Supercells developed across northwest Nebraska during the afternoon, producing hail up to half dollar size and a couple tornadoes in Sheridan County. Additional tornadoes were reported late afternoon and early evening north of Ashby and southeast of Arthur.
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 LBF wrote it up.
Supercells developed across northwest Nebraska during the afternoon, producing hail up to half dollar size and a couple tornadoes in Sheridan County. Additional tornadoes were reported late afternoon and early evening north of Ashby and southeast of Arthur. The storms grew upscale into clusters and segments, producing damaging winds across the Sandhills and southwest Nebraska. One storm produced a funnel cloud over North Platte.
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 Jul 6, 12:53 PM MST, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service North Platte NE 253 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 204 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2016 Upper air pattern continues a suppressed ridge across the southern conus with nearly zonal flow across the high plains. A trough/low is moving east near the Montana/Canadian border. At the surface a low was analyzed across northeast Wyoming with a warm front/stationary boundary to the southeast across the panhandle of Nebraska then curves east across southern Nebraska. A cold front trails from the low to the southwest. Temps this afternoon under mostly sunny skies have warmed into the mid 80s to the mid 90s, warmest to the southwest of the boundary across southwest Nebraska. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday) Issued at 204 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2016 Complex forecast tonight with a couple of area of concern for thunderstorms. First is the low as it pushes towards the Black Hills. Models in good agreement developing a complex near the hills then tracking the complex to the east southeast. The main uncertainty is how far to the south will the complex develop. At this time it looks likely to impact northern Nebraska and the SPC day 1 outlook update increase part of Nebraska and S Dakota into a moderate risk for severe weather. With good CAPE and 0-6km bulk shear of 50kts plus do not see a problem with storms becoming severe this evening. Winds are a major concern with significant winds gusts of 80 mph or higher possible. Another area will be along the stalled boundary over the panhandle as it drifts east. Models keep the activity more isolated and with less moisture to work with this seems probable. Both hail and winds will be concern with these storms. Radar already showing returns to the north and west and expect this activity to only grow over the late afternoon hours. Overnight, as the main focus shifts east, activity should diminish. Models continue to linger some activity post frontal across northern Nebraska into tomorrow. Will include low pops however not having a high confidence of the activity continuing. Would not be surprised if the morning activity is really just stratus and little shower activity as the better lift is contained to the north in the Dakotas. .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday) Issued at 204 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2016 Models in good agreement in mid and near term and have good confidence in the forecast. Surface high pressure will build into western Nebraska over night with clear skies and light and variable winds on Thursday. Lows in the 50s and 60s. H5 ridge builds back into western Nebraska on Friday as surface high pressure moves east and southerly upslope flow begins. Highs in the 80s. Slight chance pops retained through the evening from southwest into northern Nebraska either side of a highway 61 line. Heating of the day forcing at 700mb and weak low level jet to combine for isolated to widely scattered precipitation. Saturday a warm front will lift to the northeast over western Nebraska and temperatures will rise back into the 90s. Isolated thunderstorms along trough axis through the afternoon over the Nebraska panhandle and spreading east over night as low level jet develops. Sunday afternoon chances increase as upper closed low moves into central Idaho and heights begin to fall over the northern plains. Good moisture advection in southerly flow. Trough will focus thunderstorms over the panhandle through the afternoon and moving east followed by surface cold front Sunday night. Cooler Monday and Tuesday with thunderstorm chances over eastern portions of the forecast area as upper low moves northeast from central Idaho into south central Canada. Highs around 90 on Tuesday. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday afternoon) Issued at 1249 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2016 Thunderstorms, some severe, expected to impact the region this evening and overnight, especially across northern Nebraska and the KVTN terminal. A complex of storms are expected to fire across the Black Hills this afternoon then track E/SE into northern Nebraska. Current timing for impact to KVTN will be 23z into 03z, however this could be shifted an hour or two. Also could see some thunderstorms along the dry line over western Nebraska which will drift eastward. Models are in less agreement with coverage of storms along the dry line. This would impact the KLBF terminal and will include a VCTS due to lower confidence. Activity pushes east overnight with VFR conditions across southwestern Nebraska. Models develop some stratus in the wake of the complex across northern Nebraska. Will include in the KVTN forecast, however this will need to be monitored closely. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 204 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2016 North Platte River at Lewellen dropped a little more this morning to 7.37 feet and have a higher confidence river will remain below the minor flood stage of 7.5 feet. Still could see a slight rise depending on evening rainfall, however forecast keeps level at or below 7.4 feet. Thus the flood advisory was canceled in favor of a river statement for elevated flows but no flooding. && .LBF Watches/Warnings/Advisories... None. && SYNOPSIS...Masek SHORT TERM...Masek LONG TERM...Power AVIATION...Masek HYDROLOGY...Masek
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 328 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016 NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-072030- 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- 328 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016 /228 PM MDT WED JUL 6 2016/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. THE RISK IS GREATEST ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM FROM VALENTINE TO AINSWORTH AND ONEILL WHERE WIND GUSTS TO 80 MPH MAY DEVELOP. HAIL TWO INCHES OR LARGER IN DIAMETER IS POSSIBLE ACROSS NORTHERN SHERIDAN COUNTY. AN ISOLATED TORNADO MAY FORM BETWEEN VALENTINE AND GORDON. EXTREME INSTABILITY WILL PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ELSEWHERE ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. WIND DAMAGE AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE THREAT IN THIS AREA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY AND SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. STORM COVERAGE IS EXPECTED TO BE MOSTLY ISOLATED. THE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER IS LOW AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS EVENING ACROSS PARTS OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. && GET YOUR WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL...AND CLIMATE INFORMATION AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/NORTHPLATTE (ALL LOWERCASE) MASEK
The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 175 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:16 UTC.
19 thunderstorm wind, 17 hail, 7 tornado, 4 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
At 1418CST a brief tornado touched down in a rural area with no damage reported. The tornado was rated an EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with a peak wind of 65 MPH.
Funnel reported.
Funnel reported.
At 1556 MST a brief tornado touched down in rural Sheridan County with no damage reported. The tornado was rated an EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with a peak wind of 65 MPH.
At 1725 CST a trained weather spotter reported a multi-vortex tornado. A damage survey concluded the tornado moved roughly west to east. The tornado damaged a horse barn and several outbuildings at two different residences, as well as snapping several large trees before lifting at 1735 CST. The tornado was rated an EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with a peak wind of 100 MPH.
Public estimated wind gusts to 60 mph east of Merritt Reservoir.
Wind gusts estimated at 70 mph took off a shop door and moved a barn wall. A large 18 inch diameter tree branch and numerous small branches were downed.
At 1730CST the tornado moved from east to west and partially lifted a roof of a small residence and damaged several other outbuildings. The tornado was rated an EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with a peak wind of 105 MPH.
Funnel reported.
Valentine Airport ASOS measured a 58 mph wind gust.
Public estimated wind gusts to 60mph 13 miles southwest of Mullen.
At 1803CST a tornado destroyed a grain bin and flipped 90 feet of center pivot line before lifting at 1807CST. The tornado was rated an EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
Funnel reported.
Public estimated a 60 mph wind gust southeast of Springview.
At 1715MST a trained spotter reported a brief tornado about 15 miles southeast of Arthur. No damage was reported. The tornado was rated an EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
Thunderstorm winds destroyed a large metal shed, some barbed wire fence, and damaged a windmill. Three cattle were also injured by flying debris.
Public reported a center pivot with 8 towers flipped over. Two bolts on the west side of the pivot base were sheared and the base was cracked. Time was estimated.
Public reported damage to a windmill. Time was estimated.
Brief tornado touchdown in open range land.
Public estimated a 60 mph wind gust.
Public estimated 70 mph wind gusts with half inch hail.
Public reported a large pine tree snapped in half approximately 10 to 15 feet off the ground, at the national cemetery west of Spencer. A picture was provided via social media.
Public estimated a 60 mph wind gust.
A trained spotter measured a 68 mph wind gust north of North Platte.
An NWS employee reported 1.5 inch hail and 70 mph wind gusts north of North Platte.
A mesonet station north of North Platte measured a 69 mph wind gust.
Public reported golf ball size hail with a picture on social media.
An NWS employee weather station measured 78 mph wind gust north of North Platte.
Broken Bow Airport measured a 60 mph wind gust.
Public estimated a wind gust of 60 mph.
Public estimated a 60 mph wind gust south of Arnold.
Public estimated a 60 mph wind gust northwest of North Platte.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Nebraska, 2016Warnings in Nebraska, July 2016
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: 634491, 634486, 634487, 634488, 634489, 634490, 645224, 645226, 645227, 645228, 645217, 645220, 634492, 634493, 634499, 634500, 634494, 645221, 634502, 634497, 634507, 645222, 634519, 634520, 634503, 634501, 634508, 634529, 634646, 634647, 645230, 634509, 634510, 634511, 634512, 634513, 634521, 634514, 634515, 634516, and more.