Hail in Nebraska, July 25, 2018

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
Issued by National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1232 PM CDT Wed Jul 25 2018

.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 510 AM CDT Wed Jul 25 2018

Main concern today is the potential for severe weather this
afternoon and evening.

Morning satellite/surface/radar analysis indicates several
clusters of shwrs/tstms moving SE from SD into northern NE. Cloud
tops temps associated with the convection over the Sandhills is
generally warming, with strongest activity located N of KONL and
NNW of KCDR. Latest RAP/HRRR runs are doing OK with the general
placement and trends of this activity, with the exception being
too weak with the convection near KCDR. The 00Z NAM Nest is also
doing fairly well thus far this morning.

This morning: Tstms should gradually weaken with time and with SE
extent as the nocturnal LLJ decreases. Last nights 00Z LBF
sounding was not very conducive for tstms with dry low to mid
level air and poor lapse rates. Areas with best chc for
shwrs/tstms this morning will be those along and N of Hwy 6.

Afternoon-Evening: There appears to be two main scenarios for
convective trends later today:

1) Morning convection weakly sustains itself in NW-SE fashion
into early afternoon then gradually intensifies mid to late
afternoon as differential heating increases.

2) Morning convection weakens completely, see a break late
morning to early afternoon, then see redevelopment along lingering
outflow boundaries as well as along a southward moving synoptic
cold front.

Either way, it appears that at least portions of the area will be
able to destabilize this afternoon, with the best potential for
this being across W and S portions of the CWA. For any areas that
can destabilize, should see MUCAPE top out around 2000-2500 J/kg
amidst 0-6km bulk shear values near 45kts and moderately steep
lapse rates of 7-7.5 C/km. This should be sufficient for at least
a few supercells. Main threats should be large hail up to golf
ball size and wind gusts near 60 mph. Locally heavy rain is also
possible given PWATS of 1.75"-2.00" pooling along the boundary.
Cant completely rule out a brief/iso tornado given directional
shear in lowest km or two and potential for a supercell to latch
onto outflow/differential heating boundary, but certainly won't be
a big threat.

Model wise, the 00Z NAM Nest shows best potential for svr tstms
for areas along and S of I-80, but latest HRRR keeps best
potential along and S of the state line. From an ensemble
perspective, SREF/HREF calibrated probabilities generally point to
areas from Lexington, to Holdrege, to north central KS zones with
the highest threat. There is a broad SLGT risk across the entire
area though I suspect N portions of this may be trimmed back as
effects of morning convection become more clear as the day wears
on.

Highs today reflect potential for more convective debris across
N/E with lesser for the S/W and have actually increased highs for
KS zones a couple of deg into mid 90s.

Overnight: There will be a window for tstm coverage to increase
with the LLJ late this evening before the synoptic cold front
drives activity further S late overnight. Thus, have highest POPs
of 60-70% across areas along/S of state line in 03Z-06Z time
frame. Any severe threat should end by around 05Z and most areas
will dry out by dawn on Thu.

.LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday)
Issued at 510 AM CDT Wed Jul 25 2018

Below normal temperatures and several chances for showers and
thunderstorms continues through much of the extended periods.

The general upper level pattern of SW CONUS ridging and NE CONUS
troughing will continue into the middle of next week, resulting in
continued NW flow for the Central Plains. H5 height anomalies,
per latest EC EPS, are forecast to be 2-3 std dev below normal.
The deep Mid-MS Valley trough Mon-Tue will slowly fill middle of
next week, but below normal heights/H85 temps likely to continue
into at least first few days of August.

Mid level return flow/WAA may generate some elevated convection
Thu night into Fri AM, particularly for areas W of Hwy 281. A
stronger mid level impulse will rotate through the
Central/Northern Plains into Upper Midwest Fri-Sat will bring
another good chc for shwrs/tstms, particularly Fri night into Sat
AM. A cold front associated with this impulse as well as
precip/cloud cover will help reinforce cool temps.
Models/Superblend have trended drier for Sun as drier air noses
into the area due to increasing influence of sfc ridging. If the
drying trend on Sun continues, the combination of highs in the 70s
and dew points in the 50s could lead to a very pleasant end to
the weekend.

Latest Superblend gives dry conditions for Sun night thru Tue
night. This seems reasonable given the aforementioned deep trough
will be largely E/SE of the area with large scale subsidence for
the local CWA. However, will need to watch for a brief, fast-
moving shortwave in the continued NW flow. Expect highs early next
week in the mid 70s to low 80s, generally about 10 deg below
normal. Lows will be pleasant as well in the mid 50s to low 60s.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 18Z Thursday)
Issued at 1230 PM CDT Wed Jul 25 2018

VFR conditions at both TAF sites. Thunderstorms remain in the
vicinty at GRI through 03z, and at EAR through 09z.

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...None.
KS...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...Thies
LONG TERM...Thies
AVIATION...NWS Omaha

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Hastings NE
319 PM CDT Wed Jul 25 2018

KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-
261200-
Phillips-Smith-Jewell-Rooks-Osborne-Mitchell-Valley-Greeley-Nance-
Sherman-Howard-Merrick-Polk-Dawson-Buffalo-Hall-Hamilton-York-
Gosper-Phelps-Kearney-Adams-Clay-Fillmore-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin-
Webster-Nuckolls-Thayer-
319 PM CDT Wed Jul 25 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and
portions of north central Kansas.

.DAY ONE...This Evening and Tonight.

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible during the evening,
primarily for areas south of Interstate 80. The storms will be
capable of producing large hail up to golf ball size and damaging
winds to 70 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

There will be periodic chances for thunderstorms across portions
of the outlook area Thursday into Monday, with best chances for
more widespread thunderstorms being Friday afternoon into Saturday
morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed this evening for locations south
of Interstate 80.

&&

More information may be obtained at the following web page:
   https://www.weather.gov/hastings

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service HASTINGS NEBRASKA
Issued by National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
205 PM CDT WED JUL 25 2018

NEZ082-251930-
Furnas NE-
205 PM CDT WED JUL 25 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN FURNAS COUNTY UNTIL
230 PM CDT...

At 205 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm west
of Cambridge, or 21 miles east of McCook, moving southeast at 30 mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Cambridge and Wilsonville.

LAT...LON 4035 10012 4024 9995 4007 10014 4014 10020
      4035 10020
TIME...MOT...LOC 1905Z 315DEG 28KT 4026 10021

DEWALD

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service HASTINGS NEBRASKA
Issued by National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
213 PM CDT WED JUL 25 2018

KSZ007-019-251945-
Jewell KS-Mitchell KS-
213 PM CDT WED JUL 25 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN MITCHELL AND EASTERN
JEWELL COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM CDT...

At 212 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Montrose to near Glen Elder. Movement was
southeast at 25 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Beloit, Mankato, Glen Elder, Jewell, Asherville, Formoso, Randall,
Webber, Scottsville, Lovewell State Park and Montrose.

LAT...LON 3949 9843 3999 9804 3997 9793 3922 9794
      3922 9798
TIME...MOT...LOC 1912Z 297DEG 23KT 3982 9809 3955 9832

DEWALD

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
259 PM CDT WED JUL 25 2018

NEZ061-062-252030-
Buffalo NE-Hall NE-
259 PM CDT WED JUL 25 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN BUFFALO AND
SOUTHWESTERN HALL COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM CDT...

At 259 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Shelton, or 16 miles east of Kearney, moving southeast at 25 mph.

Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Gibbon and Shelton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 4091 9873 4073 9855 4070 9860 4070 9872
      4069 9872 4069 9875 4068 9876 4068 9881
      4081 9891
TIME...MOT...LOC 1959Z 318DEG 22KT 4079 9879

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