Hail and Damaging Winds in Nebraska, August 15 to 16, 2019

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Nebraska, August 15 to 16, 2019
Start: 2019-08-15T14:26
End: 2019-08-16T01:44
Location: Nebraska

August 15 to 16, 2019 · NWS CYS · 25 events in 5 counties and zones

Two rounds of severe thunderstorms moved across the Nebraska Panhandle. The first afternoon round struck the Scotts Bluff County area with over 2 inch hail stones.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 25

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS CYS wrote it up.

Two rounds of severe thunderstorms moved across the Nebraska Panhandle. The first afternoon round struck the Scotts Bluff County area with over 2 inch hail stones. The second subsequent severe thunderstorms rolled across in the overnight and early morning hours producing yet another round of large hail and winds over 50 knots. Much of the damage reported in Scottsbluff were from vehicles, residential windows, sidings and roofs, and crop damage. An aircraft waiting to depart in the afternoon was damage that passengers had to disembark and a new airplane had to be brought in.

What forecasters said that day

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 Aug 15, 1:33 PM MST, 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 15, 1:33 PM MST, 53 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
233 PM MDT Thu Aug 15 2019

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday)
Issued at 233 PM MDT Thu Aug 15 2019

A couple strong to severe storms moving across northern Goshen
county presently. These likely set off by the southern fringe of a
shortwave moving across South Dakota as well as a diffuse outflow
boundary. Some question as to how far they will progress into the
Panhandle the rest of the afternoon. Of more concern is the
likelihood for another round of strong convection later this
evening/tonight up north as another shortwave passes by, a
similar setup to last night. Activity should move out of the CWA
very late tonight or early Friday morning.

Friday and Saturday will continue to have a chance for convection
mainly east of the mtns but should be isolated. Sufficient shear
and instability for a few strong to severe storms but forcing
remaining rather low.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday night through Thursday)
Issued at 233 PM MDT Thu Aug 15 2019

A warmer and mainly dry weather regime should build into the area
Sunday into early next as the upper high builds over the region
and the stronger westerlies lift well north of the area. Chances
for isolated mainly late day showers and storms should return by
midweek as a bit of moisture lifts northward into the region.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon)
Issued at 1055 AM MDT Thu Aug 15 2019

Nocturnal thunderstorms and low flight categories look to return
to the Nebraska Panhandle and KCYS tonight...similar to what we
had this morning. HRRR guidance showing this as well as LAMP MOS
guidance. Generally followed both of these forecast tools for the
18Z TAFs today. Looks like KAIA could get hit pretty good this
evening as HRRR simulated radar shows a severe storm moving
through KAIA around 08Z. Still too early to put that in the KAIA
TAF...but later shifts may need to add.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 233 PM MDT Thu Aug 15 2019

Little change is seen in the weather conditions through the
weekend with critical to near critical conditions looking to
remain confined to southwestern Carbon county. Another round of
showers and storms is expected mainly over east central Wyoming
across the northern Nebraska panhandle tonight with more isolated
activity east of the mountains Friday and Saturday. Mainly dry
and warmer conditions will move in Sunday and continue into early
next week.

&&

.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for WYZ304.

     Fire Weather Watch from Friday afternoon through Friday evening
     for WYZ304.

NE...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...RE
LONG TERM...RE
AVIATION...GCC
FIRE WEATHER...RE

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 15, 9:43 AM MST, 4 hours 43 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
1043 AM MDT Thu Aug 15 2019

NEZ002-003-019-021-095-096-WYZ101-102-107-108-161000-
Dawes-Box Butte-Scotts Bluff-Morrill-North Sioux-South Sioux-
Converse County Lower Elevations-Niobrara County-
East Platte County-Goshen County-
1043 AM MDT Thu Aug 15 2019

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of western
Nebraska...east central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

Isolated thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon with a few
strong storms possible. A somewhat greater threat for scattered
strong to severe storms is expected later tonight with large hail
the main threat.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

Widely scattered showers and storms are expected mainly on Friday,
with a few of the storms possibly becoming severe, mainly over the
Nebraska Panhandle.

.Spotter information statement...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NEZ020-054-055-WYZ103>106-109>119-161000-
Banner-Kimball-Cheyenne-North Laramie Range-
Ferris/Seminoe/Shirley Mountains-Shirley Basin-
Central Laramie Range and Southwest Platte County-
Central Carbon County-North Snowy Range Foothills-
Southwest Carbon County-Sierra Madre Range-
Upper North Platte River Basin-Snowy Range-Laramie Valley-
South Laramie Range-South Laramie Range Foothills-
Central Laramie County-East Laramie County-
1043 AM MDT Thu Aug 15 2019

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of western
Nebraska...south central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

Isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible into this evening
but the severe threat is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.Spotter information statement...

Spotter activation will not be needed.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 15, 12:08 PM MST, 2 hours 18 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
108 PM MDT Thu Aug 15 2019

WYZ101-102-152000-
Converse County Lower Elevations WY-Niobrara County WY-
108 PM MDT Thu Aug 15 2019

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN NIOBRARA AND EAST
CENTRAL CONVERSE COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM MDT...

At 108 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Manning Ranch, or 24 miles northwest of Lusk, moving southeast at
40 mph.

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

Locations impacted include...
Lusk, Manville, Keeline, Lance Creek and Manning Ranch.

LAT...LON 4297 10502 4311 10490 4297 10421 4262 10465
TIME...MOT...LOC 1908Z 305DEG 39KT 4297 10484

Claycomb

Local storm report, Aug 15, 1:53 PM MST, 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
253 PM MDT THU AUG 15 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0234 PM     HAIL             23 N TORRINGTON         42.40N 104.18W
08/15/2019  M1.00 INCH       GOSHEN             WY   PUBLIC

&&

WILLS

Local storm report, Aug 15, 2:15 PM MST, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY
315 PM MDT THU AUG 15 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0306 PM     HAIL             14 NNE TORRINGTON       42.25N 104.08W
08/15/2019  M2.00 INCH       GOSHEN             WY   STORM CHASER

            2 INCH HAIL OBSERVED BY STORM CHASER.

&&

WILLS

The radar

The Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 123 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:25 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Sioux

When: August 15, 2:26 PM MST
Where: Sioux County, 28.11 mi S of Agate
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.020, -103.890

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 15, 2:41 PM MST to 2:44 PM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, 0.86 mi NE of Scottsbluff
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.880, -103.660

Observer had windows broken out by the wind-driven hail.

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 15, 2:43 PM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, 1.54 mi E of Scottsbluff
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 41.870, -103.640

Severe hail damage across the city of Scottsbluff including residential windows broken, roof damage, flattened crops, vehicle windshields and debarked trees.

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 15, 2:45 PM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, 0.86 mi NE of Scottsbluff
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.880, -103.660

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 15, 2:46 PM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, 0.51 mi E of Scottsbluff
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.870, -103.660

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 15, 2:52 PM MST to 2:57 PM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, Minatare
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.810, -103.500

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 15, 3:00 PM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, 0.69 mi S of Melbeta
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.770, -103.520

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 15, 3:06 PM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, 2.07 mi S of Melbeta
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.750, -103.520

Hail, Cheyenne

When: August 15, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Cheyenne County, Dalton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.410, -102.970

Hail, Cheyenne

When: August 15, 4:32 PM MST
Where: Cheyenne County, 6.41 mi NNE of Colton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.240, -102.830

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 16, 12:21 AM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, 0.51 mi E of Morrill
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.960, -103.920

Hail, Box Butte

When: August 16, 12:24 AM MST
Where: Box Butte County, Alliance
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 42.100, -102.870

Thunderstorm Wind, Box Butte

When: August 16, 12:32 AM MST
Where: Box Butte County, 0.69 mi S of (Aia)alliance Arpt
Measured: 67 kt (77 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.050, -102.800

Thunderstorm wind gusts measured at Alliance Municipal Airport.

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 16, 12:40 AM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, 0.51 mi W of Gering
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.830, -103.670

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 16, 12:40 AM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, 0.51 mi E of Scottsbluff
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 41.870, -103.660

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 16, 12:42 AM MST to 12:52 AM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, 0.51 mi E of Scottsbluff
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.870, -103.660

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 16, 12:45 AM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, 0.51 mi W of Gering
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.830, -103.670

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 16, 12:47 AM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, 2.17 mi ENE of Gering
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 41.840, -103.620

Hail, Scotts Bluff

When: August 16, 12:49 AM MST
Where: Scotts Bluff County, Minatare
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.810, -103.500

Thunderstorm Wind, Box Butte

When: August 16, 12:54 AM MST
Where: Box Butte County, Alliance
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.100, -102.870

Hail, Morrill

When: August 16, 1:05 AM MST
Where: Morrill County, Bayard
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.760, -103.320

Hail, Morrill

When: August 16, 1:24 AM MST
Where: Morrill County, Bridgeport
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 41.670, -103.100

Hail, Morrill

When: August 16, 1:30 AM MST
Where: Morrill County, 4.02 mi SE of Bridgeport
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.626, -103.049

Hail accumulated to over one inch deep.

Hail, Morrill

When: August 16, 1:42 AM MST
Where: Morrill County, 2.08 mi SW of Broadwater
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 41.580, -102.880

Hail, Morrill

When: August 16, 1:44 AM MST
Where: Morrill County, Broadwater
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 41.600, -102.850

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Nebraska in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in Nebraska, August 2019

Sources

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: 838998, 838999, 839000, 839001, 839002, 839003, 839004, 839005, 839006, 839007, 839008, 839009, 839010, 839011, 839012, 839013, 839014, 839015, 839016, 839017, 839018, 839019, 839020, 839021, 839022.