A mesoscale convective system (MCS) developed over central Nebraska, then moved east-southeast during the early morning hours of Sunday, May 24, bringing damaging winds to portions of the area. Thunderstorms developed just west of the Hastings County Warning Area (CWA), in Lincoln and Custer Counties, around 10 PM CDT on the evening of Saturday, May 23.
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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 GID wrote it up.
A mesoscale convective system (MCS) developed over central Nebraska, then moved east-southeast during the early morning hours of Sunday, May 24, bringing damaging winds to portions of the area.
Thunderstorms developed just west of the Hastings County Warning Area (CWA), in Lincoln and Custer Counties, around 10 PM CDT on the evening of Saturday, May 23. Another line of thunderstorms developed over western Nebraska and moved eastward through the evening hours. The central Nebraska cluster was very slow moving, and even stationary at times, which allowed the two clusters to merge over Custer County around midnight on Sunday, May 24. Shortly after this merger, the line of thunderstorms gained eastward momentum and moved into Valley and Sherman Counties around 1 AM CDT, bringing with them strong, damaging winds. The line weakened slightly as it continued to track east-southeast during the early morning hours on Sunday, with the strongest activity tracking along and northeast of a line from Loup City, NE to York, NE. Measured wind gusts were generally near or less than 60 mph, including a gust of 54 mph measured by the ASOS at the Ord Airport, and a 57mph gust measured by a mesonet site at Scotia. The strongest measured gust was 63mph by a mesonet station 6 NNE of Sherman Reservoir at 1:35 AM CDT. Estimated wind gusts as high as 70 mph were reported in Valley and Sherman Counties, which resulted in the toppling of several irrigation pivots in these areas. The line of thunderstorms exited the Hastings CWA to the east between 4-5 AM CDT.
A nocturnal line of thunderstorms (aka MCS), such as this, is common for this area during the late spring and summer months. Thunderstorms were fueled by a 40 kt southerly low level jet, which advected strong instability (most unstable CAPE values near 3000 J/kg) from northern Kansas into central Nebraska and provided convergence/ascent for elevated parcels at the terminus of this jet over central Nebraska. Moderate effective shear up to 40 kt also aided in thunderstorm organization, along with an established cold pool associated with the western cluster of convection.
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 May 23, 11:44 PM CST, 46 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Hastings NE 1244 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday night) Issued at 313 PM CDT Sat May 23 2020 A front near the panhandle of Nebraska is expected to make its way east and across parts of the local area overnight...providing a trigger for potentially severe convection mainly north of interstate 80. Ahead of this front...skies have cleared across the area this afternoon...and temperatures have warmed fairly nicely...and if a storm or two is able to develop in this environment ahead of the anticipated front tonight...could see some severe hail and strong wind gusts across the local area. Model consensus initiating convection this afternoon and evening is not great...although most guidance is at least hinting at isolated convection...so cannot completely rule a few storms out during the evening hours. The better chance for convection will then come with the anticipated front overnight. This front is expected to clip portions of the forecast area generally along and north of interstate 80...and with 2000-3000 J/KG of elevated CAPE...could definitely see some pockets of severe hail reaching the size of golf balls or possibly larger. For Sunday...showers and thunderstorms are expected to increase in coverage across the center of the forecast area where the aforementioned front will be located Sunday afternoon. While again a few severe storms will be possible (see SPC outlook)... with the stalled out nature of this front...heavy rain will also become a reality...with widespread rainfall totals near 1 inch possible from Sunday afternoon through early Monday. This rainfall...on top of already saturated soils...could result in additional minor flooding...but thankfully it does not look quite as wet as just 12 hours ago. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday) Issued at 313 PM CDT Sat May 23 2020 Instability will be on the decrease across the area Monday...and while there could be a few thunderstorms around to start the day...transitioned any remaining precipitation to showers by afternoon. Thereafter...the pattern begins to change...and mainly dry weather is anticipated across the local area through much of the extended periods. This will be a result of a cut off low developing across the southern plains and remaining stationary as high pressure builds to its north and an omega block develops across much of the intermountain west and extending into the local area through the end of the work week. Model blends did keep a very small pop in the forecast for Wednesday afternoon...but confidence of this is not high...and will likely see that period go dry if this pattern change continues in future model runs. Temperature wise...seasonal temperatures are expected through the extended periods with most locations staying in the 70s to near 80 much of the week. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 06Z Monday) Issued at 1244 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020 High-res guidance shows the southern end of this MCS brushing both KEAR and KGRI around 08-09z. Could be slightly earlier. Think once this convection moves through, it'll move out by 12z. Then there will be a period of dry weather before thunderstorms are again possible late this afternoon. The better chance will be for KGRI, but KEAR is not out of it. LLWS is a concern in the short term as a strong front moves through the region. Have kept ceilings VFR for now, upstream ceilings aren't dropping to MVFR, so am on the optimistic side of that. Will amend if necessary. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. KS...NONE. && SHORT TERM...Rossi LONG TERM...Rossi AVIATION...Billings Wright
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Hastings NE 957 PM CDT Sat May 23 2020 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 241200- 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- 957 PM CDT Sat May 23 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and portions of north central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Overnight. Strong to severe thunderstorms remain possible overnight within the outlook area, especially near and north of Interstate 80 in Nebraska. The main threat will be from a complex of thunderstorms moving into the area from western Nebraska after midnight. However, more isolated activity could also develop before midnight ahead of this larger complex. Any severe storms would be capable of producing hail up to around golf ball size, and damaging winds of at least 60 MPH. In addition overnight, Flood Warnings remain in effect along portions of the Little Blue River in Adams, Clay, Nuckolls and Thayer counties in Nebraska. Please refer to the Warning statements for more information. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Flood Warnings remain in effect into Sunday or Monday along portions of the Little Blue River in Adams, Clay, Nuckolls and Thayer counties. Please refer to the Warning statements for more information. Thunderstorm chances continue through the Memorial Day weekend, and again across parts of the local area Wednesday afternoon. Severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday afternoon and evening, mainly for locations along and southeast of a line extending from Phillipsburg Kansas to Genoa Nebraska. The primary hazards from these storms will be hail to the size of ping pong balls and 60 mph wind gusts. In addition, heavy rainfall amounts in excess of one inch are possible with storms Sunday and Monday...and this additional rainfall on already saturated grounds may aggravate ongoing flooding issues, or cause new ones. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters activation may be needed overnight, mainly within counties near and north of Interstate 80. && More information may be obtained at the following web page: https://www.weather.gov/hastings Pfannkuch
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Hastings NE 1156 PM CDT Sat May 23 2020 NEZ039-040-240530- Valley NE-Greeley NE- 1156 PM CDT Sat May 23 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR GREELEY AND NORTHEASTERN VALLEY COUNTIES UNTIL 1230 AM CDT... At 1156 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles south of Ericson, or 15 miles east of Ord, moving north at 40 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Greeley and Spalding. LAT...LON 4148 9829 4157 9890 4174 9889 4174 9829 TIME...MOT...LOC 0456Z 188DEG 35KT 4168 9865 Billings Wright
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1245 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020
NEZ060-061-072-073-240630-
Buffalo NE-Phelps NE-Dawson NE-Gosper NE-
1245 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN BUFFALO...
NORTHEASTERN GOSPER AND DAWSON COUNTIES UNTIL 130 AM CDT...
At 1244 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorm
outflow winds along a line extending from near Ansley to 6 miles
southwest of Oconto to 7 miles southwest of Gothenburg. Movement was
southeast at 40 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 to 45 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Lexington, Cozad, Gothenburg, Elm Creek, Elwood, Overton, Amherst,
Sumner, Miller, Eddyville, Willow Island, Johnson Lake and Farnam.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 AM CDT for
central Nebraska.
LAT...LON 4097 10022 4105 10005 4105 9919 4095 9912
4079 9916 4052 9998 4070 9998 4070 10022
TIME...MOT...LOC 0544Z 308DEG 35KT 4125 9940 4107 9983 4087 10029
PfannkuchSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
106 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020
NEZ046-047-061-240630-
Buffalo NE-Howard NE-Sherman NE-
106 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN BUFFALO...SHERMAN AND
WEST CENTRAL HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 130 AM CDT...
At 105 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorm
outflow winds along a line extending from near Loup City to near
Litchfield to near Miller. Movement was southeast at 45 mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this outflow.
Locations impacted include...
Ravenna, Loup City, Pleasanton, Litchfield, Ashton, Rockville,
Hazard, Poole and Sherman Reservoir Dam.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
These storms 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 Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 AM CDT for
central Nebraska.
LAT...LON 4127 9869 4107 9875 4090 9894 4079 9919
4094 9918 4103 9923 4103 9943 4104 9943
4105 9942 4105 9921 4136 9920
TIME...MOT...LOC 0605Z 315DEG 39KT 4128 9907 4113 9919 4100 9940
PfannkuchPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
120 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0115 AM TSTM WND GST ARCADIA 41.42N 99.12W
05/24/2020 E50 MPH VALLEY NE EMERGENCY MNGR
ESTIMATED 50 MPH WINDS AND DIME SIZE HAIL.
&&
PFANNKUCHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
123 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0115 AM TSTM WND GST LEXINGTON AIRPORT 40.79N 99.77W
05/24/2020 M51 MPH DAWSON NE AWOS
&&
PFANNKUCHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
129 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020
NEZ046>048-060>062-072>075-082>084-240715-
Franklin NE-Merrick NE-Buffalo NE-Adams NE-Hall NE-Kearney NE-
Furnas NE-Sherman NE-Howard NE-Phelps NE-Harlan NE-Dawson NE-
Gosper NE-
129 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN...PHELPS...
KEARNEY...BUFFALO...GOSPER...SHERMAN...DAWSON...EASTERN FURNAS...
SOUTHERN HOWARD...NORTHERN HARLAN AND WESTERN HALL COUNTIES UNTIL 215
AM CDT...
At 128 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorm
outflow winds along a line extending from Ashton to near Elm Creek
to near Cambridge. Movement was southeast at 40 mph.
Wind gusts up to around 55 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Kearney, Lexington, Holdrege, Cozad, Gothenburg, Minden, St. Paul,
Gibbon, Ravenna, Wood River, Shelton, Loup City, Arapahoe, Elm Creek,
Cairo, Oxford, Bertrand, Axtell, Elwood and Beaver City.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
These storms 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 Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 AM CDT for
central Nebraska.
LAT...LON 4087 10022 4105 9993 4105 9921 4135 9920
4117 9821 4039 9896 4000 9982 4041 10010
4044 10009 4044 9998 4070 9998 4070 10022
TIME...MOT...LOC 0628Z 323DEG 36KT 4125 9881 4076 9933 4035 10016
PfannkuchThe Grand Island radar (KUEX), 127 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:29 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Wind gusts estimated to be near 70 MPH knocked over an irrigation pivot.
Wind gusts estimated to be near 70 MPH knocked over 3 irrigation pivots.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, May 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: 884252, 884262, 884251.