Hail and Damaging Winds in Nebraska, August 7, 2024

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
645 PM CDT Wed Aug 7 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

-Thunderstorm chances are the main concern late this afternoon
 and especially this evening. Strong gusty winds would be the
 main threat across portions of southwest Nebraska this evening.

-Cooler and showery weather is expected both Thursday and
 Friday. Friday highs across portions of the region have the
 potential of being the coolest since August 1997.

-Temperatures do moderate during the weekend, but will still
 remain below normal.

-Areas of the next several days could see between 1-2" of
 rainfall. The precipitation will be showery/convective in
 nature, so amounts will likely vary with some not seeing those
 types of amounts.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 238 PM CDT Wed Aug 7 2024

A cold front is moving slowly southward through the Sandhills this
afternoon. South of this front low-level southeasterly upslope flow
is helping to maintain a moist instability axis from southwest
Nebraska into the southern Nebraska Panhandle. Scattered
thunderstorms are expected to develop across the higher terrain of a
eastern Wyoming and northern Colorado late this afternoon ahead of
an approaching shortwave. Effective shear profiles/instability are
supportive of storm organization across the central and southern
Panhandle late this afternoon. Recent runs of the HRRR and CAMs
suggest a cold pool will form with a damaging wind threat becoming
possible as storms accelerate southeastward across southwest
Nebraska this evening. Other storms may develop along the southward
sagging front across portions of north central Nebraska as mid-level
FGEN increases after early evening. The most intense storms should
exit the area by later this evening, but favorable jet dynamics and
mid-level FGEN will remain in place through Friday morning. This
seems a good set up for at least scattered showers. Elevated weak
instability remains so some thunder is also possible.

The other story will be the much cooler temperatures that will
filter south into the region behind the cold front. Friday looks
particularly cool, with the lingering cloud cover and possible
morning light precipitation. Highs are forecast to be in the mid 60s
across portions of the Sandhills and southwest Nebraska. The last
time North Platte experienced a high of 65 degrees or cooler was
August 11, 1997. Highs are forecast to be right around this mark, so
this is an exceptionally cool pattern.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 238 PM CDT Wed Aug 7 2024

Below normal temperatures are expected through this weekend into
the first of next week. Northwest flow aloft will persist, and a
series of weak shortwaves will bring an increasing chance for
showers/thunder back to the area Sunday night into Monday.

Highs through the weekend should generally average in the lower to
mid 70s. Highs Monday may moderate slightly, but with increased
cloud cover and showers around may be hard pressed to reach much
above 80.

By the middle and end of next week, upper level ridging aloft begins
to expand northward once again across the Rockies and western high
plains. This will bring a return to at least normal temperatures.
Monsoonal sub-tropical appears to develop northward within the
expanding ridge. This will likely bring diurnal rounds of convection
to the higher elevations of Colorado and Wyoming. Some of this
activity may try and work eastward during the overnight hours, so
there will be at least some chance for spotty rainfall.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 638 PM CDT Wed Aug 7 2024

VFR conditions are expected across western and north central
Nebraska tonight outside of thunderstorms. Any thunderstorms
this evening and tonight may result in brief MVFR conditions and
gusty, erratic winds across the Sandhills into southwest
Nebraska, potentially impacting LBF. Timing of activity at LBF
anticipated between 03Z to 05Z Thursday with the bulk of any
thunderstorms remaining south of VTN.  Will rely
heavily on radar and satellite trends for possible amendments.

Stratus development appears likely across western
and southwestern Nebraska Thursday morning, with IFR CIGs
anticipated. Though this appears to remain south and west of
KLBF, this will need to be monitored with subsequent TAFs.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

SHORT TERM...Taylor
LONG TERM...Taylor
AVIATION...Viken

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
315 PM CDT Wed Aug 7 2024

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-082015-
Sheridan-Eastern Cherry-Keya Paha-Boyd-Brown-Rock-Holt-Garden-Grant-
Hooker-Thomas-Blaine-Loup-Garfield-Wheeler-Arthur-McPherson-Logan-
Custer-Deuel-Keith-Perkins-Lincoln-Chase-Hayes-Frontier-
Western Cherry-
315 PM CDT Wed Aug 7 2024 /215 PM MDT Wed Aug 7 2024/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and north
central Nebraska.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected late this afternoon and evening
across western and north central Nebraska. A few storms could be
strong to severe, with the main hazards being large hail, damaging
winds and locally heavy rainfall.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Scattered thunderstorm chances are expected through Sunday, though
the threat for severe weather appears low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
553 PM MDT Wed Aug 7 2024

NEZ022-080030-
Garden NE-
553 PM MDT Wed Aug 7 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN GARDEN COUNTY
THROUGH 630 PM MDT...

At 552 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Lisco, or 14 miles west of Oshkosh, moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Lisco and Sugar Loaf Hill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT for
the Panhandle of Nebraska.

&&

LAT...LON 4154 10264 4153 10238 4130 10242 4137 10261
      4139 10261 4140 10264
TIME...MOT...LOC 2352Z 277DEG 11KT 4145 10262

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Brown

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
627 PM MDT Wed Aug 7 2024

NEZ022-080100-
Garden NE-
627 PM MDT Wed Aug 7 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL GARDEN COUNTY
THROUGH 700 PM MDT...

At 626 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Lisco, or 9 miles northwest of Oshkosh, moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Dogtown Flats and Sugar Loaf Hill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT for
the Panhandle of Nebraska.

&&

LAT...LON 4145 10258 4156 10258 4160 10235 4143 10232
TIME...MOT...LOC 0026Z 261DEG 11KT 4149 10250

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Brown

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
656 PM MDT Wed Aug 7 2024

NEZ004-080145-
Sheridan NE-
656 PM MDT Wed Aug 7 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN SHERIDAN COUNTY
THROUGH 745 PM MDT...

At 656 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Alliance, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Antioch, Snow Lake, Wickson Lake, Krause Lake, Diamond Lake, and
Lakeside.

This includes the following highways...
 Highway 250 between mile markers 1 and 21.
 Highway 2 between mile markers 96 and 112.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4235 10241 4205 10239 4204 10270 4209 10270
      4210 10274 4230 10275
TIME...MOT...LOC 0056Z 264DEG 23KT 4215 10283

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
808 PM CDT Wed Aug 7 2024

NEZ038-080200-
Custer NE-
808 PM CDT Wed Aug 7 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN CUSTER COUNTY
THROUGH 900 PM CDT...

At 808 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles north of Arnold, or 18 miles northeast of Stapleton, moving
east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Anselmo and Pleasant Hill.

This includes the following highways...
 Highway 2 between mile markers 257 and 261.
 Highway 92 between mile markers 256 and 269.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4151 10025 4166 10025 4163 9982 4141 9984
TIME...MOT...LOC 0108Z 290DEG 21KT 4159 10019

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
843 PM CDT Wed Aug 7 2024

NEZ057-059-080230-
Lincoln NE-Keith NE-
843 PM CDT Wed Aug 7 2024

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN KEITH AND
NORTHWESTERN LINCOLN COUNTIES THROUGH 930 PM CDT/830 PM MDT/...

At 843 PM CDT/743 PM MDT/, Doppler radar was tracking strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from 7 miles north of North
Platte to near Hershey to 7 miles north of Sarben. Movement was
southeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
North Platte, Sutherland, Hershey, Sutherland Reservoir State
Recreation Area, North Platte Airport, Coker, O'Fallons, and
Birdwood.

This includes the following highways...
 Highway 97 between mile markers 1 and 16.
 Interstate 80 in Nebraska between mile markers 151 and 183.
 Highway 83 between mile markers 79 and 97.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT/1000
PM MDT/ for southwestern Nebraska.

&&

LAT...LON 4111 10047 4106 10085 4109 10126 4139 10138
      4139 10069
TIME...MOT...LOC 0143Z 321DEG 12KT 4123 10072 4122 10099 4126 10129

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH