Tornado and Hail in Kansas, May 13, 2021

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
159 PM MDT Thu May 13 2021

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday)
Issued at 130 PM MDT Thu May 13 2021

Two areas of concern for convection this afternoon and tonight.
First, along a surface trough in northeast Colorado. Cumulus has
developed there but updrafts are struggling to be sustained.
Moisture is limited, lower 40 dew points, and lift is also weak,
though there may be an embedded impulse in the northwest flow
aloft arriving in a few hours. If storms manage to develop, they
would be in a highly-sheared, weakly unstable environment. An
isolated high based supercell capable of producing large hail and
gusty winds cannot be ruled out, but probabilities are low.
Second, watching for more widespread convection to develop
upstream in west central Nebraska. CAMs in better agreement here
that convection will merge into an MCS-type of cluster and move
southeast tonight, impacting, or perhaps just grazing, the
northeast forecast area from McCook to Hill City through 06z.
Primary hazard with that complex will be gusty winds. Otherwise,
low temperatures will fall into the upper 40s to lower 50s with
clearing skies late.

For Friday, surface front will move through in the morning and
expected to be in southwest Kansas by the afternoon, leaving the
forecast area in a post frontal upslope regime. Still in a
northwest flow aloft on the downside of an upper ridge, with
another weak impulse coming through in the afternoon/evening.
Storms are expected to initiate off of the higher terrain in
eastern Colorado and propogate to the east. Large hail and
damaging winds will be possible and the entire area is in a
marginal risk for severe storms. Timing details a little uncertain
at this point, but pattern would suggest late afternoon through
the evening hours as the best chances. High temperatures will be
in the upper 70s and lows Friday night in the upper 40s to lower
50s.

For Saturday, will continue to be in a moist upslope pattern in
the low levels with the old front stalled near the Oklahoma border
area. Upper pattern becomes more zonal with the ridge axis nearly
overhead. Another in the series of impulses comes out of the
central Rockies in the afternoon and evening. So, storms should
initiate once again on the higher terrain and propagate eastward,
with the Palmer Divide perhaps a favored area. Instability will be
adequate for severe storms, but deep layer shear is lower
compared to previous days with the loss of northwest flow, which
may temper the severe threat. High temperatures will be in the
lower 70s and lows Saturday night in the upper 40s to lower 50s.

For Sunday, upper ridging persists ahead of a closed low
approaching the Four Corners. However, appears to be another
impulse coming out of Colorado in the afternoon. Location of the
surface boundary, which may drift north as a warm front, will
also play a role in convection. Instability will be adequate but
once again deep layer shear will be marginal. So, will more or
less be a consistency forecast with not much overall change in the
pattern compared to previous days, with scattered afternoon and
evening storms, marginally severe. High temperatures will be in
the lower 70s and lows Sunday night in the upper 40s to lower 50s.

.LONG TERM...(Monday through Thursday)
Issued at 159 PM MDT Thu May 13 2021

A busy and messy forecast continues for the long term period, with
chances for showers and thunderstorms each day. At the start of the
period, west to southwest flow is anticipated over the region as an
upper low gradually progresses into the Desert Southwest. To the
north, broad upper ridging spans the northern CONUS.

On Monday and Tuesday, the low and associated trough progress across
the Four Corners region with weak disturbances ejecting out ahead.
Precipitation chances prevail during this time, along with a
potential for thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours.

For Wednesday and Thursday, the latest guidance shows this system
tracking across the southern Plains, then taking a turn northward
along central/eastern Kansas. Am not sure if this track will hold
true, but as it looks now, precipitation chances persist on the
backside of the low as moisture wraps around.

Confidence remains low for this forecast due to model discrepancies
and the weather pattern in place. Additionally, while severe weather
cannot be ruled out, it seems to be limited for our area with the
higher risk being in the southern Plains where low/mid level
moisture and flow will be better.

High temperatures should be fairly steady through the period, with
only a slight increase from the mid 60s through low 70s on Monday to
the 70s region-wide for Thursday. Low temperatures range in the mid
40s to mid 50s.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon)
Issued at 1110 AM MDT Thu May 13 2021

At KGLD....low probability that a thunderstorm will impact the
terminal 22z-00z this afternoon. Isolated thunderstorm development
possible, but not certain, along a surface trough in northeast
Colorado, which would move east during the afternoon. Otherwise,
VFR expected through the TAF period.

At KMCK...a chance of thunderstorms impacting the terminal tonight
between 00z-06z. Thunderstorms expected to develop in west central
Nebraska this afternoon and then move southeast this evening,
possibly as a cluster of thunderstorms. A brief period of gusty
wind may accompany the cluster as it moves through. Otherwise, VFR
expected through the TAF period.

&&

.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...NONE.
CO...NONE.
NE...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...024
LONG TERM...JBH
AVIATION...024

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1126 AM MDT Thu May 13 2021

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-141730-
Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne-Rawlins-Decatur-Norton-Sherman-Thomas-
Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Logan-Gove-Greeley-Wichita-Dundy-Hitchcock-
Red Willow-
1126 AM MDT Thu May 13 2021 /1226 PM CDT Thu May 13 2021/

This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska...
northwest Kansas and east central Colorado.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

There is a low probability of severe thunderstorms developing in
northeast Colorado between 3-4 PM MT and moving east through early
this evening. If storms do develop, they would be capable of
producing large hail and gusty winds.

Tonight, a cluster of thunderstorms is expected to develop in west
central Nebraska and move into north central Kansas. This cluster of
storms may produce gusty winds and hail between 6 PM and midnight CT
as it moves through Red Willow, Decatur, Norton and Graham counties.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...

There is a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms across the entire
Tri-State area both Friday and Saturday during the afternoon and
evening hours.

Thunderstorm chances continue across the entire area Sunday through
Wednesday. However, the risk of severe thunderstorms appears to be
low at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be required.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Goodland KS
413 PM MDT Thu May 13 2021

COZ090-NEZ079-132230-
Yuma County CO-Dundy NE-
413 PM MDT Thu May 13 2021

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN YUMA AND
NORTHWESTERN DUNDY COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM MDT...

At 413 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 15
miles northeast of Wray, moving southeast at 10 mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Alvin.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm 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.

&&

LAT...LON 4038 10205 4035 10205 4035 10201 4027 10190
      4020 10219 4035 10222 4039 10207
TIME...MOT...LOC 2213Z 324DEG 8KT 4027 10209

AW

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Goodland KS
426 PM MDT Thu May 13 2021

COZ090-NEZ079-132245-
Yuma County CO-Dundy NE-
426 PM MDT Thu May 13 2021

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL YUMA AND
SOUTHWESTERN DUNDY COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM MDT...

At 426 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles north of Haigler, or 14 miles northeast of Wray, moving
southeast at 30 mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of east central Yuma
and southwestern Dundy Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm 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.

&&

LAT...LON 4025 10213 4030 10198 4012 10175 4003 10203
TIME...MOT...LOC 2226Z 327DEG 28KT 4018 10199

AW

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
506 PM MDT THU MAY 13 2021

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

0502 PM     HAIL             2 E HAIGLER             40.02N 101.90W
05/13/2021  U1.50 INCH       DUNDY              NE   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM MPING: PING PONG BALL (1.50
            IN.).

&&

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
519 PM MDT THU MAY 13 2021

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

0513 PM     HAIL             HAIGLER                 40.01N 101.94W
05/13/2021  M1.00 INCH       DUNDY              NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JN

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Goodland KS
525 PM MDT Thu May 13 2021

NEZ079-132345-
Dundy NE-
525 PM MDT Thu May 13 2021

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

At 525 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles northwest of Benkelman, moving east at 30 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of central Dundy
County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm 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.

&&

LAT...LON 4009 10177 4017 10180 4030 10154 4009 10145
TIME...MOT...LOC 2325Z 255DEG 24KT 4016 10168

AW

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
538 PM MDT THU MAY 13 2021

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

0508 PM     HAIL             HAIGLER                 40.01N 101.94W
05/13/2021  M1.50 INCH       DUNDY              NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL RANGED FROM 1 TO 1.5 INCHES. FROM
            SOCIAL MEDIA.

&&

JN