A strong storm system led to isolated to scattered severe, non-thunderstorm wind gusts on March 31st. These strong wind gusts occurred on the backside of a departing trough, within an area of strong cold air advection.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 strong storm system led to isolated to scattered severe, non-thunderstorm wind gusts on March 31st. These strong wind gusts occurred on the backside of a departing trough, within an area of strong cold air advection. Most wind gusts in south central Nebraska were in the 40 to 55 MPH range, but a few slightly higher gusts were observed. Humidity values were generally above 40 percent, which kept the fire weather threat from reaching critical levels.
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 Mar 31, 2:41 PM CST, 2 hours 7 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Hastings NE 341 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023 .DISCUSSION...(This evening through Friday) Issued at 338 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023 Key Messages: * Critical fire weather conditions have resulted in a Red Flag Warning this afternoon and early evening for portions of north central Kansas. * Very windy conditions expected this afternoon and evening with sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts up to 55 mph possible with blowing dust possible across north central Kansas. * Light rain and snow possible this afternoon and evening with snow and blowing snow possible mainly north of Interstate 80. * Warmer temperatures on Sunday followed by a couple of cold fronts next week and increased precipitation chances Tuesday and Tuesday night. An upper level trough is centered over the Northern and Central Plains. This trough is contributing to an active weather day across north central Kansas and south central and central Nebraska. West to northwest winds are bringing in drier air into the area with humidity values expected to decrease as low as 20 to 30 percent across Rooks, Osborne, and Mitchell Counties. Winds will increase out of the west to northwest this afternoon and evening areawide 25 to 35 mph with gusts as high as 55 mph. The combination of strong winds and low humidity have resulted in critical fire weather conditions across Rooks, Osborne, and Mitchell Counties this afternoon and early evening where a Red Flag Warning is in effect. Blowing dust is also possible across Kansas this afternoon and early evening where the ground has not received as much recent moisture. Winds may briefly approach 60 mph late this afternoon and early this evening but confidence of this is low so did not issue any high wind products at this time. Clouds will be a limiting factor on wind gusts this afternoon. Precipitation will be possible this afternoon into tonight as the upper low/trough moves eastward. The precipitation will likely transition to the form of snow for areas mainly north of Interstate 80 this evening as temperatures drop to near or below freezing. Little to no accumulation is expected, but blowing snow with reduced visibilities will be possible with strong winds. Elsewhere, light rain showers are possible. The upper trough will pass to the east of the region on Saturday with much lighter winds and warming temperatures. High temperatures will be in the 50s and 60s on Saturday. An upper trough will pass over North Dakota on Sunday which will result in northwest to north winds across Nebraska and north central Kansas. High temperatures are expected to warm up into the 60s and 70s across the area on Sunday. The cooler air will impact the area on Monday with high temperatures in the 50s and 60s. Another, stronger cold front will push into the area on Tuesday as an upper trough moves over the Northern and Central Plains. Precipitation is expected to develop with this system on Tuesday and may be in the form of snow Tuesday night as temperatures drop to freezing or below. High temperatures on Wednesday will range from the 30s to the lower 50s with northerly winds. A gradual warm up is expected heading into late next week. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 18Z Saturday) Issued at 1234 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023 Low ceilings are expected to improve to VFR during the afternoon and may decrease to MVFR briefly this evening/overnight before returning to VFR by 12z. Winds will increase out of the west to northwest this afternoon and evening. Sustained winds of 25 to 35 kts are expected by this evening with gusts possibly reaching near 45 kts. Winds are expected to decrease by 12z. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. KS...Red Flag Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for KSZ017>019. && DISCUSSION...Schuldt AVIATION...Schuldt
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Hastings NE 433 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 012145- 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- 433 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and portions of north central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Critical fire danger continues into early evening for portions of northern Kansas. Blowing dust is also possible in these areas. West to northwest winds will increase this evening. Sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph are expected with gusts as high as 45 to 55 mph possible through early Saturday morning. Snow showers are possible for areas north of Interstate 80 this evening. Little to no accumulation is expected, but visibility below 1 mile is possible at times. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. On Sunday afternoon, near-critical fire weather conditions could develop mainly within Nebraska counties along and north of Interstate 80, due to the combination of west-northwest winds gusting as high as 20 to 30 MPH, and also relative humidity falling as low as 20 to 25 percent. Although still several days away, it appears that another strong weather system could bring at least another round of strong winds to the entire outlook area Tuesday into Wednesday, with precipitation potential during this time frame more uncertain. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation should not be needed through tonight. && More information may be obtained at the following web page: https://www.weather.gov/hastings
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located one mile east of Odessa.
A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles north-northeast of Norman.
A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles west-northwest of Fairfield.
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, March 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: 1084180, 1084181, 1084179.