Damaging Wind in Kansas, July 6, 2016

Name: Damaging Wind in Kansas, July 6, 2016
Start: 2016-07-06T23:40
End: 2016-07-06T23:40
Location: Kansas

July 6, 2016 · NWS GID · 1 event in 1 county or zone

The tail end of a bow echo produced severe winds over part of north central Kansas on this Wednesday night. This was a very busy evening and night for thunderstorms over Nebraska.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

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Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
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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 GID wrote it up.

The tail end of a bow echo produced severe winds over part of north central Kansas on this Wednesday night. This was a very busy evening and night for thunderstorms over Nebraska. Three individual squall lines formed from northeast to southwest, two of which evolved into small-scale bow echoes. The southernmost bow echo began as a small cluster of storms early in the evening, just north of the state line in southwest Nebraska. By 9 p.m. CST, the bow echo had formed in the McCook vicinity, with a measured gust of 62 mph at the McCook airport, at 8:58 p.m. CST. This bow echo expanded in size and tracked mostly across south central Nebraska, between Interstate 80 and the Kansas state line. Shortly after 10 p.m. CST, the gust front penetrated north Phillips County, and by 11 p.m. CST, thunderstorms at the tail end of the bow crossed the state line into northeast Phillips County. These storms advanced into Smith and Jewell Counties through 2 a.m. CST, gradually becoming oriented from west to east before exiting north central Kansas. A mesonet station a few miles northwest of Lebanon measured a gust of 62 mph a little before midnight CST.

A very weak cold front sagged into Nebraska the previous night and was located roughly along the northern Kansas border daybreak Wednesday. As the day progressed, the front gradually lifted north as a warm front as low pressure over Wyoming deepened to 1000 mb. In the upper levels, the flow was zonal with the Westerlies confined to the northern third of the United States. A subtropical high was over Texas. 500 mb observations suggest there was a weak/subtle shortwave trough moving across the Central Plains, possibly aiding thunderstorm development. Just prior to thunderstorms moving into north central Kansas, temperatures were in the upper 70s, and dewpoints were around 70. Yet, mid-level lapse rates were very steep (8 degrees C/km), resulting in MLCAPE between 2000 and 4000 J/kg. Effective deep layer shear was around 50 kts.

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 Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 6, 11:21 PM CST, 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 6, 11:21 PM CST, 19 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1221 AM CDT THU JUL 7 2016

.UPDATE...
Issued at 932 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2016

Updated the forecast this evening to increase chances of
showers/thunderstorms. Storms have become quite organized and have
plenty of shear and mid-level instability to work with.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday)
Issued at 318 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2016

Plenty of instability across the region this afternoon with a
strong CAP inhibiting any convective development locally. If there
is enough forcing to overcome this CAP...any storms that do
develop will rapidly intensify and have the potential to become
severe...which more than justifies the slight risk for severe
weather the storm prediction center has advertised for much of the
local area. That said...the confidence of the CAP being broken
through the late afternoon hours appears very low...and
consequently trimmed precipitation chances across much of the
local area through the early evening hours.

Thereafter...some short term model guidance is attempting to hold
together the convection presently developing over the high plains
and propagating it eastward across the local area during the early
evening hours. While the HRRR appears to be one of the more
aggressive solutions...and most guidance is dry...cannot
completely rule out the chance for a line of storms developing
with strong winds being the primary concern...and maintained this
possibility in the forecast to coincide with a severe thunderstorm
watch that was just issued.

That said...The better chance for precipitation appears to come
during the late evening through overnight hours as the main upper
level disturbance brushes the northern/eastern fringes of the
local forecast area. As the LLJ intensifies and feeds into this
disturbance...expect this convection to maintain itself through
the early morning hours Thursday...with cooler air filtering in
behind this shortwave during the daytime hours.

While there is some question in just how much low level stratus
will filter in behind the wave...which could have a significant
impact on temperatures...only tweaked down temps across south
central Nebraska as the bulk of this stratus will be focused to
our north/east.

.LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday)
Issued at 318 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2016

Cooler air will continue to settle in across the entire forecast
area Thursday night through Friday...as temperatures across the
region return to near or just below seasonal norms Friday
afternoon. While the daytime hours Friday look dry...expect a
chance for thunderstorms to creep in from the southwest Friday
night as the first of several upper level disturbances brushes the
local area. As a result...expect periodic small chances for
Thunderstorms across the local area Friday night through next
Wednesday...with the best chance for more widespread precipitation
coming next Monday night...as a stronger wave is currently
forecast to cross the plains then.

Temperature wise...do not anticipate a significant change in the
overall airmass behind Thursdays cool front...with near seasonal
temps forecast beyond Friday and into next week.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 06Z Thursday night)
Issued at 1219 AM CDT Thu Jul 7 2016

Thunderstorms are nearly through the KEAR terminal and will be
moving through the KGRI terminal in the next hour or so. There
could be a few thunderstorms for a couple hours then there should
be clearing.

&&

.GID Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NE...None.
KS...None.
&&

UPDATE...Heinlein
SHORT TERM...Rossi
LONG TERM...Rossi
AVIATION...JCB

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 6, 8:30 PM CST, 3 hours 10 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
930 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016

KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-
071200-
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-
930 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS THE WESTERN HIGH PLAINS
WILL PROPAGATE EAST ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA DURING THE LATE
AFTERNOON HOURS...WITH 60 MPH WINDS AND HAIL UP TO 2 INCHES IN
DIAMETER BEING THE PRIMARY CONCERNS. THE FOCUS OF THIS ACTIVITY
APPEARS TO BE WEST OF HIGHWAY 281...WITH ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH
THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF THE NEBRASKA AND KANSAS
STATE LINE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY. IF THESE STORMS
DEVELOP THEY COULD BE SEVERE WITH HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLF BALLS
AND DAMAGING WINDS TO 60 MPH. THE MAIN AREA WILL BE ALONG AND
NORTHEAST OF A HEBRON TO ORD NEBRASKA LINE.

THUNDERSTORMS MAY ALSO BE POSSIBLE ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE
80 FRIDAY NIGHT AND THEN AGAIN OFF AND ON SATURDAY THROUGH
TUESDAY. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BE STRONG, BUT IT IS TOO EARLY
TO CONFIDENTLY ASSESS IF THEY WILL BE SEVERE. STAY TUNED TO LATER
FORECASTS.

HEAT INDICES WILL BE BETWEEN 100 TO 105 THURSDAY AFTERNOON MAINLY
ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF A YORK NEBRASKA TO PHILLIPSBURG KANSAS LINE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR
EVENING.

&&

MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:
   HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HASTINGS  (ALL LOWERCASE)

HEINLEIN

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 6, 9:58 PM CST, 1 hour 42 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1058 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016

NEZ040-046-047-070445-
HOWARD NE-GREELEY NE-SHERMAN NE-
1058 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN HOWARD...SOUTHERN
GREELEY AND NORTHEASTERN SHERMAN COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 PM CDT...

AT 1058 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
LOUP CITY...OR 21 MILES SOUTH OF ORD...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ST. PAUL...LOUP CITY...WOLBACH...ELBA...ASHTON...FARWELL...COTESFIELD...
CUSHING AND SHERMAN RESERVOIR DAM.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT FOR
CENTRAL NEBRASKA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 300 AM CDT FOR CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

LAT...LON 4122 9829 4120 9907 4138 9909 4139 9898
      4139 9875 4142 9875 4147 9829
TIME...MOT...LOC 0358Z 264DEG 41KT 4130 9897

HEINLEIN

Special weather statement, Jul 6, 10:24 PM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1124 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016

NEZ048-049-061>064-074>076-070500-
MERRICK NE-CLAY NE-YORK NE-HALL NE-POLK NE-KEARNEY NE-HAMILTON NE-
ADAMS NE-BUFFALO NE-
1124 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN BUFFALO...CLAY...
HAMILTON...HALL...YORK...SOUTHERN POLK...CENTRAL KEARNEY...
SOUTHWESTERN MERRICK AND ADAMS COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT...

AT 1122 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY WITH
STRONG WIND. THE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY EXTENDED FROM NEAR CENTRAL CITY TO
7 MILES NORTHWEST OF MINDEN. MOVEMENT WAS EAST SOUTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS OUTFLOW BOUNDARY.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GRAND ISLAND...HASTINGS...YORK...AURORA...CENTRAL CITY...MINDEN...GIBBON...
SUTTON...WOOD RIVER...STROMSBURG...SHELTON...HARVARD...HENDERSON...KENESAW...
OSCEOLA...DONIPHAN...CLAY CENTER...JUNIATA...ALDA AND HAMPTON.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 282 AND 359.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM CDT FOR SOUTHEASTERN NEBRASKA.

LAT...LON 4070 9767 4070 9782 4061 9783 4035 9825
      4035 9855 4054 9918 4105 9833 4105 9829
      4108 9829 4125 9799 4115 9737 4088 9737
TIME...MOT...LOC 0422Z 286DEG 41KT 4120 9801 4058 9905

HEINLEIN

Local storm report, Jul 6, 10:29 PM CST, 1 hour 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1129 PM CDT WED JUL 06 2016

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

1126 PM     HAIL             ATLANTA                 40.37N 99.47W
07/06/2016  E0.75 INCH       PHELPS             NE   STORM CHASER

&&

WESELY

Local storm report, Jul 6, 10:42 PM CST, 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1142 PM CDT WED JUL 06 2016

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

1132 PM     TSTM WND GST     GRAND ISLAND AIRPORT    40.97N 98.32W
07/06/2016  M55 MPH          HALL               NE   ASOS

            THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST REPORTED AT THE AIRPORT.

&&

PBEDA

Local storm report, Jul 6, 11:07 PM CST, 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1207 AM CDT THU JUL 07 2016

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

1202 AM     HAIL             8 N FRANKLIN            40.21N 98.95W
07/07/2016  E1.00 INCH       FRANKLIN           NE   STORM CHASER

&&

JCB

Local storm report, Jul 6, 11:34 PM CST, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1234 AM CDT THU JUL 07 2016

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

1224 AM     TSTM WND GST     5 NW RED CLOUD          40.14N 98.59W
07/07/2016  E62 MPH          WEBSTER            NE   MESONET

&&

WESELY

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 51 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:37 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Smith

When: July 6, 11:40 PM CST
Where: Smith County, 1.48 mi NNW of Cora
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 39.900, -98.680

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 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, July 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: 641150.