A broken line of thunderstorms produced strong winds across from northwest of Alliance to north of Sidney in western Nebraska.
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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 CYS wrote it up.
A broken line of thunderstorms produced strong winds across from northwest of Alliance to north of Sidney in western Nebraska.
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 May 24, 5:05 PM MST, 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 605 PM MDT TUE MAY 24 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 1006 AM MDT Tue May 24 2016 Ongoing forecast looks to be in good shape. did pull severe thunderstorm wording back west a little bit more to include Cheyenne. Current SPC Mesoanalyst page showing a slight cap still right along the east slopes of the Laramie Range that breaks around 17Z. Latest EMCWRF shows convection beginning shortly after that time. Could be looking at severe thunderstorms initiating around 20-21Z along the I-25 corridor (Chugwater) with storms congealing into a possible squall line late afternoon into the central and northern Panhandle towards 00Z. && .SHORT TERM...(Today through Thursday) Issued at 145 AM MDT Tue May 24 2016 The main concern with this portion of the forecast is where the convection will initiate today and where the best chance of severe storms will be. Today-Tonight: Latest water vapor loop continues to show 60 to 70 kt of jet energy moving out of the southwest with broad scale upper level diffluence developing over the Rockies. It appears the leading edge of the potential vorticity anomaly (pva) is in Northern Utah. The main challenge for today will be where this pva ends up this afternoon and where the convection will initiate. Latest NAM solution is showing this anomaly affecting the northern Laramie Range early this afternoon. Interestingly enough the experimental HRRR/local WRF solutions are showing the initial development of the convection this afternoon taking place in the northern Laramie Range as well around 18-19z. If this ends up panning out, then we may have an early threat for strong to severe storms further north around Lusk and the Northern Panhandle. However, I am not as confident that the low level moisture will get that far north with these storms possibly having higher bases. However, the low level shear (0-1km) is around 20 to 25kts at Chadron near a boundary which may favor some brief high based tornados. However, the main threat still appears to be large hail and damaging wind. Further south, it is a matter of timing of when the second piece of pva moves into northern Colorado and southern Wyoming. The local WRF/HRRR are both showing convection developing by 21z. These storms will certainly have more moisture to work with which will tend to favor lower cloud bases especially in the southern Panhandle. Effective bulk shear values will generally range from 45 to 50 kt, which will also favor rotating updrafts. A couple of these storms may also have a threat of becoming supercellular with even a possible brief tornado. Most of this convection should move northeast at 30 to 35 mph, but the right moving supercells will generally move east at 30-40 mph. All of this convection may merge into a broken squall line between 00z-03z, but most of it should exit the forecast area by around 03z. Tuesday night-Thursday: We are a bit worried about some gusty winds following the line of convection this evening. Models are showing good downward vertical motion which may allow for some good mixing before sunset. Beyond Tuesday night more upper level energy is progged to dive southeast from Montana on Wednesday. Ahead of this upper level energy we will see good downslope flow which will favor rather mild temperatures before the next wave moves through the Rockies on Thursday and brings cooler and wetter conditions. .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Monday) Issued at 330 AM MDT Tue May 24 2016 The medium range models have been consistent with the timing and track of the upper low affecting the central Rockies and plains Thursday night and Friday. This system will widespread showers and thunderstorms, with snow showers as snow levels drop to 9000 feet. Refer to the Hydrology section for details on precipitation amounts. It will be cooler than normal with highs in the 60s to near 70, with 40s and 50s for the high country. Precipitation coverage decreases somewhat this weekend and early next week as a short wave ridge develops along the Front Range ahead of the next upper trough moving into the Northwest CONUS. The best chances for convection will focus over the higher terrain, with more isolated coverage across the plains. The southwest flow aloft between a upper ridge over the central CONUS and upper trough axis to over the Northwest CONUS will allow temperatures to warm to seasonal normals with highs in the mid 60s-mid 70s, and mid 50s-mid 60s for the high country. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Wednesday evening) Issued at 553 PM MDT Tue May 24 2016 The main concern this evening is the line of convection moving through the KSNY taf site. This convection has maintained its strength during the last couple of hours, but has remained below severe limits. May see some gusty winds up to 35kts with small hail in this cluster of storms. This cluster of storms may affect the KAIA taf site as well during the next couple of hours as well, but should not be as impactful as KSNY. The other cluster of storms just west of KCDR may affect that taf site as well during the next couple of hours. Could see some small hail and gusty winds to 30 to 40 mph with this cluster as well. After this cluster of convection exits the area...clearing skies are expected during the remainder of the evening with gusty west winds tomorrow at speeds of 20 to 30 mph. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 145 AM MDT Tue May 24 2016 Fire weather concerns will be minimal during the next several days due to chances of precipitation through the period and mostly wet fuels from greenup. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 300 AM MDT Tue May 24 2016 Cool temperatures will persist through the end of the week with morning lows in the upper 20s-lower 30s and and afternoon highs in the mid 40s-lower 50s for the mountains. These cool temperatures should slow the snowmelt into the streams and tributaries of the Upper North Platte and Laramie rivers. A low pressure system will be moving across the central Rockies Thursday and Friday, with the potential for widespread precipitation on the order of a quarter to half inch. Locally higher amounts will be possible with thunderstorms. The southeast Wyoming mountains may receive one to three inches of snow, especially above 9000 feet. Will continue to monitor the impacts of rain on snow on area rivers, creeks and streams this weekend. && .CYS Watches/Warnings/Advisories... WY...None. NE...None. && UPDATE...GCC SHORT TERM...REC LONG TERM...MAJ AVIATION...REC FIRE WEATHER...REC HYDROLOGY...MAJ
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 1024 AM MDT TUE MAY 24 2016 NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-WYZ101>103-106>108-116>119- 251630- DAWES-BOX BUTTE-SCOTTS BLUFF-BANNER-MORRILL-KIMBALL-CHEYENNE- NORTH SIOUX-SOUTH SIOUX-CONVERSE COUNTY LOWER ELEVATIONS- NIOBRARA COUNTY-NORTH LARAMIE RANGE- CENTRAL LARAMIE RANGE AND SOUTHWEST PLATTE COUNTY- EAST PLATTE COUNTY-GOSHEN COUNTY-SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE- SOUTH LARAMIE RANGE FOOTHILLS-CENTRAL LARAMIE COUNTY- EAST LARAMIE COUNTY- 1024 AM MDT TUE MAY 24 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF PANHANDLE NEBRASKA...EAST CENTRAL WYOMING AND SOUTHEAST WYOMING. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS AREAS EAST OF INTERSTATE 25. THE PRIMARY HAZARDS WILL BE LARGE HAIL...POSSIBLY IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...AND DAMAGING WINDS. A COUPLE OF TORNADOES ARE NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. SOUTHEAST WYOMING STREAMS AND RIVERS WILL CONTINUE TO RUN HIGH FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. COOLER TEMPERATURES ABOVE 9000 FEET WILL SLOW THE RATE OF SNOWMELT. THOSE WITH OUTDOOR INTERESTS IN THE MOUNTAINS THIS WEEK NEED TO BE FLOOD AWARE AND BE ALERT FOR RAPID WATER RISES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY ISOLATED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK. SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL RETURNS TO PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST WYOMING AND THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE AGAIN ON THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE REQUIRED ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 25 IN SOUTHEAST WYOMING AFTER 12 PM TODAY...AND OVER THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE AFTER 3 PM. WYZ104-105-109>115-251630- FERRIS/SEMINOE/SHIRLEY MOUNTAINS-SHIRLEY BASIN- CENTRAL CARBON COUNTY-NORTH SNOWY RANGE FOOTHILLS- SOUTHWEST CARBON COUNTY-SIERRA MADRE RANGE- UPPER NORTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN-SNOWY RANGE-LARAMIE VALLEY- 1024 AM MDT TUE MAY 24 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL WYOMING AND SOUTHEAST WYOMING. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE MAINLY NEAR THE MOUNTAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY ISOLATED TO SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH DAY. SOUTHEAST WYOMING STREAMS AND RIVERS WILL CONTINUE TO RUN HIGH FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. COOLER TEMPERATURES ABOVE 9000 FEET WILL SLOW THE RATE OF SNOWMELT. THOSE WITH OUTDOOR INTERESTS IN THE MOUNTAINS THIS WEEK NEED TO BE FLOOD AWARE AND BE ALERT FOR RAPID WATER RISES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED TODAY OR TONIGHT.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
513 PM MDT TUE MAY 24 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0513 PM HAIL WHEATLAND 42.05N 104.96W
05/24/2016 E0.25 INCH PLATTE WY TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
BCHAPMANSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 520 PM MDT TUE MAY 24 2016 WYZ106>108-250000- GOSHEN COUNTY WY-EAST PLATTE COUNTY WY- CENTRAL LARAMIE RANGE AND SOUTHWEST PLATTE COUNTY WY- 520 PM MDT TUE MAY 24 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN GOSHEN AND EAST CENTRAL PLATTE COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM MDT... AT 519 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR CHUGCREEK...OR NEAR WHEATLAND...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... WHEATLAND...GUERNSEY...LINGLE...FORT LARAMIE...CHUGCREEK...GRAYROCKS RESERVOIR...FORT LARAMIE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE...LAKEVIEW NORTH... GUERNSEY CAMPGROUND...Y-O RANCH AND HARTVILLE. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 25 IN WYOMING BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 86 AND 91. 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 4198 10491 4221 10504 4253 10453 4202 10428 TIME...MOT...LOC 2319Z 243DEG 28KT 4210 10488 HAMMER
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
522 PM MDT TUE MAY 24 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0521 PM HAIL WHEATLAND 42.05N 104.96W
05/24/2016 M0.25 INCH PLATTE WY TRAINED SPOTTER
PEA TO NICKEL SIZED HAIL
&&
BCHAPMANSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
550 PM MDT TUE MAY 24 2016
NEZ021-055-250015-
MORRILL NE-CHEYENNE NE-
550 PM MDT TUE MAY 24 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CHEYENNE AND SOUTHEASTERN MORRILL
COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM MDT...
AT 550 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR POTTER TO STERLING...
AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SIDNEY...POTTER...LODGEPOLE...DALTON...GURLEY...SIDNEY AIRPORT...SUNOL...
LORENZO...COLTON AND BROWNSON.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 40 AND
77.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 4100 10262 4100 10328 4122 10331 4164 10264
4142 10264 4139 10261
TIME...MOT...LOC 2350Z 223DEG 28KT 4118 10327 4067 10322
HAMMERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 601 PM MDT TUE MAY 24 2016 WYZ103-106-107-250045- NORTH LARAMIE RANGE WY-EAST PLATTE COUNTY WY- CENTRAL LARAMIE RANGE AND SOUTHWEST PLATTE COUNTY WY- 601 PM MDT TUE MAY 24 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN PLATTE AND NORTHEASTERN ALBANY COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM MDT... AT 601 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 18 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BORDEAUX...OR 22 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WHEATLAND... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... WHEATLAND...BORDEAUX...WESTVIEW CIRCLE AND Y-O RANCH. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 25 IN WYOMING BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 71 AND 78. 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 4172 10527 4184 10544 4216 10512 4197 10486 TIME...MOT...LOC 0001Z 223DEG 26KT 4183 10528 HAMMER
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
627 PM MDT TUE MAY 24 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0553 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG GERING 41.83N 103.67W
05/24/2016 SCOTTS BLUFF NE LAW ENFORCEMENT
LARGE TREE BLOWN DOWN INTO A HOUSE.
&&
BCHAPMANThe Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 188 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:28 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Estimated wind gusts of 60 mph were reported northwest of Alliance.
Estimated wind gusts of 60 mph were reported north of Bridgeport.
Estimated wind gusts of 60 mph were reported north of Sidney.
Estimated wind gusts of 60 mph were reported at Alliance.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, May 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: 640336, 640337, 640338, 642201.