High winds developed across SW Nebraska during the day on December 30th, with the strongest wind gust of 58 mph in McCook.
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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.
High winds developed across SW Nebraska during the day on December 30th, with the strongest wind gust of 58 mph in McCook.
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 Dec 30, 12:55 PM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1155 AM MST Mon Dec 30 2024
.KEY MESSAGES...
- A High Wind Warning and Red Flag Warning remain in effect
today, generally for counties along the Colorado border. The
entire area may see wind gusts to 65 mph and high fire danger.
The worst conditions are expected in the warned areas. Blowing
dust is also possible.
- Potential for much colder air and light snow late next
weekend and for the first full week of 2025.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 1155 AM MST Mon Dec 30 2024
Tonight...breezy to windy northwest winds will continue this evening
then slowly decrease after midnight with speeds in the 10 to 15 mph
by sunrise Tuesday morning. Low temperatures are forecast to be in
the middle teens to middle 20s.
Tuesday-Tuesday night...the forecast area will remain under
northwest flow aloft. There will be some increasing mid level clouds
during the afternoon through overnight hours. High temperatures are
forecast to be in the 35 to 40 degree range with low temperatures in
the teens.
Wednesday-Wednesday night...another round of mid and high clouds
moves through a fast northwest flow aloft. Presently, no
precipitation is expected. High temperatures are forecast to be in
the upper 30s to middle 40s with low temperatures in the middle
teens to lower 20s.
Thursday-Thursday night...we remain under northwest flow aloft with
dry weather continuing. Cooler air backs into the northeast portion
of the area with high temperatures in the 35 to 40 degree range. The
rest of the area is forecast to see high temperatures in the 40 to
45 degree range. Low temperatures are forecast to be in the teens to
around 20.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1155 AM MST Mon Dec 30 2024
Friday...upper level ridging approaches the Continental Divide
overnight, ahead of an upper level trough. The forecast looks to
remain dry. Presently, high temperatures are forecast to be in the
middle to upper 30s across the far northeast and eastern portions of
the area (closest to a backdoor cold front) with lower to middle 40s
across the rest of the area. Low temperatures are forecast to be in
the teens.
Saturday...there is a bit more uncertainty regarding the progression
of the upper trough with the ECMWF pushing it across the area during
the period while the GEM model keeps it west of the area and the GFS
moving it into our area. The GEFS model is similar to the GFS.
Presently, we have a 20%-50% chance of snow showers but given the
various scenarios moisture may be too little to support precip so
watch for later updates. High temperatures are currently forecast to
be in the upper 20s to upper 30s with low temperatures in the
single digits to middle teens.
Sunday...we'll have to continue with 20%-30% chances for light snow
showers as the 500mb pattern and amounts of moisture available for
precip is in question as mentioned for Saturday. Its looks to be
cold with high temperatures in the middle 20s to middle 30s and low
temperatures in the zero to 10 degree range.
Monday...we're currently looking at a dry day with high temperatures
in the middle 20s to middle 30s and low temperatures in the single
digits to lower teens.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 916 AM MST Mon Dec 30 2024
For KGLD... VFR conditions are expected majority of the TAF
period; however, there is a chance for blowing dust to develop
with winds around 30kts and gusts around 45-50 kts forecast
through 23Z. If the dust develops and a thicker plume can form,
visibilities around 2-6SM and ceilings around 1500ft could
briefly move over the terminal. Until we begin to see the nature
of the dust today, a TEMPO group for 6SM visibility has been
added through 22Z. Otherwise, the strong winds are forecast to
weaken after 21-23Z back to around 15-20kts. There is a chance
for some lower cloud ceilings this evening around 06Z in the
wake of the system and as colder air moves into the area.
Ceilings could drop in the 1000-3000ft range, but chances are
currently low.
For KMCK... VFR conditions are forecast, but will need to watch
for low cloud development tonight as colder air moves in behind
a system that could drop ceilings to a few hundred feet. There
is also a low chance through 22Z for blowing dust to develop
and reduce visibility to around 4-6SM with ceilings around
2000ft. Otherwise, winds are expected to continue picking up
speed this afternoon with speeds nearing 25-30 kts and gusts
around 40-45 kts. The winds should lower around 23-00Z.
&&
.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...High Wind Warning until 5 PM MST /6 PM CST/ this afternoon for
KSZ001-013-027-041.
Red Flag Warning until 5 PM MST this afternoon for KSZ013-027-
041.
CO...High Wind Warning until 5 PM MST this afternoon for COZ090>092.
Red Flag Warning until 5 PM MST this afternoon for COZ253-254.
NE...None.
&&
SHORT TERM...99
LONG TERM...99
AVIATION...KMKHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Goodland KS 156 AM MST Mon Dec 30 2024 COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-310900- Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne-Rawlins-Decatur-Norton-Sherman-Thomas- Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Logan-Gove-Greeley-Wichita-Dundy-Hitchcock- Red Willow- 156 AM MST Mon Dec 30 2024 /256 AM CST Mon Dec 30 2024/ This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska... northwest Kansas and east central Colorado. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... A High Wind Warning and Red Flag Warning remain in effect for most counties along the Colorado border with wind gusts up to 65 mph and very high fire danger. The entire area is forecast to see wind gusts between 50 and 60 mph and have increased fire danger through the afternoon hours.There could be isolated instances of visibility down to a mile or less in blowing dust. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not needed at this time. Any reports of wind gusts above 55 mph and visibility in blowing dust are appreciated. Report wildfires to local dispatches.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1230 PM MST Mon Dec 30 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1200 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 E Tribune 38.47N 101.65W
12/30/2024 M59 MPH Greeley KS Mesonet
Reported via Weather Underground station
KKSTRIBU27.
&&
KMKPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1237 PM MST Mon Dec 30 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1219 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NE Colby 39.40N 101.03W
12/30/2024 M57 MPH Thomas KS Public
Reported via Weather Underground Mesonet
KKSCOLBY20.
&&
KMKPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1246 PM MST Mon Dec 30 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1134 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Rexford 39.47N 100.74W
12/30/2024 M59 MPH Thomas KS Mesonet
Reported via Weather Underground station
KKSREXFO12.
&&
KMKPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
102 PM MST Mon Dec 30 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1243 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 ESE Quinter 39.06N 100.20W
12/30/2024 M58 MPH Gove KS Mesonet
Mesonet station UP846 2.0 E Quinter (UPR).
&&
KMKPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
117 PM MST Mon Dec 30 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1255 PM Blowing Dust 2 ESE Oakley 39.11N 100.82W
12/30/2024 Logan KS AWOS
REPORTED AT KOEL. 3 mile visibility in
blowing dust observed.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
119 PM MST Mon Dec 30 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1142 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 E Arapahoe 38.85N 102.13W
12/30/2024 M57 MPH Cheyenne CO Mesonet
Reported via Union Pacific Station UP694.
&&
KMKThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The ASOS at the McCook Airport (KMCK) reported a 58 mph wind gust.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, December 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: 1222539.