A large complex of thunderstorms brought scattered severe wind gusts to portions of south central Nebraska during the early morning hours of August 2nd. A large thunderstorm complex developed during the late evening hours of August 1st over the High Plains, then rolled east into south central Nebraska between 1-2 AM CDT.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
A large complex of thunderstorms brought scattered severe wind gusts to portions of south central Nebraska during the early morning hours of August 2nd. A large thunderstorm complex developed during the late evening hours of August 1st over the High Plains, then rolled east into south central Nebraska between 1-2 AM CDT. This complex was strong, but largely sub-severe as it moved along the Highway 6 corridor from Arapahoe to Holdrege with wind gusts of 40-50 MPH. The leading edge of the complex intensified briefly as it moved into the Hastings area around 3 AM. A few severe wind gusts around 60-65 MPH were reported via mesonet stations, but the strongest wind gust was 75 MPH reported at the Hastings Airport ASOS. However, it appears winds this strong were isolated and/or brief as any damage was limited and not indicative of gusts that strong. Downed small tree limbs and sporadic power outages were the main impacts. The complex weakened significantly as it moved east and northeast of the Tri-Cities between 4-5 AM CDT.
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 Aug 1, 11:29 PM CST, 2 hours 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Hastings NE 1229 AM CDT Wed Aug 2 2023 ...Aviation Update... .DISCUSSION...(This evening through Tuesday) Issued at 435 PM CDT Tue Aug 1 2023 Key Messages: * Thunderstorm chances increase again later this evening/overnight, as activity moves in from the higher terrain to our west. There will be the potential for some strong/severe storms...with damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall being the main threats. Current models generally favor the best chances being after 10 PM tonight...and across portions of south central Nebraska. * Periodic thunderstorm chances remain in the forecast each day through the upcoming weekend into early next week. Overall, the better chances favor the evening/overnight hours...with lesser confidence in the exact location of those better chances. Cannot rule out some strong/severe storms, but confidence in the finer details of that threat is low due to differences between models. * High temperatures will continue to be in the 80s-90s through at least Thursday...more 80s for Fri-Sat, then dropping into the 70s-low 80s for Sun-Tues behind a front passing through on Saturday. Currently... Outside of a few lingering showers/rumbles of thunder early this morning, it's been an overall quiet day today across the CWA. Aloft, upper air and satellite data shows generally zonal flow in place across the area, as we sit on the northern side of high pressure centered over the Srn Plains...while troughing remains draped through both coasts. One shortwave disturbance embedded in the main flow is sparking off some thunderstorm activity off to our NNW, with additional activity developing over the higher elevation of the High Plains/Front Range regions. At the sfc, the main frontal boundary lies roughly along/just north of I-70, reinforced by low level stratus which has been pretty stubborn to dissipate. As a result of that front/stratus, our north central KS counties have continued climbing toward/into the 90s, with readings near 100 along or extreme southern locations. Though iffy across northern portions, kept the Heat Advisory in place across north central KS trough early evening, ASOS sites around our SSE counties are all near 105 at 3 PM. This evening on through Wednesday... Overall, quiet conditions look to continue the rest of this afternoon into the start of the evening...with thunderstorm chances increasing around mid-evening on. The main focus for our CWA will be with the activity currently developing along the higher elevations to our west, and its evolution as it pushes east. Models are in fairly good agreement showing a complex of storms affecting some part of the CWA...but differences remain on its exact path through. Aided by convergence along an increasing LLJ and instability axis running through the region...model agreement isn't far off from one another showing the better chances being across south central NE, but differ on the coverage of the southern extent of activity, driven by where warmer mid- level temps/capping lie. Instability and to a bit lesser extent shear continue to show the potential for some storms to be strong/severe...the western fringe of the CWA remains in the SPC Day Slight Risk, with the rest of the area in the Marginal Risk. Damaging wind gusts and large hail are the primary threats...but any storms would also likely be efficient rain producers, so heavy rain rates will also be a concern. As we get into the daytime hours on Wednesday, precipitation trends could end up similar to today...with some lingering activity into the morning hours, then gradually diminishing with time and a drier period into the afternoon. Confidence in temperatures isn't overly high...as how activity ends up planning on tonight/early Wed AM could greatly affect things, with outflow helping to reinforce the frontal boundary south of us. Because of the uncertainty, forecast is a blend, with 90s once again across our KS counties, and mainly 80s across our NE counties. Considered another Heat Advisory for Rooks/Osborne/Mitchell counties for the afternoon/evening hours...but with uncertainty in location of sfc features and after collab with SErn neighboring offices, decided to hold off and let the mid crew get another look at things tonight. Can't rule out another round of thunderstorms as we get into Wednesday evening/overnight, but models suggest that overall coverage would be more scattered in nature...so PoPs are on the lower side of things. Better potential for severe weather currently looks to be outside of the CWA, with SPC Marginal Risk areas off to both our west and east. Thursday on into early next week... The overall pattern through the mid-latter portions of the 7-day forecast continues to have the potential to be active...and there are thunderstorm chances each day. In the upper levels, models continue to show generally zonal flow sticking around the area through at least the first half of the weekend...as high pressure remains anchored over the southern and eventually stretched into the southwestern CONUS, but thanks to a parade of disturbances moving through the central/northern CONUS, it struggles to build/expand northward. Thunderstorm chances are driven by the periodic embedded shortwave disturbances sliding through the region, but hard to have a ton of confidence in the finer details of timing/location, as models continue to vary with those details. The highest PoPs continue to favor the evening/overnight hours...with some more uncertainty as we get into Saturday, as a surface cold front pushing through the region provides another focus for storm development. Main question is where this front ends up during the more favorable late afternoon/evening hours for severe weather potential...there are plenty of differences between models. Flow may become more northwesterly Sunday on into Mon/Tues, but the periodic disturbances continue. Like the timing/location details, confidence in the severe weather threat details is also low...but that potential will be there, with the main focus being when that sfc boundary ends up moving through. Lot of things to iron out in the coming days. As far as temperatures go, Thursday-Saturday forecast highs remain mainly in the 80s (warmest overall on Thurs in the 80s-90s). Uncertainty rises as we get into Saturday, as the timing of that frontal boundary moving through will drive temps...but once it pushes through, highs for Sunday-Tuesday are forecast to drop into the 70s-low 80s. Normal highs for this time of year are in the mid 80s-low 90s. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 06Z Thursday) Issued at 1221 AM CDT Wed Aug 2 2023 Showers and thunderstorms will be possible at the TAF sites between approximately 08Z and 11Z or 12Z. Expect IFR to LIFR CIGS through this timeframe and gusts to around 35 kts (maybe even stronger) if a thunderstorm moves directly over one of the terminals...I input a TEMPO group at both sites to account for this possibility. After storms move through early this morning, CIGS will gradually improve to MVFR throughout the morning, then VFR during the afternoon and evening (although a few clouds as low as 3500' to 4000' AGL will still be possible). Winds will be generally N to NE before storms move through, switching to generally E to NE after. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. KS...NONE. && DISCUSSION...ADP AVIATION...Hickford
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Hastings NE 912 PM CDT Tue Aug 1 2023 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 030215- 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- 912 PM CDT Tue Aug 1 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and portions of north central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. This evening through the overnight hours, thunderstorm chances return to the outlook area, mainly favoring locations along and north of the Nebraska and Kansas state line. The best chances for storms looks to be between midnight and 6 am. There will be the potential for some storms to be strong to severe. Wind gusts near 60 MPH, hail near the size of half dollars, and heavy rainfall would be the primary threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Wednesday afternoon, heat index values of 100 to 105 degrees are possible, mainly across Rooks, Osborne, and Mitchell counties of north central Kansas. An overall active pattern is expected to remain in place from mid-week on into early next week, bringing periodic thunderstorm chances to the outlook area. There will at times be the potential for some strong to severe storms, but with plenty of uncertainties lingering in models, confidence in specific details of the severe weather threat is not high. Large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rain would be the primary threats. Be sure to stay up to date with the latest forecasts over the coming days. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to send in any reports of severe weather at any time. && More information may be obtained at the following web page: https://www.weather.gov/hastings
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
216 AM CDT Wed Aug 2 2023
NEZ060-061-073>075-083>085-020800-
Franklin NE-Buffalo NE-Adams NE-Webster NE-Phelps NE-Kearney NE-
Harlan NE-Dawson NE-
216 AM CDT Wed Aug 2 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Franklin, western
Webster, Phelps, western Adams, Kearney, southern Buffalo,
southeastern Dawson and Harlan Counties through 300 AM CDT...
At 215 AM CDT, Doppler Radar and automated weather stations reported
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Overton to
Holdrege to near Woodruff. Movement was east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Doppler Radar and Automated Weather Stations.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Kearney, Holdrege, Minden, Gibbon, Alma, Franklin, Elm Creek,
Kenesaw, Axtell, Overton, Odessa, Orleans, Loomis, Hildreth, Wilcox,
Campbell, Bladen, Roseland, Holstein and Funk.
This includes Interstate 80 between mile markers 248 and 292.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for
north central Kansas...and south central Nebraska.
&&
LAT...LON 4040 9953 4081 9956 4080 9877 4073 9872
4070 9872 4070 9870 4039 9849 4000 9860
4000 9962
TIME...MOT...LOC 0715Z 271DEG 44KT 4067 9955 4042 9939 4002 9941
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
ThiesPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
227 AM CDT Wed Aug 2 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0219 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 E Loomis 40.48N 99.44W
08/02/2023 M49 MPH Phelps NE Mesonet
&&
ThiesPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
234 AM CDT Wed Aug 2 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0215 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SSE Loomis 40.43N 99.49W
08/02/2023 M50 MPH Phelps NE Mesonet
&&
ThiesPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
235 AM CDT Wed Aug 2 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0212 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SSE Loomis 40.43N 99.48W
08/02/2023 M48 MPH Phelps NE Mesonet
&&
ThiesPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
249 AM CDT Wed Aug 2 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0230 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 7 ENE Huntley 40.23N 99.16W
08/02/2023 M50 MPH Franklin NE Mesonet
&&
ThiesSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
259 AM CDT Wed Aug 2 2023
KSZ007-NEZ048-061>063-074>076-084>086-020845-
Jewell KS-Franklin NE-Merrick NE-Nuckolls NE-Buffalo NE-Adams NE-
Webster NE-Hamilton NE-Hall NE-Clay NE-Kearney NE-
259 AM CDT Wed Aug 2 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of western Clay, western
Nuckolls, eastern Franklin, Webster, Adams, eastern Kearney,
southwestern Hamilton, southeastern Buffalo and Hall Counties through
345 AM CDT...
At 258 AM CDT, Doppler Radar and automated weather stations
indicated strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near
Kearney to near Norman to near Riverton. Movement was east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Doppler Radar and Automated Weather Stations.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings, Minden, Gibbon, Wood River, Shelton,
Red Cloud, Harvard, Blue Hill, Kenesaw, Doniphan, Clay Center,
Juniata, Alda, Fairfield, Campbell, Glenvil, Lawrence and Bladen.
This includes Interstate 80 between mile markers 272 and 321.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
these storms pass.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for
south central Nebraska.
&&
LAT...LON 3999 9822 4000 9850 4000 9877 4041 9888
4074 9916 4101 9832 4059 9804
TIME...MOT...LOC 0758Z 252DEG 41KT 4074 9899 4043 9876 4006 9876
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
ThiesThe Grand Island radar (KUEX), 35 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:00 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind gust of 64 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles north-northeast of Norman.
A wind gust of 62 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles southwest of Hastings.
A wind gust of 61 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles north of Hastings.
A wind gust of 75 MPH was measured by the Hastings Airport ASOS.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, August 2023
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: 1117948, 1117949, 1117950, 1117952.