In the afternoon of the 22nd, a boundary along Interstate 70 that was slowly moving south fired multiple thunderstorms. These initial storms began to cluster together near Burlington and produce extensive wind damage and two tornadoes that caused no damage.
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 GLD wrote it up.
In the afternoon of the 22nd, a boundary along Interstate 70 that was slowly moving south fired multiple thunderstorms. These initial storms began to cluster together near Burlington and produce extensive wind damage and two tornadoes that caused no damage. Hail up to 1.75 inches was also reported.
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 Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 22, 3:40 PM MST, 1 hour 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Goodland KS 440 PM MDT Thu Aug 22 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Monsoonal flow pattern will favor chances for late afternoon through overnight thunderstorms the next several days with the best chance for moisture this evening and tonight. - Above normal temperatures will continue through much of the forecast period. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 237 PM MDT Thu Aug 22 2024 Across the region this afternoon, skies are mainly sunny with some scattered cumulus over portions of the area. Temperatures as of 200 PM MDT are ranging from the mid 80s into the lower 90s. There is a surface trough and associated boundary that has moved into the KS/NE area after sitting in Colorado most of the day. This has affected surface winds as areas along/west of Highway 27 see light/variable winds. East of Highway 27, the gradient remains from the south- southeast with some gusts to 20 mph at times. The main wx threats for the short term period are going to focus on the threats for severe thunderstorms each day. For the rest of this afternoon into this evening, the latest RAP40 500mb analysis is showing amplified ridging over the Plains region, putting W/SW flow aloft. A shortwave rounding this ridge in the Rockies will work east, interacting with the aforementioned surface boundary. The latest SPC mesoscale analysis is finally showing the cap now pushing east with the surface boundary. Areas along/west of the Colorado border are seeing SBCape 1500-3000 j/kg, DCape 1100- 1700 j/kg. Low level(8-9.5 c/km along/west of Highway 27)/mid level(8-8.5C/km) lapse rates. Looking for rw/trw to begin to form along the Front Range and push slowly east towards the cwa by 23z- 00z. Current CAMs(HRRR/NamNest) are showing the bulk of trw movement will be similar to last night with the focus along and north of I-70. Chances will range from 40-80% with highest in the northwest with the passage of the upper shortwave. With the high DCape values and SPC having a 15% risk for wind, expecting gusts in any strong/severe storms could approach the 65-75 mph range. Hail still a threat but will diminish as the evening progresses. Along with these two threats, locally heavy rainfall and the threat for some localized flooding, especially along and north of Highway 36, where some areas received 1-1.50" of rain from last night's round of convection. A similar scenario could occur tonight, and flooding threat should be monitored. Activity does push east clearing the cwa between 06z-12z Friday. For Friday into Saturday, the placement of the upper ridge will play a role in the regions weather. A couple shortwaves are expected to graze the western cwa due to the ridge amplifying. Marginal risk areas remain, but chances are low. Wind and hail threats still expected if storms do occur. The remnants of a boundary from Friday's precip chances will be the focus for hot conditions on Saturday. I-70 and south, S/SW flow will bring temps well above normal. There will be weak flow north of the boundary but temps will drift above normal as well. For temps, the area will see highs on Friday range from the upper 80s north to the upper 90s south, especially along and south of Highway 40. The temperature difference will be due to lingering morning from overnight rainfall. Going into Saturday, it will be hotter with lower to mid 90s north of I-70. Areas along and south of I-70 will see a range from the mid 90s into the lower 100s. Areas along/south of a line from Norton, Kansas down to the Sharon Springs, Kansas area will have the potential to see heat indices approach the 100-105F mark on Saturday. This will have to be monitored for heat advisory purposes. Overnight lows will have an increasing trend with 60s tonight give way to a wide range by Saturday night from the lower and mid 60s west into the lower to mid 70s east, especially east of Highway 83. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Issued at 145 PM MDT Thu Aug 22 2024 From the latest GFS and ECMWF guidance, the 500mb amplified ridge will continue to play a consistent role over the region Sunday into Monday, with the two models beginning to differ on its placement as the week progresses. This will be due to an approaching cold front/shortwave Wed-Thu from the N/NW. Overall the area will see almost daily chances(15-20% afternoon/30-60% evening) for shower/storm potential. Shortwaves approaching the cwa from the west side of the ridge make the attempts to push eastward into the area. Current guidance, in line with NBM pops favors Sun-Mon nights in western locales for the higher end of the pop range. A decent cold front makes its way through cwa by Thursday, ushering in potential relief in term of area temps. This will occur after a round of precip associated with the front. What will accompany the boundary passage will be a strong southerly gradient Wednesday night w/ gusts up to 30 mph. This will give way to a northerly fetch which could reach the 30-35 mph range. For temps, the extended period will have an overall slight cooling trend. Highs on Sunday will range widely from the upper 80s and lower 90s in the northwest into the lower 100s for areas along and south of a line from Norton, Kansas down to the Sharon Springs, Kansas area. From there, lower to mid 80s by next Tuesday will give way to upper 80s and lower 90s on Wednesday. Finally for next Thursday with the arrival of a cold front, a range from the mid 70s to mid 80s is expected. Coolest temps will occur north and west of a line from Burlington, Colorado up to the McCook, Nebraska area. With some areas potentially seeing the 100F mark or slightly higher on Sunday, there could be some spots that reach the 100-105F mark concerning heat indices and will have to be monitored. Overnight lows will range widely from the mid 50s west into the mid and upper 60s east. By next Thursday night, lower to mid 50s area- wide are expected. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 432 PM MDT Thu Aug 22 2024 Main focus will be thunderstorm potential perhaps severe affecting the KGLD terminal initially and then KMCK closer to 06Z. A very moist air mass is in place so visibility may be a little lower than the 2SM in the tempo; will monitor other sites and see how those react. Showers and storms will move out of the area during the early morning hours where stratus again may become a concern but confidence isn't high at this time. Winds Friday will remain from the SSE with KGLD gusting towards 20 knots during the afternoon. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...None. CO...None. NE...None. && SHORT TERM...JN LONG TERM...JN AVIATION...Trigg
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Goodland KS 531 PM MDT Thu Aug 22 2024 COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-232345- Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne-Rawlins-Decatur-Norton-Sherman-Thomas- Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Logan-Gove-Greeley-Wichita-Dundy-Hitchcock- Red Willow- 531 PM MDT Thu Aug 22 2024 /631 PM CDT Thu Aug 22 2024/ This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska... northwest Kansas and east central Colorado. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect through the evening for portions of the area. Wind gusts around 70 mph and hail around ping pong ball size are the main hazards. Torrential rainfall, perhaps with multiple rounds resulting in isolated flooding is also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... Friday and Saturday both have a very low chance for severe weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is requested. Please relay any storm reports to NWS Goodland via social media or by phone.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Goodland KS
446 PM MDT Thu Aug 22 2024
COZ091-222300-
Kit Carson County CO-
446 PM MDT Thu Aug 22 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN KIT CARSON COUNTY
THROUGH 500 PM MDT...
At 446 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 5
miles northeast of Stratton, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northeastern Kit
Carson County.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 70 in Colorado between mile markers 423 and 426.
Highway 385 between mile markers 200 and 206, and near mile marker
211.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3957 10256 3957 10227 3953 10219 3926 10251
3936 10270
TIME...MOT...LOC 2246Z 214DEG 23KT 3937 10255
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
JRMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Goodland KS
526 PM MDT Thu Aug 22 2024
COZ090-091-230000-
Kit Carson County CO-Yuma County CO-
526 PM MDT Thu Aug 22 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL YUMA AND
NORTHEASTERN KIT CARSON COUNTIES THROUGH 600 PM MDT...
At 526 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms 11 miles north of Bethune, or 12 miles northwest of
Burlington, moving northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of south central Yuma
and northeastern Kit Carson Counties.
This includes Highway 385 between mile markers 195 and 214.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM MDT for
northeastern and east central Colorado.
&&
LAT...LON 3970 10222 3948 10205 3947 10205 3935 10240
3950 10252
TIME...MOT...LOC 2326Z 238DEG 16KT 3947 10239
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
JRMThe Goodland radar (KGLD), 48 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:50 UTC.
10 thunderstorm wind, 5 hail, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Public report of half dollar to golf ball hail. Skylight was broken and winds were strong, but was unable to provide an estimate.
Five broken wooden power poles, four overturned irrigation pivots, a shed's roof was completely destroyed, and three grain silos were damaged. Maximum wind gust estimated at 110 MPH.
Photo and reports of a tornado crossing Highway 24 and I-70. No damage was observed. Unknown wind speed.
Photo and report of tornado south of I-70. No damage was reported. Unknown wind speed.
Public gave a conservative estimate of 70 mph winds with trees being bent over on the property.
Weatherlink site Ocean Front reported 42 mph sustained wind along with 59 mph gust.
Pea to quarter sized hail observed.
Pea to quarter sized hail over a duration of 10 minutes.
Reported via Weather Underground station kcocheye8.
The ASOS at Burlington's airport recorded gusts over 70 MPH for about 10 minutes with a peak gust of 75 MPH.
Report of a 1.5 inch diameter locust tree branch down.
Reported via Weather Underground station kcocheye2.
Weather underground site kcowray7.
City of Burlington Facebook page reported an hour after the storm had passed, the entire city of Burlington is without power and that it is a Tri-State issue.
Widespread tree damage at the Prairie Pines Golf Club and residential area to the west, along with limited structural damage. Tree damage was a mixture of trunks and branches snapping off, limited chunks of bark being blown off, and trees being uprooted. Heavy rain proceeded the winds, allowing for the soil to be saturated. Also, near the Golf Club, an irrigation pivot was flipped. To the north of the Golf Club, a farm had one building's garage door blown in and the southern wall blown out, and another small shed was destroyed.
Quarter to half dollar sized hail fell for a about two minutes.
Cocorahs observer reported a hole ripped in window screen from hail ranging from dime to quarter in size.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Colorado, 2024Warnings in Colorado, August 2024
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: 1212220, 1212238, 1212244, 1212246, 1212221, 1212222, 1212223, 1212224, 1212225, 1212228, 1212226, 1212227, 1212229, 1212232, 1212234, 1212230, 1212231.