Although most all impacts from light wintry precipitation (mainly freezing drizzle and resultant power outages) focused slightly north of the state line in southern Nebraska, this was nonetheless a crummy Easter Sunday weather-wise in North Central Kansas. The entire area endured relentless north winds and impressively-cold temperatures by mid-April standards, with gusts commonly 40-50+ MPH and…
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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 GID wrote it up.
Although most all impacts from light wintry precipitation (mainly freezing drizzle and resultant power outages) focused slightly north of the state line in southern Nebraska, this was nonetheless a crummy Easter Sunday weather-wise in North Central Kansas. The entire area endured relentless north winds and impressively-cold temperatures by mid-April standards, with gusts commonly 40-50+ MPH and daytime highs only in the mid-upper 30s F (roughly 30 degrees below normal), promoting wind chill values only in the teens to low 20s F. While peak gusts at most local weather stations topped out slightly below severe-criteria, one personal weather station in far northeastern Jewell County clocked a 62 MPH gust during the afternoon. Fortunately, wintry precipitation was extremely-minimal across this area, consisting of no more than a dusting of snow and periods of (mostly non-freezing) drizzle.
As for the meteorological background behind this unpleasant Easter, the main player in the mid-upper levels was a large-scale trough traversing the central CONUS, highlighted by broad low pressure and various embedded disturbances extending southward from southern Canada, and also a potent southern stream shortwave trough ejecting east-northeast across Texas. Given that North Central Kansas resided slightly south of the main northern stream disturbance, mid-level saturation lacked appreciably, keeping all but very light precipitation at bay. At the surface, a powerful cold front blasted through the local area during the pre-dawn hours of the 12th, turning the pleasant temperatures in the 70s to low 80s F on the 11th into a fleeting memory. The intense north winds were driven by a stout pressure gradient between a roughly 997 millibar low tracking east across the Southern Plains and a 1032 millibar high emanating southeastward from the Northern Rockies.
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 Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 12, 11:38 AM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1238 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 303 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
Of course the main storyline today is the wind, snow and cold for
this Easter Sunday.
Up front, the main change to the forecast was lowering snow
amounts a notch and we might still be too high. The Winter Weather
Advisory for the northern half of the forecast area continues as
does the High Wind Warning for all areas.
The cold air is finally reaching the forecast area with
temperatures now in the 30s northwest of Grand Island. Hi-res
CAMS models suggest precipitation should be a bit more widespread
by now and continue to increase across the north/east. While there
is some development, the real-world is not as bullish as the
model predictions to this point. Best instability is in the
east/southeast so some thunder and lightning is possible early
today. We should see at least some increase in precipitation by
mid morning. Soundings support 1-2 hour potential period of sleet
before changing to all snow. Have continued with high
precipitation chances today, and a migrating mixture/change over
as the cold air deepens and pushes south/southeast with time.
Temperatures will rebound very little today.
Regarding the snow...trends over the last couple of days have
suggested a more northerly bent to the snow area was possible and
that is the case. There could be a round of snow mixed with sleet
this morning across the north, and then another frontogenetic band
of snow migrating from west to east late this morning and into the
afternoon. This potential second band at the height of the highest
winds could result in some low visibilities for an hour or so as
it passes. The overall results is 1" to 2" of snow in the Winter
Weather Advisory with a local 3" amount possible. Snow amounts
taper off the further south one goes into north central Kansas.
The back edge of the frontogenetic band will clear the eastern
forecast by early evening.
Regarding the wind...gusts to 40 mph already this morning and
wind gusts of 55 to 60 mph are likely today, especially from late
morning through mid-late afternoon. Winds will drop off during the
evening. Watch those wind speeds just after the frontogenetic band
passes as downward motion takes hold to help with momentum
transfer. The High Wind Warning for the whole area covers things
well.
The models are in decent agreement that this system quickly clears
the area by evening. Skies will turn clear and lows will drop into
the teens to about 20 degrees tonight. Normal low temperatures are
in the middle 30s.
.LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday)
Issued at 303 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
The main story is the chilly week ahead as temperatures average
well below seasonal normals. Single digit chill factors start the
week off Monday. Though sunny through early afternoon, look for a
brisk northwest wind continuing over about the northwest 1/2 of
the forecast for most of the day Monday. Increase windspeeds in
the given grids Monday.
Another wave rounds the bottom of the broad trough on Tuesday and
models try to spit out some trace amounts of precipitation.
Continued with a mostly dry forecast given the spare nature of
the precipitation and 2-3 day trend of a bit heavier amounts
shifting south.
Midweek sees at least some warm up with 50 degrees back in play,
though that is still 10+ degrees below the normal high temperature
for this time of year. Yet another shortwave will round the
trough again Thursday. This one is stronger and there is more
suggestion of potential precipitation. Small rain/snow/mixture
chances remain in the forecast, and this will be the main
potential precipitation event through Saturday. Dry weather
returns for Friday and Saturday.
Temperatures may start to get back to near normal by next
Saturday. Both the EC and GFS suggest better days are ahead
temperature-wise beginning next weekend.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 18Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 18Z Monday)
Issued at 1226 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
There are a few hours left of the lower visibility and ceilings as
the snow moves through the area. In a couple hours, conditions
should start to improve. Ceilings will increase through the
afternoon and become clear overnight.
&&
.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...High Wind Warning until 10 PM CDT this evening for NEZ039>041-
046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087.
Winter Weather Advisory until 10 PM CDT this evening for
NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-074>077.
KS...High Wind Warning until 10 PM CDT this evening for KSZ005>007-
017>019.
&&
SHORT TERM...NOAA/NWS/Moritz
LONG TERM...NOAA/NWS/Moritz
AVIATION...JCBHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Hastings NE 413 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 131200- 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- 413 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and portions of north central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. A High Wind Warning is posted for the entire outlook area as north winds gust up to 60 mph at times today. The highest windspeeds are likely in the late morning through mid-afternoon timeframe. Windspeeds will diminish this evening. A Winter Weather Advisory is posted for areas of south central Nebraska roughly north of a line from Holdrege to Geneva. Snow amounts of 1 to 2 inches are forecast with locally a 3 inch accumulation possible in the advisory area. The combination of the snow and wind will reduce visibilities significantly at times today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight. && More information may be obtained at the following web page: https://www.weather.gov/hastings
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1130 AM CDT SUN APR 12 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0849 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 S KEARNEY 40.59N 99.09W
04/12/2020 M58 MPH KEARNEY NE MESONET
0925 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 ENE ODESSA 40.72N 99.17W
04/12/2020 M57 MPH BUFFALO NE MESONET
0951 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SE RAVENNA 41.00N 98.87W
04/12/2020 M56 MPH BUFFALO NE MESONET
0943 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 SSE KEARNEY 40.59N 99.05W
04/12/2020 M55 MPH KEARNEY NE MESONET
1035 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 S LEBANON 39.77N 98.56W
04/12/2020 M54 MPH SMITH KS MESONET
MESONET STATION K5LEA 2.7 S LEBANON (KSKTA).
1030 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 S LEBANON 39.77N 98.56W
04/12/2020 M54 MPH SMITH KS MESONET
MESONET STATION K5LEA LEBANON 2 S.
0759 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WNW JOHNSON LAKE 40.68N 99.86W
04/12/2020 M53 MPH GOSPER NE MESONET
0745 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 N OXFORD 40.27N 99.63W
04/12/2020 M53 MPH FURNAS NE MESONET
1027 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 WNW HASTINGS 40.60N 98.43W
04/12/2020 M53 MPH ADAMS NE ASOS
ASOS STATION KHSI HASTINGS AIRPORT.
1057 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SSE BELOIT 39.46N 98.10W
04/12/2020 M53 MPH MITCHELL KS MESONET
0711 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 NNW OXFORD 40.31N 99.67W
04/12/2020 M52 MPH FURNAS NE MESONET
0934 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 ENE KEARNEY 40.72N 99.00W
04/12/2020 M52 MPH BUFFALO NE AWOS
AWOS STATION KEAR KEARNEY AIRPORT.
0955 AM NON-TSTM WND GST SMITH CENTER AIRPORT 39.76N 98.79W
04/12/2020 M52 MPH SMITH KS AWOS
0709 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 NE GOTHENBURG 40.99N 100.07W
04/12/2020 M51 MPH DAWSON NE MESONET
0914 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 ESE FAIRFIELD 40.42N 98.05W
04/12/2020 M51 MPH CLAY NE MESONET
MESONET STATION NE049 FAIRFIELD 2 WNW.
0618 AM NON-TSTM WND GST ALMA 40.10N 99.36W
04/12/2020 M50 MPH HARLAN NE MESONET
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
133 PM CDT SUN APR 12 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0115 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 NE CENTRAL CITY 41.16N 97.96W
04/12/2020 MERRICK NE PUBLIC
REPORT FROM MPING: 3-INCH TREE LIMBS BROKEN;
POWER POLES BROKEN.
0113 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 NE CENTRAL CITY 41.16N 97.96W
04/12/2020 MERRICK NE PUBLIC
REPORT FROM MPING: 3-INCH TREE LIMBS BROKEN;
POWER POLES BROKEN.
1148 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 NE CENTRAL CITY 41.16N 97.96W
04/12/2020 MERRICK NE PUBLIC
REPORT FROM MPING: 1-INCH TREE LIMBS BROKEN;
SHINGLES BLOWN OFF.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
146 PM CDT SUN APR 12 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0115 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 NE CENTRAL CITY 41.16N 97.96W
04/12/2020 MERRICK NE PUBLIC
CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 3
NE CENTRAL CITY. REPORT FROM MPING: 3-INCH
TREE LIMBS BROKEN; POWER POLES BROKEN.
1148 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 NE CENTRAL CITY 41.16N 97.96W
04/12/2020 MERRICK NE PUBLIC
CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 3
NE CENTRAL CITY. REPORT FROM MPING: 1-INCH
TREE LIMBS BROKEN; SHINGLES BLOWN OFF.
0113 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 NE CENTRAL CITY 41.16N 97.96W
04/12/2020 MERRICK NE PUBLIC
CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 3
NE CENTRAL CITY. REPORT FROM MPING: 3-INCH
TREE LIMBS BROKEN; POWER POLES BROKEN.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
148 PM CDT SUN APR 12 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0849 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 S KEARNEY 40.59N 99.09W
04/12/2020 M58 MPH KEARNEY NE MESONET
0925 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 ENE ODESSA 40.72N 99.17W
04/12/2020 M57 MPH BUFFALO NE MESONET
0951 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SE RAVENNA 41.00N 98.87W
04/12/2020 M56 MPH BUFFALO NE MESONET
0943 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 SSE KEARNEY 40.59N 99.05W
04/12/2020 M55 MPH KEARNEY NE MESONET
1035 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 S LEBANON 39.77N 98.56W
04/12/2020 M54 MPH SMITH KS MESONET
MESONET STATION K5LEA 2.7 S LEBANON (KSKTA).
1030 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 S LEBANON 39.77N 98.56W
04/12/2020 M54 MPH SMITH KS MESONET
MESONET STATION K5LEA LEBANON 2 S.
1057 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SSE BELOIT 39.46N 98.10W
04/12/2020 M53 MPH MITCHELL KS MESONET
1027 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 WNW HASTINGS 40.60N 98.43W
04/12/2020 M53 MPH ADAMS NE ASOS
ASOS STATION KHSI HASTINGS AIRPORT.
0759 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WNW JOHNSON LAKE 40.68N 99.86W
04/12/2020 M53 MPH GOSPER NE MESONET
0745 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 N OXFORD 40.27N 99.63W
04/12/2020 M53 MPH FURNAS NE MESONET
0955 AM NON-TSTM WND GST SMITH CENTER AIRPORT 39.76N 98.79W
04/12/2020 M52 MPH SMITH KS AWOS
0934 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 ENE KEARNEY 40.72N 99.00W
04/12/2020 M52 MPH BUFFALO NE AWOS
AWOS STATION KEAR KEARNEY AIRPORT.
0711 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 NNW OXFORD 40.31N 99.67W
04/12/2020 M52 MPH FURNAS NE MESONET
0914 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 ESE FAIRFIELD 40.42N 98.05W
04/12/2020 M51 MPH CLAY NE MESONET
MESONET STATION NE049 FAIRFIELD 2 WNW.
0709 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 NE GOTHENBURG 40.99N 100.07W
04/12/2020 M51 MPH DAWSON NE MESONET
0618 AM NON-TSTM WND GST ALMA 40.10N 99.36W
04/12/2020 M50 MPH HARLAN NE MESONET
0115 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 NE CENTRAL CITY 41.16N 97.96W
04/12/2020 MERRICK NE PUBLIC
CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 3
NE CENTRAL CITY. REPORT FROM MPING: 3-INCH
TREE LIMBS BROKEN; POWER POLES BROKEN.
0113 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 NE CENTRAL CITY 41.16N 97.96W
04/12/2020 MERRICK NE PUBLIC
CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 3
NE CENTRAL CITY. REPORT FROM MPING: 3-INCH
TREE LIMBS BROKEN; POWER POLES BROKEN.
1148 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 NE CENTRAL CITY 41.16N 97.96W
04/12/2020 MERRICK NE PUBLIC
CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 3
NE CENTRAL CITY. REPORT FROM MPING: 1-INCH
TREE LIMBS BROKEN; SHINGLES BLOWN OFF.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
201 PM CDT SUN APR 12 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0954 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 WNW HASTINGS 40.60N 98.43W
04/12/2020 M55 MPH ADAMS NE ASOS
ASOS STATION KHSI HASTINGS AIRPORT.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind gust of 62 MPH was recorded by a mesonet station located 6 miles east-northeast of Webber.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, April 2020
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: 883075.