Flash Flood and Hail in Nebraska, June 27, 2016

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in Nebraska, June 27, 2016
Start: 2016-06-27T18:00
End: 2016-06-27T20:45
Location: Nebraska

June 27, 2016 · NWS CYS · 10 events in 2 counties and zones

Thunderstorms produced large hail, damaging winds and torrential rainfall across much of the northern Nebraska Panhandle. Flash flooding was reported at Chadron in Dawes County.

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: 10

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 CYS wrote it up.

Thunderstorms produced large hail, damaging winds and torrential rainfall across much of the northern Nebraska Panhandle. Flash flooding was reported at Chadron in Dawes County.

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 Cheyenne, WY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 27, 4:41 PM MST, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 27, 4:41 PM MST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
541 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday)
Issued at 330 PM MDT Mon Jun 27 2016

Afternoon water vapor loop showed a weak shortwave moving toward
western NE. This wave is encountering a very moist and unstable
airmass from western NE into eastern CO and western KS where SBCAPES
ranged from 3000-4000 j/kg and 0-6km shear of 40-50 kt. Latest
mesoanalysis placed the leading edge of 50+ deg dew points along
the lee side of the Laramie Range marked by enhanced cu cloud field.
Tstorms developed along eastern edge of CWA enhanced by low level
moisture convergence and differential heating. These storms
became severe quickly as they moved southeast along low level
theta-e ridge/instability axis. Other tstorms were firing over the
Black Hills SD and these may track south as right-movers per the
Bunkers vectors. Some convective inhibition (CIN) has kept
convective development limited over east-central WY and the northern
Laramie Range. Tornado Watch was issued for much of NE Panhandle
and far southeast WY until 8 pm MDT. Scattered tstorms will likely
persist through late evening over the NE portion of the CWA...with
more isolated activity over southeast WY.

Tuesday still looks to be more active than today in terms of severe
potential and convective coverage. A stronger shortwave topping the
upper ridge to the west will track southeast across eastern WY
and western NE during the afternoon and evening. NAM SBCAPES peak
between 3500 and 4500 j/kg mid-late afternoon Tuesday east of the
I-25 corridor. 0-6 km shear will be a tad stronger as well with
values around 50 kt. The SPC DAY2 outlook has an enhanced risk
for severe tstorms from extreme east-central WY into much of
western NE...mainly east of a line from Lusk WY to Kimball NE.
Looking at discrete supercells producing all modes of severe
weather...i.e. very large hail...damaging winds 60-70 mph and
isolated tornadoes. Severe threat may linger into the late evening
hours across the NE Panhandle. Convective coverage will be more
widely scattered along and west of the Laramie Range. High
temperatures will likely be reached by early afternoon with
readings in the 80s. Wednesday will be quieter with regards to
severe potential with only a marginal risk across the northeast
plains in the afternoon. High temperatures will be a few degrees
cooler...but still in the 80s.

.LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Monday)
Issued at 330 PM MDT Mon Jun 27 2016

Wednesday night/Thursday...With decent upslope and low level
convergence, expect scattered evening thunderstorms Wednesday along
and east of I-25, then storms dissipating with loss of daytime
heating.  Same flow regime continues on Thursday with moist low level
easterly upslope and northwest flow aloft providing directional
shear. So, again scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms on
tap Thursday with some storms strong to severe based on shear and
instability.

Friday...Low and mid levels dry out slightly, thus less coverage of
afternoon and evening thunderstorms, focused especially across
western Nebraska where low level convergence will be maximized.

Saturday...Weak shortwave aloft progged to move across near peak
heating and combined with low and mid level moisture, expect
isolated to widely scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms
again.

Sunday...Atmosphere continues to dry out somewhat again with a
surface trough progged across far southeast Wyoming. Will continue
with mention of isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

July 4th...Fairly potent shortwave moves across central Montana with
notable warming at mid levels over our counties to near 18 Celsius
at 700 mb. With limited low and mid level moisture and warming aloft,
will leave out mention of thunderstorms for now as they look isolated
at best in this pattern, so hopefully outdoor activities will be near
perfect for the holiday.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening)
Issued at 537 PM MDT Mon Jun 27 2016

Wyoming TAFS...VFR at Rawlins and Laramie. Isolated thunderstorms
Tuesday afternoon near Laramie. At Cheyenne, VFR prevails with
periods of IFR in fog from 10Z to 15Z. Isolated thunderstorms
Tuesday afternoon near Cheyenne.

Nebraska TAFS...Isolated thunderstorms until 03Z. VFR prevails,
except for IFR in fog from 07Z to 15Z. Isolated thunderstorms
again Tuesday afternoon.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 308 PM MDT Mon Jun 27 2016

Moist unstable air...favorable wind shear and a passing upper
level disturbance will produce scattered afternoon and evening
thunderstorms for areas east of the Laramie Range today and
Tuesday. Some of the storms may be severe with large hail...heavy
rain and damaging winds. Areas west of the Laramie Range can
expect isolated afternoon thunderstorms...with the potential for
dry lightning over Carbon County. The unsettled weather pattern
will continue Wednesday through the weekend with isolated to
scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms.

&&

.CYS Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
WY...None.
NE...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...MAJ
LONG TERM...RUBIN
AVIATION...RUBIN
FIRE WEATHER...MAJ

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 27, 12:42 PM MST, 5 hours 18 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
142 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-WYZ106>108-117>119-281945-
DAWES-BOX BUTTE-SCOTTS BLUFF-BANNER-MORRILL-KIMBALL-CHEYENNE-
NORTH SIOUX-SOUTH SIOUX-
CENTRAL LARAMIE RANGE AND SOUTHWEST PLATTE COUNTY-
EAST PLATTE COUNTY-GOSHEN COUNTY-SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE FOOTHILLS-
CENTRAL LARAMIE COUNTY-EAST LARAMIE COUNTY-
142 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF PANHANDLE
NEBRASKA AND SOUTHEAST WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

TORNADO WATCH 301 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING. SOME STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS THE PRIMARY THREATS. AN ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO IS ALSO
POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

SCATTERED LATE DAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY.
STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED FROM MID AFTERNOON THROUGH
EARLY THIS EVENING.

WYZ101>103-105-115-116-281945-
CONVERSE COUNTY LOWER ELEVATIONS-NIOBRARA COUNTY-
NORTH LARAMIE RANGE-SHIRLEY BASIN-LARAMIE VALLEY-
SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE-
142 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL
WYOMING...SOUTH CENTRAL WYOMING AND SOUTHEAST WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. A FEW STORMS COULD BE STRONG WITH GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL
THE PRIMARY THREATS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED LATE DAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
FRIDAY. STRONG STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON OR TONIGHT.

WYZ104-109>114-281945-
FERRIS/SEMINOE/SHIRLEY MOUNTAINS-CENTRAL CARBON COUNTY-
NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS-SOUTHWEST CARBON COUNTY-
SIERRA MADRE RANGE-UPPER NORTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN-SNOWY RANGE-
142 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON OR TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 27, 12:33 PM MST, 5 hours 27 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
133 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

NEZ003-272000-
BOX BUTTE NE-
133 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN BOX BUTTE COUNTY
UNTIL 200 PM MDT...

AT 132 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
WILD HORSE BUTTE...OR 16 MILES NORTH OF ALLIANCE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
10 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 NORTHEASTERN BOX
BUTTE COUNTY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MDT FOR WESTERN
NEBRASKA.

LAT...LON 4228 10280 4233 10284 4243 10275 4242 10275
      4229 10274 4228 10275
TIME...MOT...LOC 1932Z 237DEG 11KT 4233 10277

RUBIN

Special weather statement, Jun 27, 1:08 PM MST, 4 hours 52 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
208 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

NEZ002-003-272100-
DAWES NE-BOX BUTTE NE-
208 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN DAWES AND
NORTHEASTERN BOX BUTTE COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM MDT...

AT 208 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
WILD HORSE BUTTE...OR 16 MILES NORTH OF ALLIANCE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
10 MPH.

DIME 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 DAWES
AND NORTHEASTERN BOX BUTTE COUNTIES.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MDT FOR WESTERN
NEBRASKA.

LAT...LON 4228 10274 4229 10284 4239 10291 4245 10278
      4244 10275
TIME...MOT...LOC 2008Z 245DEG 8KT 4234 10283

RUBIN

Special weather statement, Jun 27, 2:49 PM MST, 3 hours 11 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
349 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

NEZ055-272230-
CHEYENNE NE-
349 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN CHEYENNE COUNTY
UNTIL 430 PM MDT...

AT 349 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
SUNOL...OR 14 MILES EAST OF SIDNEY...MOVING SOUTH AT 20 MPH.

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

THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  LODGEPOLE AROUND 355 PM MDT.
  SUNOL AROUND 400 PM MDT.
  COLTON AROUND 405 PM MDT.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 64 AND
77.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MDT FOR THE WESTERN
NEBRASKA PANHANDLE.

LAT...LON 4100 10263 4101 10290 4101 10291 4129 10281
      4127 10261
TIME...MOT...LOC 2149Z 009DEG 19KT 4120 10271

FINCH

Special weather statement, Jun 27, 3:11 PM MST, 2 hours 49 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
411 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

NEZ003-021-272300-
MORRILL NE-BOX BUTTE NE-
411 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN MORRILL AND SOUTH
CENTRAL BOX BUTTE COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM MDT...

AT 410 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8
MILES WEST OF ALLIANCE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

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

THIS STORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHEASTERN
MORRILL AND SOUTH CENTRAL BOX BUTTE 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MDT FOR THE WESTERN
NEBRASKA PANHANDLE.

LAT...LON 4173 10296 4206 10318 4218 10299 4192 10267
      4186 10268
TIME...MOT...LOC 2210Z 321DEG 25KT 4207 10303

FINCH

Local storm report, Jun 27, 3:31 PM MST, 2 hours 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
431 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

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

0408 PM     HAIL             10 W ALLIANCE           42.10N 103.07W
06/27/2016  M0.88 INCH       BOX BUTTE          NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

RUBIN

Special weather statement, Jun 27, 5:11 PM MST, 49 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
611 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

WYZ102-280100-
NIOBRARA COUNTY WY-
611 PM MDT MON JUN 27 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN NIOBRARA COUNTY
UNTIL 700 PM MDT...

AT 610 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
MORRISEY...OR 27 MILES SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN NEWCASTLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 20 MPH.

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

THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  MULE CREEK JUNCTION AROUND 635 PM MDT.

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 4336 10405 4332 10406 4323 10431 4348 10449
      4350 10444 4351 10442 4350 10421
TIME...MOT...LOC 0010Z 326DEG 18KT 4347 10434

FINCH

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 145 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:02 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Dawes

When: June 27, 6:00 PM MST to 6:03 PM MST
Where: Dawes County, 4 mi W of Chadron
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.830, -103.079

Golf ball size hail was reported four miles west of Chadron.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dawes

When: June 27, 6:00 PM MST
Where: Dawes County, (Cdr)chadron Airport
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.840, -103.100

The wind sensor at the Chadron Airport measured a peak gust of 72 mph.

Hail, Dawes

When: June 27, 6:03 PM MST to 6:05 PM MST
Where: Dawes County, 3 mi SW of Chadron
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.799, -103.042

Golf ball size hail was reported three miles southwest of Chadron.

Hail, Dawes

When: June 27, 6:30 PM MST to 6:33 PM MST
Where: Dawes County, 12 mi S of Chadron
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.656, -103.000

Quarter size hail was reported 12 miles south of Chadron.

Hail, Dawes

When: June 27, 6:33 PM MST to 6:36 PM MST
Where: Dawes County, 11 mi N of Crawford
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.839, -103.400

Quarter size hail was reported 11 miles north of Crawford.

Flash Flood, Dawes

When: June 27, 6:55 PM MST to 8:45 PM MST
Where: Dawes County, 2.05 mi NE of Chadron to 2.05 mi NW of Chadron
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 42.850, -102.970

One to two inches of rain in an hour produced flash flooding throughout Chadron. Many streets were inundated with one to two feet of water.

Hail, Dawes

When: June 27, 6:55 PM MST to 6:58 PM MST
Where: Dawes County, 7 mi SE of Crawford
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.608, -103.303

Quarter to half dollar size hail was reported seven miles southeast of Crawford.

Hail, Box Butte

When: June 27, 7:30 PM MST to 7:33 PM MST
Where: Box Butte County, 15 mi N of Alliance
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.317, -102.870

Nickel to quarter size hail was reported 15 miles north of Alliance.

Hail, Box Butte

When: June 27, 7:35 PM MST to 7:38 PM MST
Where: Box Butte County, 5 mi N of Hemingford
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.392, -103.070

Golf ball size hail was reported five miles north of Hemingford.

Hail, Box Butte

When: June 27, 8:30 PM MST to 8:32 PM MST
Where: Box Butte County, 2.14 mi SSE of Alliance
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.070, -102.860

Quarter size hail was reported near the Alliance Airport.

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.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Nebraska in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Nebraska, June 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: 641713, 641714, 641715, 641718, 641717, 641719, 641720, 641721, 641722, 641723.