Damaging Winds in Nebraska, July 3, 2023

Name: Damaging Winds in Nebraska, July 3, 2023
Start: 2023-07-03T20:07
End: 2023-07-03T20:49
Location: Nebraska

July 3, 2023 · NWS CYS · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Thunderstorms with strong outflow winds moved across the northern Nebraska Panhandle as a squall line developed farther west in east-central Wyoming early in the evening on the 3rd.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

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Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS CYS wrote it up.

Thunderstorms with strong outflow winds moved across the northern Nebraska Panhandle as a squall line developed farther west in east-central Wyoming early in the evening on the 3rd.

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 Cheyenne, WY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 3, 4:26 PM MST, 3 hours 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 3, 4:26 PM MST, 3 hours 41 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
526 PM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

.SHORT TERM...(Rest of Today through Tuesday)
Issued at 237 PM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

Key Impact Messages:

1) Thunderstorms beginning to develop and move into western Carbon
county. Strong to severe thunderstorms may impact parts of
northern Converse, Niobrara and northern Sioux and Dawes counties
this evening. Large and damaging winds will be main the hazards.

2) Another round of severe weather is expected across SE Wyoming
tomorrow afternoon. All modes of severe weather will be possible
in addition to heavy repeated rainfall.

Weather Overview: Surface analysis shows the cold front is snagged
up over the SD/NE/WY borders. South of this boundary temperatures
have climbed into the 90s across much of the Nebraska Panhandle
and into the 80s across much of eastern Wyoming. This boundary
will be the focus of tonights convection across northern Wyoming
and the north Nebraska Panhandle. Satellite shows much of the warm
sector devoid of clouds with only a few CU fields showing up close
to frontal boundary and over the higher terrain out across Albany
and Carbon counties. A few stronger updraft towers are beginning
to move into western Carbon county with a few lightning strikes
showing up. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms should continue
across Carbon county through the afternoon hours. The attention
will turn to more organized convective activity later this evening
where severe weather can be expected.

Discussion: Synoptic setup regarding the severe weather potential
across SE Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle on Tuesday remains on
track but will still depend on the arrival of the southward
moving frontal boundary and how far south it pushes or where the
frontal boundary becomes stalled out. The leeside trough remains
on track which will keep a consistent northeast to easterly flow
which will push dewpoints into the 50s across SE Wyoming and
approach the 60F mark for parts of the Nebraska Panhandle. HI-RES
and CAM models have been in agreement in the overall initiation
point and evolution of the convection tomorrow with most storms
firing over the higher terrain across southern Albany county and
moving east into Laramie county as pseudo discrete supercells
with a few storm clusters pushing into the Nebraska Panhandle. The
HRRR and NAM NEST has been consistent in showing a few weak UH
tracks across Laramie county tomorrow near Cheyenne. The Storm
Prediction Center continues to advertise for a Slight Risk across
much SE Wyoming tomorrow afternoon.

.LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday)
Issued at 237 PM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

Minimal changes to the long term forecast. Near daily chances for
showers and thunderstorms of various strength. Wednesday is forecast
to be very cool compared to normal, highs in the 60s to low 70s.
Temperatures could even potentially be cooler, but did not have the
confidence to decrease it too much more. Main instability stays
along or just east of the Laramie Range, so there is a chance, if
the skies can clear, for some showers and thunderstorms. Thursday a
shortwave passage, in conjunction with much stronger instability and
dewpoints in the 50s, creates a decent set up for strong to severe
thunderstorms. SPC is continuing to show a 15% chance for severe
thunderstorms across the High Plains.

After Thursday, southeast Wyoming and the Nebraska panhandle stays
on the northern end of an upper level ridge with a train of
shortwaves continually ejecting eastward across the area. With the
upper level ridge in place, temperatures rebound back closer to
normal: Highs in the 70s to 80s and lows in the 40s to 50s.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening)
Issued at 521 PM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

Wyoming TAFS...An incoming weather disturbance will help produce
isolated high based thunderstorms early this evening at the
terminals, producing wind gusts up to 48 knots along with
visibilities of 5 miles or more, and ceilings near 5000 feet AGL.
Otherwise, expect ceilings near 10000 feet AGL overnight and Tuesday
morning. Thunderstorms will be in the vicinity at all terminals
after 20Z Tuesday with ceilings from 5000 to 8000 feet AGL, along
with wind gusts to 25 knots.

Nebraska TAFS...An incoming cold front will help produce isolated
thunderstorms overnight at Chadron, Alliance and Scottsbluff, with
ceilings from 10000 to 12000 feet AGL. In the wake of the cold
front Tuesday afternoon, expect ceilings to lower to 4500 to 6000
feet AGL with north winds gusting up to 25 knots.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 213 PM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

Some pockets of elevated fire concerns today will be possible
across Albany and Carbon counties. Gusty westerly winds and RH
values dropping to around 15% will be common before isolated
thunderstorms begin to move into the areas. Across the rest of the
region, minimal fire weather concerns can be expected. Chances for
wetting rains will be possible Tuesday and again on Thursday.

&&

.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...None.
NE...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...AW
LONG TERM...LG
AVIATION...RUBIN
FIRE WEATHER...AW

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 3, 4:12 AM MST, 15 hours 55 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
512 AM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

NEZ019>021-054-055-WYZ103>119-041115-
Scotts Bluff County-Banner County-Morrill County-Kimball County-
Cheyenne County-North Laramie Range-
Ferris/Seminoe/Shirley Mountains-Shirley Basin-
Central Laramie Range and Southwest Platte County-
East Platte County-Goshen County-Central Carbon County-
North Snowy Range Foothills-Southwest Carbon County-
Sierra Madre Range-Upper North Platte River Basin-Snowy Range-
Laramie Valley-South Laramie Range-South Laramie Range Foothills-
Central Laramie County-East Laramie County-
512 AM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

This hazardous weather outlook is for the southern Nebraska
panhandle...south central Wyoming and southeast Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

Very warm and dry conditions are expected for most of Monday
before thunderstorms move back into the area late this afternoon
and this evening. Brief heavy rain and gusty winds may accompany
these thunderstorms through late this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

Thunderstorm coverage will increase for Tuesday with scattered to
numerous thunderstorms expected through the evening hours of
Independence Day. There is a chance some of these thunderstorms
may become severe Tuesday afternoon and evening, especially along
the Interstate corridor.

.Spotter information statement...

Spotter activation will not be needed today.

NEZ002-003-095-096-WYZ101-102-041115-
Dawes County-Box Butte County-Northern Sioux County-
Southern Sioux County-Converse County Lower Elevations-
Niobrara County-
512 AM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

This hazardous weather outlook is for the northern Nebraska
panhandle and east central Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

Very warm and dry conditions are expected for most of Monday
before thunderstorms move back into the area late this afternoon
and this evening. Brief heavy rain and gusty winds may accompany
these thunderstorms through late this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

Thunderstorm coverage will increase for Tuesday with scattered thunderstorms
expected possible through the late evening hours of Independence
Day.

.Spotter information statement...

Spotter activation will not be needed today.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 3, 6:27 PM MST, 1 hour 40 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
727 PM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

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

0715 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 S Douglas             42.67N 105.40W
07/03/2023  M59 MPH          Converse           WY   Mesonet

            Mesonet station EW6313 Douglas.

&&

Rubin

Local storm report, Jul 3, 6:40 PM MST, 1 hour 27 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
740 PM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

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

0736 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     8 NNW Glendo            42.60N 105.10W
07/03/2023  M58 MPH          Platte             WY   Mesonet

            Mesonet station WY56 I25 Us26 Us87 - Platte
            Converse.

&&

Rubin

Local storm report, Jul 3, 7:15 PM MST, 52 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
815 PM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

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

0810 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Bill                    43.21N 105.26W
07/03/2023  M60 MPH          Converse           WY   Public

            Spotter estimated 50 to 60 mph wind gust.

&&

Local storm report, Jul 3, 7:26 PM MST, 41 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
826 PM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

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

0810 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Torrington              42.07N 104.18W
07/03/2023  M60 MPH          Goshen             WY   Public

            Caller estimated 60 MPH with the front edge
            of the line of storms.

&&

Local storm report, Jul 3, 7:31 PM MST, 36 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
831 PM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

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

0814 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Lusk                    42.76N 104.45W
07/03/2023  M80 MPH          Niobrara           WY   Emergency Mngr

            EM estimated winds of 70 to 80 MPH across
            the town of Lusk.

0814 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Lusk                    42.76N 104.45W
07/03/2023                   Niobrara           WY   Emergency Mngr

            80' Cedar tree reported broken in half.

&&

Local storm report, Jul 3, 7:50 PM MST, 17 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
850 PM MDT Mon Jul 3 2023

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

0823 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 E Torrington          42.07N 104.14W
07/03/2023  M61 MPH          Goshen             WY   ASOS

            ASOS station KTOR Torrington Airport - Tor.

&&

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 181 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:07 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sioux

When: July 3, 8:07 PM MST
Where: Sioux County, Harrison
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.690, -103.880

Trained spotter estimated 60 mph wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dawes

When: July 3, 8:44 PM MST to 8:49 PM MST
Where: Dawes County, 0.69 mi S of (Cdr)chadron Airport
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.830, -103.100

Chadron Airport ASOS station KCDR measured maximum wind gust.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Nebraska in 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings in Nebraska, July 2023

Sources

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: 1101072, 1101073.