Isolated thunderstorms developed during the early evening hours of September 17th across southern Cherry County. Storms became severe as they tracked southeast into portions of Hooker and Thomas counties.
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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 LBF wrote it up.
Isolated thunderstorms developed during the early evening hours of September 17th across southern Cherry County. Storms became severe as they tracked southeast into portions of Hooker and Thomas counties. Hail up to half dollar size and strong thunderstorm wind gusts were reported.
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 Sep 17, 5:48 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service North Platte NE 648 PM CDT Mon Sep 17 2018 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday) Issued at 345 PM CDT Mon Sep 17 2018 The primary forecast challenges through tomorrow are temperatures and precipitation as a cold front drifts through the area. One surface low is near the WY Black Hills this afternoon with a front extending across northern Neb (roughly along the Niobrara River as of 20z). A second low is set up over the CO plains with a trough stretching north near the CO/KS/NE border area. These features will be the focus for convective development this evening into Tuesday along with a stark divide in temperatures. This evening and tonight... Expect thunderstorms to develop along and ahead of the front and continue through the night. CAMs are in general agreement with convective initiation around 00z in the panhandle and spread east through the Sandhills for the next several hours. Expanded PoP south to cover most areas north of I-80 with the greatest chances north of Hwy 2. This takes into account the southward movement of the front, which is progged to be near Hwy 2 by 06z. Overnight, the best moisture lies north of the front and convection (or general showers) becomes elevated in nature. Forecast soundings suggest a dry layer at H85-7 farther south and have left pre-frontal areas PoP-free Tuesday morning. The severe threat has decreased as a good portion of the precip will be post-frontal. Despite strong deep layer shear, CAPE is minimal and would likely not support large hail. Lows will be mild once again with lower 60s for southwest and north central Neb. CAA on the back side of the front allows temps to drop into the mid 50s for northwest Neb. Tomorrow... Continued moisture advection with east/southeast flow into the frontal zone will support periodic TSRA, mainly for central Neb. Again, not expecting much in strong/severe activity as cooler temps limit instability. The location of the front will be tricky as it sags south toward I-80 through the day, then begins to retreat north during the evening. Confidence is rather low for high temps, but went toward the warmer end of guidance in the far south and a general blend to the north. Current forecast ranges from near 70F along the SoDak border to lower 90s toward KS. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday) Issued at 345 PM CDT Mon Sep 17 2018 An upper ridge builds over the southern Plains early week and slowly moves east as a northern stream trough works across the Plains. This combination results in broad southwest flow aloft transitioning to zonal for Nebraska. At the surface, the pesky cold front hangs around the forecast area Wed into early Thu before finally pushing out of the region. A high pressure briefly settles into Upper Midwest late week and is followed by a weak front over the weekend. Wednesday and Thursday... This is the best shot at widespread precip as the front somewhat stalls across the heart of the area, then gets pushed out by the high pressure. The greatest forcing and moisture convergence occur generally late Wed into early Thu as a new lee side sfc low rides up the front. Kept likely PoP for areas east of Hwy 83. Temperatures will be difficult to forecast again, depending on where exactly the front sets up. Overall, highs south of the front won't be as warm as this past weekend due to increased cloud cover and rain chances. Farther north will be similar to Tuesday as the GFS and ECM show little advection at H85 (temps hanging around 15C). Of note, the NAM is more progressive with the system and brings the front through Wed night, which would lead to cooler temps for all areas on Thu. All solutions agree with the coolest air arriving by late Thu, leading to lows in the 40s for northwest Neb (which is right near normal). Friday and beyond... Could be looking at light rain showers on Friday as return flow around the surface high actually pulls moist air into the region. There's also the upslope component to low level flow and a weak shortwave in the vicinity. Not looking at widespread or appreciable precip, but enough to mention schc PoP. Fair conditions return for the weekend, which should include a dry fropa. Seasonable temps are in store for Friday, then a warm up is on order with strengthening southerly flow/WAA at H85. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening) Issued at 647 PM CDT Mon Sep 17 2018 A cold front will sag slowly south, reaching southwest Nebraska late tonight. The front will remain across portions of southwest Nebraska on Tuesday. The main issue with the front will be the pooling of moisture and development of low ceilings across north central Nebraska late tonight and lasting into Tuesday. Have included MVFR conditions and ceiling near OVC010 in the KVTN TAF beginning at 08Z Tuesday morning. IFR ceilings are possible. The lower ceilings should remain north of the KLBF terminal. Otherwise there will be the possibility for a few thunderstorms tonight into Tuesday morning, mainly across north central Nebraska. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...Snively LONG TERM...Snively AVIATION...Roberg
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service North Platte NE 328 PM CDT Mon Sep 17 2018 NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-182030- 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- 328 PM CDT Mon Sep 17 2018 /228 PM MDT Mon Sep 17 2018/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and north central Nebraska. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. A few thunderstorms are possible tonight, mainly north of Interstate 80. The threat for severe storms is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. Scattered thunderstorms are possible Tuesday through Wednesday night across the region. The threat for severe storms 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 Taylor
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service North Platte NE 539 PM MDT MON SEP 17 2018 NEZ094-180030- Western Cherry NE- 539 PM MDT MON SEP 17 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHERRY COUNTY UNTIL 630 PM MDT... At 539 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 16 miles northwest of Mullen, moving east at 15 mph. Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Sevenmile Hill, Marsh Flat and Highway 97 crossing Big Creek. This includes Highway 97 between mile markers 77 and 92. 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. && LAT...LON 4218 10125 4228 10130 4241 10104 4217 10091 TIME...MOT...LOC 2339Z 251DEG 15KT 4225 10119 Roberg
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service North Platte NE 735 PM CDT MON SEP 17 2018 NEZ005-024-025-094-180115- Eastern Cherry NE-Hooker NE-Western Cherry NE-Thomas NE- 735 PM CDT MON SEP 17 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHERRY... NORTHEASTERN HOOKER AND NORTHWESTERN THOMAS COUNTIES UNTIL 815 PM CDT/715 PM MDT/... At 734 PM CDT/634 PM MDT/, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8 miles north of Seneca, or 12 miles northeast of Mullen, moving east at 25 mph. Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Thedford and Giant Hill. This includes the following highways... Highway 2 near mile marker 210. Highway 83 between mile markers 147 and 164. LAT...LON 4214 10099 4226 10092 4219 10042 4196 10055 TIME...MOT...LOC 0034Z 289DEG 24KT 4216 10085 Roberg
The North Platte radar (KLNX), 23 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:49 UTC.
2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Large tree branches ranging in diameter from 8 to 12 inches reported down at this location from thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 60 MPH.
Report received via social media.
Pea to quarter sized hail reported at this location.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, September 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: 782151, 782149, 782150.