAR THE RIVER.
            ALSO THE STREAMS FLOWING INTO THE SOUTH FORK OF THE
            SOLOMON RIVER ARE ALSO FLOODING. DISPATCH ALSO MENTIONED
            THAT HE HAD RECEIVED AN UNOFFICIAL REPORT OF 9.5 INCHES
            OF RAIN LAST NIGHT.

&&

MBULLER

Local storm report, Sep 4, 2:07 PM MST, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
307 PM MDT SUN SEP 04 2016

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

0150 PM     FLOOD            LENORA                  39.61N 100.00W
09/04/2016                   NORTON             KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            THE EM REPORTED THAT WATER WAS STILL COVERING MANY ROADS
            AND BRIDGES IN THE COUNTY. IN ADDITION, PRAIRIE DOG CREEK
            AND THE NORTH FORK OF THE SOLOMON RIVER ARE ALSO OUT OF
            THEIR BANKS.

&&

MBULLER

Local storm report, Sep 4, 2:14 PM MST, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
314 PM MDT SUN SEP 04 2016

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

0313 PM     TSTM WND GST     TRIBUNE                 38.47N 101.75W
09/04/2016  E60 MPH          GREELEY            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ESTIMATED 60 MPH WINDS WITH DIME SIZED HAIL

&&

JN

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 58 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:13 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Yuma

When: September 4, 2:15 PM MST
Where: Yuma County, 3.62 mi ESE of Idalia
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.678, -102.239

Hail, Yuma

When: September 4, 3:10 PM MST
Where: Yuma County, 7.18 mi NNW of Alvin
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.410, -102.119

Hail, Yuma

When: September 4, 3:13 PM MST
Where: Yuma County, 9.09 mi NNW of Alvin
Measured: 3 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 40.433, -102.142

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Colorado in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Colorado, September 2016

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: 659649, 659650, 659651.