Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, September 17, 2016

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, September 17, 2016
Start: 2016-09-17T14:10
End: 2016-09-17T16:30
Location: Kansas

September 17, 2016 · NWS GLD · 6 events in 2 counties and zones

During the afternoon a line of severe thunderstorms moved east from Colorado. Large hail up to golf ball size was reported near Goodland.

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: 6

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 line of severe thunderstorms moved east from Colorado. Large hail up to golf ball size was reported near Goodland. In the same vicinity a line of wind gusts estimated at 60 MPH blew a dark wall of dirt across Highway 27 north of Goodland. The winds were strong enough to nearly blow a vehicle off the highway. The strongest wind gust reported was 66 MPH near Atwood.

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 17, 12:14 PM MST, 1 hour 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 17, 12:14 PM MST, 1 hour 56 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
114 PM MDT SAT SEP 17 2016

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday)
Issued at 1246 PM MDT Sat Sep 17 2016

Across the Tri State region this afternoon...temps are mainly
ranging from the mid 70s to the lower 80s w/ a SSW surface gradient.
Clouds cover has been mixed thru the early afternoon hours from
weak...scattered convection that has traversed the region.

Mixed cloud cover will continue thru the area for the rest of the
daytime hours as a shortwave over eastern Colorado moves east into
the Central Plains...and is expected to trigger convection into the
evening hours. SPC has the CWA split with a Marginal/Slight Risk for
severe wx with hail and wind being major threats. Any precipitation
will begin to wane from west to east going into the evening
hours...clearing the CWA by Wednesday morning...allowing for high
pressure to build back over the region for the day Sunday.

Cloud cover will hamper overnight lows initially but clearing
overnight will allow for temps to drop into a range from the upper
40s thru the mid 50s. Coolest areas west which will see loss of
cloud cover first before eastern zones. Daytime highs Sunday will
range in the mid to upper 80s under decent downslope westerly
surface flow. Cooler airmass will help to bring patchy fog to some
locales into early Sunday morning.

.LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday)
Issued at 113 PM MDT Sat Sep 17 2016

Sunday night through Wednesday the weather will be dry as an upper
level ridge builds over the Tri-State Area behind the short wave
trough from today.  This will allow for near to above normal
temperatures.  A surface trough will move down from the north
Monday, but will washout over the central part of the area during
the afternoon.  With the ridge overhead am not expecting any storms
to develop with the trough passage.  Tuesday afternoon will be
breezy as a low level jet develops over the Tri-State Area.  An
upper level short wave trough will move over the Tri-State Area
Wednesday, however the environment will be too dry to support any
storm development.

Wednesday night through Saturday rainfall chances return as a closed
low develops and moves across the Northern Plains, with a trough
extending south to the Central Plains. Ahead of the trough axis
numerous short wave troughs will move over the Tri-State Area.
Accompanying the short wave troughs will be an increase in mid
level mixing ratios as the upper level winds direct the moisture
from the Pacific over the Tri- State Area. The best chance for
rainfall will be toward the end of the week when stronger short
wave troughs axis move across the Tri- State Area.

Deep layer shear is very supportive of severe thunderstorms, however
the instability is very low.  This could be due to the closed low
being so far north that the better lapse rates are north of the Tri-
State Area.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon)
Issued at 1127 AM MDT Sat Sep 17 2016

For KGLD...Mainly VFR conditions w/ scattered cloud cover.
VCTS/VCSH from 20z this afternoon to 05z Sunday. Winds SSW
10-20kts thru 05z Sunday...then W around 10kts.

For KMCK...Mainly VFR conditions w/ scattered cloud cover.
VCTS/VCSH from 19z this afternoon to 08z Sunday. Winds SSW around
10kts thru 08z Sunday...then W around 10kts.

&&

.GLD Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
KS...NONE.
CO...NONE.
NE...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...JN
LONG TERM...JTL
AVIATION...JN

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 17, 9:20 AM MST, 4 hours 50 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1020 AM MDT SAT SEP 17 2016

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-181630-
YUMA COUNTY-KIT CARSON COUNTY-CHEYENNE COUNTY-CHEYENNE-RAWLINS-
DECATUR-NORTON-SHERMAN-THOMAS-SHERIDAN-GRAHAM-WALLACE-LOGAN-GOVE-
GREELEY-WICHITA-DUNDY-HITCHCOCK-RED WILLOW-
1020 AM MDT SAT SEP 17 2016 /1120 AM CDT SAT SEP 17 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 ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE
CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LARGE HAIL
AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE MAIN THREATS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATER TODAY.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 17, 12:23 PM MST, 1 hour 47 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
123 PM MDT SAT SEP 17 2016

COZ090-172000-
YUMA COUNTY CO-
123 PM MDT SAT SEP 17 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN YUMA COUNTY UNTIL 200 PM
MDT...

AT 122 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9
MILES EAST OF COPE...OR 26 MILES NORTH OF STRATTON...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 35 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
KIRK...VERNON AND JOES.

THIS INCLUDES HIGHWAY 385 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 222 AND 229.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

&&

LAT...LON 3977 10280 4004 10243 3982 10218 3958 10268
      3970 10280
TIME...MOT...LOC 1922Z 232DEG 30KT 3968 10267

JN

Local storm report, Sep 17, 1:16 PM MST, 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
216 PM MDT SAT SEP 17 2016

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

0206 PM     HAIL             YUMA                    40.12N 102.72W
09/17/2016  E0.50 INCH       YUMA               CO   PUBLIC

            DIME SIZE HAIL.

&&

JLUNDQUIST

Local storm report, Sep 17, 1:22 PM MST, 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
222 PM MDT SAT SEP 17 2016

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

0200 PM     HAIL             1 W YUMA                40.12N 102.74W
09/17/2016  E0.88 INCH       YUMA               CO   PUBLIC

            HAIL RANGED FROM PEA TO NICKEL SIZE. LASTED 10 MINUTES.

&&

JLUNDQUIST

Special weather statement, Sep 17, 1:27 PM MST, 43 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
227 PM MDT SAT SEP 17 2016

COZ090-091-KSZ001-172100-
YUMA COUNTY CO-KIT CARSON COUNTY CO-CHEYENNE KS-
227 PM MDT SAT SEP 17 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN YUMA COUNTY IN
NORTHEASTERN COLORADO...NORTHEASTERN KIT CARSON COUNTY IN EAST
CENTRAL COLORADO AND WESTERN CHEYENNE COUNTIES IN NORTHWESTERN KANSAS
UNTIL 300 PM MDT/400 PM CDT/...

AT 227 PM MDT/327 PM CDT/...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 16 MILES NORTHWEST OF BONNY
RESERVOIR TO 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF STRATTON. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 20
MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
STRATTON...BONNY RESERVOIR...HALE...IDALIA AND BEECHER ISLAND.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
 INTERSTATE 70 IN COLORADO NEAR MILE MARKER 418.
 HIGHWAY 385 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 193 AND 229.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH
FLOODED ROADWAYS.

THESE STORMS 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3985 10241 3996 10191 3957 10195 3957 10205
      3942 10205 3928 10264
TIME...MOT...LOC 2027Z 263DEG 19KT 3979 10235 3937 10253

DR

Special weather statement, Sep 17, 1:31 PM MST, 39 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
231 PM MDT SAT SEP 17 2016

COZ090-NEZ079-172100-
YUMA COUNTY CO-DUNDY NE-
231 PM MDT SAT SEP 17 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL YUMA AND NORTHWESTERN
DUNDY COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM MDT...

AT 231 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CRETE TO 6 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF ECKLEY. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 35 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
YUMA...WRAY...ECKLEY...ALVIN...WAUNETA AND LAIRD.

THIS INCLUDES HIGHWAY 385 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 238 AND 260.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH
FLOODED ROADWAYS.

THESE STORMS 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.

&&

LAT...LON 4035 10145 4001 10206 3997 10264 4006 10279
      4008 10279 4035 10217
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 260DEG 29KT 4027 10204 4007 10259

DR

Special weather statement, Sep 17, 1:54 PM MST, 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
254 PM MDT SAT SEP 17 2016

COZ090-091-KSZ001-013-172130-
YUMA COUNTY CO-KIT CARSON COUNTY CO-CHEYENNE KS-SHERMAN KS-
254 PM MDT SAT SEP 17 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN YUMA COUNTY IN
NORTHEASTERN COLORADO...EASTERN KIT CARSON COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL
COLORADO...CHEYENNE AND SHERMAN COUNTIES IN NORTHWESTERN KANSAS UNTIL
330 PM MDT/430 PM CDT/...

AT 254 PM MDT/354 PM CDT/...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES SOUTH OF HAIGLER
TO 12 MILES SOUTH OF BETHUNE. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 30 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
SOME OF THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GOODLAND...BURLINGTON...ST. FRANCIS...STRATTON...KANORADO...
RULETON AND BONNY RESERVOIR.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
 INTERSTATE 70 IN KANSAS BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 0 AND 21.
 INTERSTATE 70 IN COLORADO BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 419 AND 450.
 HIGHWAY 385 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 176 AND 221.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH
FLOODED ROADWAYS.

THESE STORMS 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3912 10274 3988 10218 3997 10141 3978 10141
      3914 10176
TIME...MOT...LOC 2054Z 265DEG 28KT 3987 10195 3913 10246

DR

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 22 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:08 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Sherman

When: September 17, 2:10 PM MST to 2:20 PM MST
Where: Sherman County, 3.34 mi E of Kanorado Arpt
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.394, -101.958

Hail, Sherman

When: September 17, 2:20 PM MST to 2:25 PM MST
Where: Sherman County, 3.04 mi N of Goodland Arpt
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 39.414, -101.707

The hail was primarily dime size with some golf ball size hail mixed in.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sherman

When: September 17, 2:28 PM MST
Where: Sherman County, 6.92 mi N of Goodland Arpt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 39.470, -101.707

A dark wall of dirt blew toward the driver on Highway 27, nearly blowing the vehicle off the highway.

Hail, Sherman

When: September 17, 2:38 PM MST
Where: Sherman County, 12.44 mi NNE of Goodland Arpt
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.526, -101.584

The hail ranged from nickel to quarter in size, stopping at the time of the report.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rawlins

When: September 17, 4:17 PM CST
Where: Rawlins County, 3.07 mi NNW of Atwood Muni Arpt
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 39.873, -101.046

Hail, Rawlins

When: September 17, 4:30 PM CST
Where: Rawlins County, 0.87 mi NE of Atwood
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.810, -101.040

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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, 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: 661260, 661261, 661267, 661264, 661274, 661265.