A very dry June and sparse rainfall through much of July led to worsening drought conditions across north central Nebraska. As of the July 25, 2017, drought monitor update, severe drought (D2) covered eastern Cherry, western Keya Paha, and most of Brown counties.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
A very dry June and sparse rainfall through much of July led to worsening drought conditions across north central Nebraska. As of the July 25, 2017, drought monitor update, severe drought (D2) covered eastern Cherry, western Keya Paha, and most of Brown counties.
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 24, 10:56 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service North Platte NE 1156 PM CDT Mon Jul 24 2017 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday) Issued at 1245 PM CDT Mon Jul 24 2017 Upper level ridge has a firm grip on the area, with heights in the process of slowly rising across the region. Nevertheless a weak surface trough should be the focus for isolated thunderstorm development later this afternoon across northwest Nebraska. With weak winds aloft and warm mid level temperatures, storms should weaken this evening with the loss of daytime heating, and this is indicated by most hi-res short term model guidance. Otherwise south winds should stay up a bit tonight as a southerly low level jet and tight surface pressure gradient reside across the area. This will help keep lows warm, with many areas remaining near 70 degrees. A strong area of low pressure will track west to east across central Canada Tuesday. This will drive a cold front south into northwest Nebraska by late afternoon. Scattered thunderstorms will develop near the front near and after peak heating. The better chance will be Tuesday night with more on that in the section below. As far as temperatures, expect another hot day Tuesday. Should be a couple of degrees warmer than today, as area will be in favorable location for the heat just in front of the approaching cold front. Will see highs nearing 100 degrees at most locations, with areas around O'Neill a little cooler due to higher humidity (but it will feel just as hot due to heat index). Meanwhile, Valentine and the surrounding drier areas will approach 105 degrees. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday) Issued at 315 PM CDT Mon Jul 24 2017 The models are pegging the disturbance across AZ this afternoon as the catalyst for numerous showers and thunderstorms Tuesday night. This is probably too fast to lift the disturbance through the Rockies. The ongoing convection across AZ should delay the arrival of the disturbance until late Tuesday night or Wednesday. The forecast is generally for rain chances of 30 to 50 percent. There will still be abundant moisture and a cold front for focus. Rain chances and much cooler weather continue Wednesday. The subtropical upper level ridge affecting the Cntl Plains will migrate back into the Desert Southwest Thursday through Monday. A deep upper level low will develop across the Ern U.S. and this will draw cool Canadian air into the Upper midwest which backs into Nebraska later this week and through the weekend. The forecast is generally dry with near seasonable temperatures. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday night) Issued at 1155 PM CDT Mon Jul 24 2017 Isolated thunderstorms will continue through the early morning hours between KANW and KONL. Some isolated showers in the KIML vcty. Clearing skies behind this precipitation with increasing high clouds through the day on Tuesday. Southwest low level jet around 2k agl 40kts will create areas of low level wind shear overnight. Strong southerly flow again on Tuesday with gusty winds. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 327 PM CDT Mon Jul 24 2017 Relative humidity around 10 percent and winds gusting to 35 mph in the Valentine area is producing critical fire danger conditions. A Red Flag Warning is in place for this condition. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory from noon CDT /11 AM MDT/ to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ Tuesday for NEZ005-006-008-009-025>027-036>038-057>059-069>071. && SHORT TERM...Taylor LONG TERM...CDC AVIATION...Power FIRE WEATHER...CDC
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service North Platte NE 316 PM CDT Mon Jul 24 2017 NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-252030- 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- 316 PM CDT Mon Jul 24 2017 /216 PM MDT Mon Jul 24 2017/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and north central Nebraska. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. With heating and an approaching upper level disturbance, isolated thunderstorms are possible in the eastern panhandle and northwestern sandhills this afternoon and evening. At this time, no severe storms are expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. Hot conditions are expected on Tuesday with highs in the upper 90s to around 100. A Heat Advisory is in place for parts of western and north central Nebraska. Scattered thunderstorms are possible Tuesday afternoon and evening across all of western and north central Nebraska. At this time, large hail, heavy rain and strong winds are the main severe threats. Thunderstorms are possible beyond Tuesday night through the end of the period. At this time, the severe threat is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight. && Get your weather, hydrological, and climate information at http://www.weather.gov/northplatte
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
742 PM CDT MON JUL 24 2017
NEZ005-006-008-250145-
Brown NE-Eastern Cherry NE-Keya Paha NE-
742 PM CDT MON JUL 24 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN CHERRY...
NORTHWESTERN ROCK...NORTHERN BROWN AND KEYA PAHA COUNTIES UNTIL 845
PM CDT...
At 741 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles southeast of Littleburg, or 15 miles east of Valentine, moving
east at 25 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Springview, Norden, Burton, Thomas Creek State Wildlife Management
Area, Smith Falls State Park, Meadville, North River Trail and
Sparks.
This includes the following highways...
Highway 183 between mile markers 207 and 225.
Highway 12 between mile markers 13 and 59.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
This storm 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 4299 9957 4273 9964 4274 9966 4272 9968
4278 10038 4300 10035 4300 9972
TIME...MOT...LOC 0041Z 280DEG 24KT 4295 10027
PowerSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
951 PM CDT MON JUL 24 2017
NEZ008-009-250330-
Brown NE-Rock NE-
951 PM CDT MON JUL 24 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN ROCK...NORTHEASTERN
BROWN AND SOUTHEASTERN KEYA PAHA COUNTIES UNTIL 1030 PM CDT...
At 951 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northeast of Ainsworth, moving east at 20 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Bassett, Long Pine, Keller Park State Recreation Area and Pine Glen
State Wildlife Refuge.
This includes the following highways...
Highway 183 between mile markers 176 and 207.
Highway 20 between mile markers 245 and 269.
LAT...LON 4273 9972 4273 9963 4272 9961 4272 9953
4273 9951 4272 9931 4245 9938 4257 9990
4274 9986 4274 9974
TIME...MOT...LOC 0251Z 280DEG 18KT 4265 9979
PowerSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service North Platte NE 1038 PM CDT MON JUL 24 2017 NEZ009-010-250430- Holt NE-Rock NE- 1038 PM CDT MON JUL 24 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL ROCK AND WEST CENTRAL HOLT COUNTIES UNTIL 1130 PM CDT... At 1037 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles south of Bassett, moving southeast at 20 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Sybrant, Twin Lakes State Wildlife Management Area and Pony Lake. This includes the following highways... Highway 183 between mile markers 167 and 181. Highway 20 near mile marker 261. LAT...LON 4245 9967 4259 9951 4237 9906 4216 9930 TIME...MOT...LOC 0337Z 310DEG 18KT 4248 9952 Power
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe drought (D2) covered generally the eastern third of Cherry County, as of the July 25, 2017, drought monitor update.
Severe drought (D2) covered about the western half of Keya Paha County as of the July 25, 2017, drought monitor update.
Severe drought (D2) covered most of Brown County, excluding the southeast corner, as of the July 25, 2017, drought monitor update.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, July 2017
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: 705496, 705497, 705498.