Non-thunderstorm high winds associated with a passing cold front occurred in northwestern Kansas during the afternoon hours of November 14th, 2020. The maximum sustained wind speed recorded was 43 mph and the maximum wind gust speed recorded was 65 mph.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 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 GLD wrote it up.
Non-thunderstorm high winds associated with a passing cold front occurred in northwestern Kansas during the afternoon hours of November 14th, 2020. The maximum sustained wind speed recorded was 43 mph and the maximum wind gust speed recorded was 65 mph. These high winds also caused reduced visibility down to a quarter mile due to blowing dust.
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 Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 14, 12:18 PM MST, 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1218 PM MST Sat Nov 14 2020
.SHORT TERM...(Today through Monday night)
Issued at 245 AM MST Sat Nov 14 2020
Today-tonight...northwest winds increase from west to east late this
morning through the afternoon behind a cold frontal passage. The
strongest winds remain along and west of the Colorado Kansas border
where gusts up to 65 mph are expected. The current High Wind Warning
looks good at this time. High temperatures are expected to range
from 50 degrees from Yuma to Flagler to the 60 to 65 range from
Oberlin to Tribune and points east and south.
Regarding the threat for blowing dust, confidence is medium for
blowing dust to move into Yuma county around 18Z as 0.5-1km winds
increase toward 40kts. 0-2 and 2.5km lapse rates are initially
unstable with weak 3 hour pressure rises. By 21Z the area of 0.5-1km
winds over 40kts spreads southeast toward a Trenton to Colby and
Cheyenne Wells/Kit Carson line with 0-2km lapse rates around 10C/KM
(very unstable) while lapse rates in the 2-2.5km layer become more
stable favoring continued expansion of the blowing dust to the
southeast, at least from current local research so far. By 00Z the
axis of 0.5-1km winds over 40kts continues east and south while 0-2
and 2-2.5km lapse rates remain favorable. At this time of day we're
losing our heating so have stopped the blowing dust at 00z.
For tonight winds slowly decrease. Low temperatures are expected to
range from the mid teens across the west and southern zones to the
upper 20s from Norton to Hill City.
Sunday-Sunday night...the forecast area remains under fast northwest
flow aloft but with little in the way of moisture no precipitation
is expected. Southwest winds are expected to increase into the
breezy category along and south of the interstate during the late
morning through afternoon hours given good pressure falls. High
temperatures are expected to be slightly above normal in the mid 50s
to near 60. Low temperatures are expected to fall into the mid 20s
to mid 30s.
Monday-Monday night...The flow aloft remains from the northwest with
500mb heights rising slightly. 850mb temperatures warm several
degrees compared to Sunday and support highs in the low to mid 60s.
Low temperatures are expected to be above normal in the upper 20s to
low 30s.
.LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Saturday)
Issued at 1217 PM MST Sat Nov 14 2020
The main points of interest for the extended period include above
normal temperatures and elevated fire weather conditions.
The start of the forecast has a ridge firmly in place across the
plains resulting in above average temperatures and dry conditions.
Elevated fire conditions will need to be monitored for Tuesday. Wind
gusts exceeding 20knots look possible, with RH levels in the lower
20's. During the day Wednesday, the ridge slowly moves off to the
east leaving a more zonal mid level pattern. RH values drop into the
mid teens during the afternoon and winds have been trending towards
gusting to the 20 knot range. A cooling trend along with zonal flow
continues for Thursday until the next disturbance makes its way into
the Tri-State area during the afternoon/evening on Friday. A
southerly transport of moisture coupled with the disturbance will
create enough lift for a few rain showers, maybe mixing with snow
showers during the overnight hours Friday into Saturday. Confidence
is still currently low with this but will continue to be monitored
for any changes. Cooler air then moves into the area behind this
system for the latter part of the extended forecast.
Normal high temperatures for this time of the year are in the mid
50's. Normal low temperatures range from the mid to upper 20's. The
warmest day for the start of the extended period will be Wednesday
with widespread 70's and maybe a few locations pushing 80. The
surrounding days will feature highs in the 60's before a cooling
trend occurs starting Friday and eventually cooling to highs in the
upper 40's by Saturday.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon)
Issued at 1034 AM MST Sat Nov 14 2020
VFR conditions will prevail at MCK and GLD through the 18Z TAF
period with cloudy skies and strong northwest winds through the
afternoon and into the early evening. Winds will increase
dramatically following the passage of a cold front between 18-20Z.
There may be blowing dust associated with the strong winds for a
couple hours following the passage of the front, but visibility
may not drop below 6 miles with dust, so have left it out for now.
Overnight, winds above the surface inversion will remain about
50kts, so have included LLWS after about 03-06 through about
13-15Z Sunday morning at both GLD and MCK.
&&
.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...High Wind Warning until 5 PM MST /6 PM CST/ this afternoon for
KSZ001-013-027.
Red Flag Warning until 5 PM MST /6 PM CST/ this afternoon for
KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042.
CO...High Wind Warning until 5 PM MST this afternoon for COZ090>092.
Red Flag Warning until 5 PM MST this afternoon for COZ252>254.
NE...High Wind Warning until 5 PM MST this afternoon for NEZ079.
Red Flag Warning until 5 PM MST /6 PM CST/ this afternoon for
NEZ079>081.
&&
SHORT TERM...99
LONG TERM...TT
AVIATION...LOCKHARTHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Goodland KS 300 AM MST Sat Nov 14 2020 COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-151200- Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne-Rawlins-Decatur-Norton-Sherman-Thomas- Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Logan-Gove-Greeley-Wichita-Dundy-Hitchcock- Red Willow- 300 AM MST Sat Nov 14 2020 /400 AM CST Sat Nov 14 2020/ This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska... northwest Kansas and east central Colorado. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for the entire Tri-State area from 11 AM MST (12 PM CST) through 5 PM MST (6 PM CST). All outdoor burning should be avoided. A High Wind Warning remains in effect from 11 AM MST (12 PM CST) through 5 PM MST (6 PM CST) for those along and west of the Colorado Kansas border with the exception of Greeley county. Northwest winds gusting up to 65 mph are expected. Blowing dust will also be a threat across the entire area with a bit higher confidence of it occurring west of a line from Trenton to Colby to Wallace and Kit Carson. Significant visibility reductions are possible and could impact travel across area roadways, including Interstate 70. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... Near critical to critical fire weather conditions are expected Sunday, mainly along and south of Interstate 70. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. We would appreciate reports of blowing dust via telephone and social media.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 high wind, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Sustained winds of 41 mph reported by KGLD ASOS 1 mile north-northeast of Goodland, KS.
Spotter reported 1/4 visibility due to dust at 8 miles north-northwest of Monument Rocks land in KS.
High winds were seen across Thomas county based on high winds observed in the surrounding counties. Event time and wind speed estimate were based on observations from these surrounding counties.
A 58 mph non-thunderstorm wind gust was reported at KSYF AWOS in Saint Francis, KS.
Sustained winds of 43 mph reported by KNRN AWOS 1 mile north of Norton, KS.
High winds were seen across Wallace county based on high winds observed in the surrounding counties. Event time and wind speed estimate were based on observations from these surrounding counties.
High winds were seen across Rawlins county based on high winds observed in the surrounding counties. Event time and wind speed estimate were based on observations from these surrounding counties.
Sustained winds of 43 mph reported by KOIN AWOS 1 mile northwest of Oberlin, KS.
A 65 mph non-thunderstorm wind gust was reported at Mesonet station KKSHOXIE2 in Hoxie, KS.
A 60 mph non-thunderstorm wind gust was reported at KOEL AWOS 2 miles east-southeast of Oakley, KS.
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, November 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 930067, 930380, 930154, 930066, 930149, 930151, 930153, 930148, 930150, 930152.