Nebraska, 2021High Wind in Nebraska, November 11, 2021
November 11, 2021 · NWS GID · 1 event in 1 county or zone
A strong low pressure system moved across the Northern Plains and into the Upper MS. Valley during the afternoon and evening hours of November 11th and forced a series of cold fronts through south central Nebraska.
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.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
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- Heat and drought
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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.
A strong low pressure system moved across the Northern Plains and into the Upper MS. Valley during the afternoon and evening hours of November 11th and forced a series of cold fronts through south central Nebraska. NW wind gusts of 40-50 MPH were common behind the Pacific cold front during the afternoon hours, but even stronger winds were measured behind the Arctic cold front later on in the evening hours. This is when a 61 MPH wind gust was measured at the often windy Ord Airport. It is possible that near-60 MPH wind gusts extended further E/SE into Greeley and Nance Counties, but no severe gusts were measured or reported. There were no known impacts from the gusty winds.
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 Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 11, 6:18 PM CST, 3 hours 20 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Nov 11, 6:18 PM CST, 3 hours 20 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Hastings NE
618 PM CST Thu Nov 11 2021
.UPDATE...
Issued at 615 PM CST Thu Nov 11 2021
Allowed the Red Flag Warning to expire at 6PM CST as relative
humidity values have climbed to 25 to 30 percent and will continue
to increase as temperatures cool with loss of insolation. Strong,
gusty NW winds are still expected overnight. We may see a lull in
winds (or at least less frequent high end gusts) for a few hrs
this eve, but forecast soundings and H7/H850 plan view charts
suggest another surge in gusts ramping up in the 03-06Z time
frame. No changes to the High Wind Warning headline attm.
&&
.DISCUSSION...(This evening through Thursday)
Issued at 325 PM CST Thu Nov 11 2021
Main concerns in this forecast package revolve around the strong
northwest winds this afternoon through Friday.
Today we have seen winds increase, especially this afternoon as a
strong low pressure system continues to deepen over MN/WI and we
see a tightening pressure gradient at the surface. Many spots
across our CWA have already seen 40-50 MPH gusts and some spots in
northern Nebraska have even reached 60 MPH. Therefore went ahead
and nudged winds higher than model guidance and issued a High Wind
Warning for our north. Upcoming shifts will need to keep a close
eye on the potential for expanding this tonight.
Speaking of tonight, we will probably see a lull in winds as
mixing decreases this evening. But this should be relatively short
lived, as winds pick up again in the cold air advection behind
the polar front. Model soundings indicate that the boundary layer
will remain fairly well-mixed up to around 800mb, and winds at the
top of this layer are in excess of 50kts in many cases.
Therefore, it is entirely possible that portions of Nebraska
continue reach high wind criteria through the early morning hours
on Friday. Some previous model runs had shown some light rain near
our area on the nose of the upper jet tonight, but the consensus
is that this will remain to our southwest.
On Friday morning, far northeastern portions of the forecast area
could pick up some flurries or light snow on the back side of the
system. This may cause minor visibility issues, especially with
the wind, but any significant impact should remain farther to our
northeast. Regardless, it will NOT be a nice day with continued
strong winds and temperatures struggling to reach 40 degrees
across most of the area. Winds decrease Friday afternoon as the
upper low pushes eastward. This should allow temperatures to fall
into the upper teens and twenties Friday night.
Temperatures will trend warmer on Saturday, with highs returning
to the 50s and 60s for most. Another fast-moving clipper system
may bring some light rain/snow to portions of the area Saturday
night, but no significant impacts are expected.
Sunday will be a bit cooler again behind this system, but we will
trend warmer Monday and Tuesday as the upper level flow becomes
more zonal. In fact, some parts of the area could once again see
highs in the low 70s on Tuesday. Another cold front then looks to
cool us back down for the middle to end of next week.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 00Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 00Z Saturday)
Issued at 605 PM CST Thu Nov 11 2021
Significant weather: Very strong NW winds much of the period.
Strong wind gusts from the late aftn hrs will likely decr for at
least a few hrs this eve. However, model forecast soundings
indicate an uptick in mixing depth and arrival of another surge
in winds towards midnight that will likely continue through around
midday on Fri. Sustained winds 25-30kt and gusts around 45kt
expected during this time. Should see a steady decline through Fri
aftn. As for clds, the main thing to watch will be arrival of
stratocu deck late tonight that continues through Fri AM. Latest
data suggests CIGs should remain VFR (3500-4500ft), but wouldn't
be surprised if either site were to get close to high end MVFR for
an hr or two. Cld cover should also decr Fri aftn. Confidence:
Medium to high.
&&
.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...High Wind Warning until noon CST Friday for NEZ039>041-046>048.
KS...NONE.
&&
UPDATE...Thies
DISCUSSION...Mangels
AVIATION...Thies
Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 11, 2:47 PM CST, 6 hours 51 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Hastings NE
247 PM CST Thu Nov 11 2021
KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-
121200-
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-
247 PM CST Thu Nov 11 2021
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and
portions of north central Kansas.
.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.
Strong northwest winds continue tonight. Wind gusts of 40 to 50
MPH are expected at times, and portions of the area north of
Interstate 80 could see wind gusts as high as 60 MPH. A High Wind
Warning is in effect for this area through Friday morning.
Critical fire weather conditions will also continue across over a
large portion of central Nebraska and northern Kansas this
afternoon due to the strong winds and low relative humidity. Refer
to the Red Flag Warning message for more information.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.
Strong northwest winds continue through Friday, and the High Wind
Warning remains in effect until noon.
.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
High Wind, Valley
- When
- November 11, 9:38 PM CST
- Where
- Valley forecast zone
- Measured
- 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 41.567, -98.982 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A wind gust of 61 MPH was measured by the Ord Airport ASOS.
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Heavy Snow in Minnesota, November 11 to 12, 20212 deaths · 2 injured · 3 events
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, November 11, 2021$95,000 · EF1 · 11 events
- Damaging Wind and Lightning Strikes in Arkansas, November 11, 2021$150,000 · 61 kt wind · 3 events
- Flooding in Oregon, November 11 to 12, 2021$60,000 · 5 events
- Wildfire and Heat in California, November 11 to 15, 2021$5,000 · 58 kt wind · 23 events
- High Wind in South Dakota, November 11 to 12, 202165 kt wind · 20 events
- High Wind in South Dakota, November 11 to 12, 202171 kt wind · 17 events
- High Wind in South Dakota, November 11 to 12, 202164 kt wind · 13 events
- High Wind and Strong Wind in Michigan, November 11, 2021$13,000 · 50 kt wind · 5 events
- Lightning Strike in Texas, November 11, 2021$15,000 · 1 event
- High Wind in North Dakota, November 11, 202158 kt wind · 8 events
- Blizzard in South Dakota, November 11 to 12, 20217 events
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: 988049.