Thunderstorms produced large hail, very heavy rainfall and a weak tornado across Kimball County.
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 CYS wrote it up.
Thunderstorms produced large hail, very heavy rainfall and a weak tornado across Kimball County.
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 Jul 28, 2:03 PM MST, 2 hours 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 303 PM MDT Sat Jul 28 2018 .UPDATE... Issued at 257 PM MDT Sat Jul 28 2018 Updated forecast to include the Tornado Watch in effect for all of the western Nebraska panhandle in addition to most zones in southeast wyoming, but does not include Carbon county. Watch is good until 10 PM MDT. Updates have been sent. && .SHORT TERM...(This Afternoon - Sunday Night) Issued at 129 PM MDT Sat Jul 28 2018 The primary focus for this afternoon/evening will be the potential for an outbreak of severe thunderstorms across southeast Wyoming & the western Nebraska Panhandle. 1-minute visible satellite imagery indicates low-level stratus has largely cleared across the region, but skies remain mostly cloudy w/some mid-level convection already ongoing. Nonetheless, surface heating appears to be well under way with temperatures already in the mid/upper 70s across a large part of the area. This, in conjunction with widespread dew points of 55 to 65 F along/east of the Laramie Range & very steep mid-lvl lapse rates is contributing to 2500+ J/Kg CAPEs per the latest Mesoscale Analysis from SPC. Only weak capping remains, and initiation could occur between 2pm-3pm MDT w/storms likely to become quite numerous over the plains by 5pm. Any storms that develop today could be associated w/ a high threat for severe weather. Modest southeasterly low-level flow beneath 20 to 25 knot WSW flow at 700 mb is already contributing to effective SRH upwards of 200 m2/s2 which should be plenty favorable for low- level mesocyclones. Effective bulk shear of 50-60 kts and straight line hodographs will favor intense supercell structures along with an enhanced likelihood for splitting cells. The primary hazard may be very large and potentially destructive hail. However, low-level shear profiles could support tornadoes w/ discrete storms. Despite fairly modest southeasterly near-sfc flow, any right moving storms will be ingesting moist/high-helicity air. LCLs only around 1000ft could further support tornadogenesis. STP values already exceed 1- 2, and may increase further over the next few hours. The potential for an isolated strong tornado cannot be ruled out, especially for areas along/south of a Wheatland-Alliance line as storms track SSE into a considerably more favorable environment later today. Latest SPC SREF Ensembles illustrate this threat well w/ numerous intense updraft helicity tracks across the CWA. A risk for severe thunderstorms will exist on Sunday as well along and east of the Laramie Range, but the overall risk is unlikely to be as volatile as today. .LONG TERM...(Monday - Saturday) Issued at 129 PM MDT Sat Jul 28 2018 Upper-level ridging will take shape across the western CONUS after Sunday, giving way to a period of warmer and drier weather. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon) Issued at 1147 AM MDT Sat Jul 28 2018 A few lingering pockets of MVFR ceilings continue across southeast Wyoming and the western Nebraska Panhandle this afternoon, but the general trend should be for low-level stratus to rapidly dissipate giving way to predominantly VFR conditions. Convective chances are the main aviation concern today. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop by mid afternoon, especially along/east of the Laramie Range. Some storms will likely be severe with very large hail (surface & aloft), damaging winds, and also a possibility of a tornado or two. Thunderstorms should diminish mid to late evening. Low stratus and possible IFR/LIFR ceilings should return to KCYS/KSNY and possibly KBFF overnight lingering into Sun morning. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 426 AM MDT Sat Jul 28 2018 This remainder of the weekend will be wet with more scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms especially along and east of the Laramie Range. This precipitation will limit any fire weather concerns. Fire weather Zones 303 and 304 will be the exception with lower humidities around 15 to 20 percent and wind speeds around 10 to 15 mph both today and Sunday. Drier weather is expected next week which allow for the fuels to dry out with afternoon humidities dropping to 15 to 30 percent by the middle of next week. && .CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WY...None. NE...None. && UPDATE...TJT SHORT TERM...CLH LONG TERM...CLH AVIATION...CLH FIRE WEATHER...REC
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 250 PM MDT Sat Jul 28 2018 NEZ002-003-019>021-054-055-095-096-WYZ101>103-106>108-115>119- 291845- 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-Laramie Valley- South Laramie Range-South Laramie Range Foothills- Central Laramie County-East Laramie County- 250 PM MDT Sat Jul 28 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of western Nebraska...east central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A Tornado Watch is in effect until late this evening. Numerous afternoon and evening severe thunderstorms will be possible again. The main threats with these storms will be hail up to baseball size, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes as well. The thunderstorms should move out of the area by midnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY Another round of severe weather is expected Sunday afternoon and evening. These storms will also be capable of producing large hail and damaging winds. .Spotter information statement... Skywarn spotter activation is expected this afternoon and evening WYZ104-105-109>114-291845- 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- 250 PM MDT Sat Jul 28 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A few strong to severe thunderstorms will develop mainly along and east of the Laramie range this afternoon and evening. The main threats with these storms will be large hail up to quarter size and damaging winds. These thunderstorms should move out of the area by sunset. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY More scattered strong to severe thunderstorms will develop mainly along and east of Laramie range Sunday afternoon and evening. The main threats with these storms will be large hail up to quarter size, damaging winds and brief heavy rainfall. These thunderstorms should move out of the area by sunset. .Spotter information statement... Skywarn spotter activation is expected this afternoon and this evening.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
431 PM MDT SAT JUL 28 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0430 PM HAIL LUSK 42.76N 104.45W
07/28/2018 E0.50 INCH NIOBRARA WY LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&
BCHAPMANSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 435 PM MDT SAT JUL 28 2018 NEZ002-095-096-282315- Dawes NE-North Sioux NE-South Sioux NE- 435 PM MDT SAT JUL 28 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN DAWES AND NORTHEASTERN SIOUX COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM MDT... At 435 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9 miles south of Montrose, or 35 miles south of Edgemont, moving southeast at 20 mph. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Crawford, Fort Robinson Campground and Fort Robinson. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT for the Panhandle of Nebraska. LAT...LON 4281 10391 4290 10357 4260 10323 4243 10375 TIME...MOT...LOC 2235Z 332DEG 19KT 4278 10374 Trudel
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
445 PM MDT SAT JUL 28 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0439 PM TORNADO 23 SW GLENDO 42.27N 105.34W
07/28/2018 ALBANY WY LAW ENFORCEMENT
MOVING SOUTHEAST
&&
BCHAPMANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
524 PM MDT SAT JUL 28 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0522 PM HAIL 4 N WHEATLAND 42.11N 104.96W
07/28/2018 E0.50 INCH PLATTE WY CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
BCHAPMANSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Cheyenne WY 530 PM MDT SAT JUL 28 2018 WYZ101-290015- Converse County Lower Elevations WY- 530 PM MDT SAT JUL 28 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN CONVERSE COUNTY UNTIL 615 PM MDT... At 530 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13 miles south of Pine Tree Junction, or 25 miles southwest of Wright, moving southeast at 35 mph. Nickel size hail will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Bill. 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. && A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT for east central Wyoming. LAT...LON 4311 10497 4286 10571 4350 10591 4350 10559 TIME...MOT...LOC 2330Z 330DEG 39KT 4342 10572 Hammer
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
536 PM MDT SAT JUL 28 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 PM HAIL KIMBALL 41.23N 103.66W
07/28/2018 E0.50 INCH KIMBALL NE TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
BCHAPMANThe Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:41 UTC.
1 tornado, 1 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A EF0 tornado briefly touched down three miles west of Kimball and moved southeast for a few minutes before lifting. A truck driver reported that the funnel he was watching became rain-wrapped before it spun his vehicle 45 degrees.
Baseball size hail was observed at the landfill.
More than two inches of rain in an hour produced flash flooding in Kimball. Several streets and underpasses were inundated by more than a foot of water.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Nebraska, 2018Warnings in Nebraska, July 2018
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: 783133, 783134, 783136.