Hail and Damaging Winds in Nebraska, May 20 to 21, 2024

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
626 PM MDT Mon May 20 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A Tornado Watch is in effect until 11 PM MDT this evening for
  Yuma County in Colorado, Dundy County in Nebraska and Cheyenne
  County in Kansas. East of the watch area, along the Kansas and
  Nebraska border, severe thunderstorms capable of producing
  very large hail, damaging winds and torrential rainfall are
  possible late this evening into tonight.

- A Flood Watch remains in effect until sunrise Tuesday morning
  for Dundy, Hitchcock and Red Willow counties in southwest
  Nebraska (where 1 to 3 inches of rain fell over the weekend).

- Potential for patchy frost in northeast Colorado early
  Wednesday morning. Very low confidence.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 250 PM MDT Mon May 20 2024

Across the region this afternoon, with a low/front sitting over west
central Kansas, skies are mixed with sunny conditions west, and
partly sunny east due to a persistent veil of low cloud associated
with the vicinity of the low/front. Winds have shifted easterly from
the mornings northerly fetch, and temperatures as of 200 PM MDT are
ranging mainly in the 70s with some 60s due to extensive clouds.

Looking aloft, the latest RAP40 500mb analysis is showing broad SW
flow over the region, with a elongated trough pushing through the
north central Rockies. It will be this trough, via current guidance,
that swings off the Rockies and east-northeast into the north
central Plains this evening. This will be followed by a weaker
system on Tuesday with a more easterly track along the northern
fringe of the cwa.

For the short term period, the latest wx concerns continue to focus
on the threat for severe wx this afternoon/evening, flooding chances
later tonight into Tuesday morning. There are also chances
Tuesday/Tuesday night for another round of rain/thunder.

Currently, with a frontal boundary extending west from the central
Kansas area into central Colorado, this will be the focus for storm
initiation as the upper trough moves off the Rockies. Current
CAMs(HRRR, RAP and NamNest) show development around 00z Tuesday,
moving east through northeast Colorado, before shifting into SW
Nebraska this evening. Some differences as to the placement/movement
of the convection as it moves out of Colorado, but the overall trend
does impact SW Nebraska at the minimum. Threats do diminish as your
push southward through the cwa. Best chances look to occur along and
north of highway 36. SPC does continue to carry an Enhanced Risk for
Nebraska, tapering to a Slight Risk for severe for areas south of
this to Interstate 70, then Marginal concerns thereafter.

Model soundings show decent instability from 00z-06z Tuesday across
the Enhanced Risk area as SBCape/MUCape all reach into the 2000-
3000j/kg range. Hodographs do support tornado potential, but large
hail up to baseballs and winds up to 70-80 mph are possible,
especially north of the Interstate. Things do taper sharply the
further south you go away from the shortwave vicinity.

Other concerns through tonight will be the threat for flooding due
to heavy rainfall as the storms pass. We do have the Enhanced Risk
area under a Marginal for excessive rainfall. This will all depend
on storm speed through the area tonight. PW values do approach the 1-
1.3 inch range this evening as east-southeast flow persists. Have
continued the Flood Watch with the addition of Dundy county through
12z Tuesday.

Another round of rain is expected on Tuesday/Tuesday evening, with
the passage of another shortwave. Surface low south of the cwa will
help funnel moisture into the area, with the focus along and north
of the Interstate. Currently instability is low so not expecting
severe storms at this time, but another round rain could impact
already prone areas. Another Flood Watch could be needed but will be
highly dependent on what is received tonight in certain areas.

The final issue in the short term will be the threat for patchy
frost Tuesday night. Guidance continues to show cloud cover
meandering over the expected impacted areas in Colorado. With the
uncertainty, have left out mention as temps into the upper 30s at
worst.

For temps, with a cold front moving through the region on Tuesday, a
wide range in daytime highs is expected with mid 60s to mid 70s
forecasted. Warmest locales will be along/south of Highway 40.
Overnight lows tonight expected to range widely with mid 40s to
lower 50s west, into the mid 50 through 60F east. A bit colder
Tuesday night, especially west of Highway 27, with a range from the
upper 30s west into the upper 40s east. The lows for tonight are
highly dependent on cloud cover from remnant storms through tonight.
Tuesday night, cloud cover will impact temps, especially for
northeast Colorado. Current guidance keeps frost chances low at this
time, but could encompass much of Kit Carson, Cheyenne and Yuma
counties if cloud cover clears out.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Issued at 156 PM MDT Mon May 20 2024

From the latest GFS/ECMWF, west-southwest aloft at 500mb will
persist during the long term period, supplemented by the passage of
a few weak shortwaves through Friday with both models carrying a few
stronger system over the region for the upcoming weekend. The timing
of each system looks to occur during the evening hours at this time,
but can't rule out some late afternoon development, especially this
weekend.

At the surface, inverted trough Wednesday evening will give way to a
stronger lee-side trough Thursday. while the placement west of this
system during the day will give the region decent above normal
warmth, this will sink south and east of the CWA Thursday night
into Friday. A low on the south side of the trough on Friday
remains over the OK Panhandle region for Saturday, followed by
another lee-side trough for the end of the upcoming weekend.

Looking for low chances(30-40%) for rw/trw in the Wed-Fri timeframe,
but it will be the weekend/early next week systems which will give a
better potential for areal coverage of qpf. Of course these will be
highly dependent on storm track timing through the CWA. With all the
rain expected before the midweek timeframe, additional qpf could put
more locales into flood prone status and will have to be monitored.

For temps, daytime highs on Wednesday will range in the lower to mid
70s. Warmest day in the extended will occur on Thursday with lower
to mid 80s expected. Thereafter, Friday will have another cooler day
with mainly 70s, increasing to a range from the upper 70s to mid 80s
by next Monday. Overnight lows will mainly range from the mid 40s
west into the lower and mid 50s east. Warmest locales will be
along/east of Highway 83.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 600 PM MDT Mon May 20 2024

GLD: Expect conditions to deteriorate in assoc/w the
development of low ceilings this evening and overnight.. with
IFR-LIFR conditions possible after midnight (~06Z). While
convection cannot be ruled out late this evening (mainly
~03-07Z).. guidance continues to suggest that activity will
remain ~30-50 miles north of the GLD terminal. Ceilings are
anticipated to gradually lift/improve to VFR late Tue morning
and early Tue afternoon. 15-25 knot ESE winds are anticipated to
become variable late this evening and overnight.. as a
developing lee cyclone progresses eastward from CO into western
KS. Winds will abruptly shift to the NNW-NW and strengthen to
20-30 knots an hour or two on either side of sunrise Tue
morning.. as the aforementioned cyclone progresses eastward into
central KS-NE.

MCK: Expect conditions to deteriorate in assoc/w thunderstorms
(this evening) and the development of low ceilings (overnight).
Guidance suggests that the MCK terminal may be directly impacted
by severe thunderstorms capable of producing very large hail
and damaging winds in the 03-07Z time frame. Ceilings are
anticipated to gradually lift/improve to VFR by early afternoon,
though.. episodic showers and storms are possible throughout
the day on Tuesday. 10-15 knot E to ESE winds may become
variable late this evening and overnight.. as a developing lee
cyclone progresses eastward from CO into western KS. Winds will
shift to the NNW-NW and increase to 15-25 knots a few hours
after sunrise (by ~15Z).. as the aforementioned cyclone
progresses eastward into central KS-NE.

&&

.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...None.
CO...None.
NE...Flood Watch through late tonight for NEZ079>081.

&&

SHORT TERM...JN
LONG TERM...JN
AVIATION...Vincent

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Goodland KS
809 PM MDT Mon May 20 2024

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-220215-
Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne-Rawlins-Decatur-Norton-Sherman-Thomas-
Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Logan-Gove-Greeley-Wichita-Dundy-Hitchcock-
Red Willow-
809 PM MDT Mon May 20 2024 /909 PM CDT Mon May 20 2024/

This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska...
northwest Kansas and east central Colorado.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT...

A Tornado Watch is in effect until 2 AM MDT (3 AM CDT) Tuesday
morning for locations along and north of Highway 36.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until sunrise Tuesday morning for
Dundy, Hitchcock and Red Willow counties in southwest Nebraska.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...

Patchy frost is possible in northeast Colorado early Wednesday
morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report any severe or significant weather
to the National Weather Service in Goodland via social media or
telephone.

Vincent

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1002 PM MDT Mon May 20 2024

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

1001 PM     Hail             6 NE Heartstrong        40.00N 102.49W
05/20/2024  E0.88 Inch       Yuma               CO   Trained Spotter

&&

JTL

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1003 PM MDT Mon May 20 2024

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

0950 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 NE Heartstrong        40.00N 102.49W
05/20/2024  M75 MPH          Yuma               CO   Trained Spotter

            occurred with nickel size hail.

&&

JTL

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1007 PM MDT Mon May 20 2024

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

1004 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 NNW Vernon            39.98N 102.30W
05/20/2024  M60 MPH          Yuma               CO   Mesonet

            Weatherlink site Welp Farms.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1021 PM MDT Mon May 20 2024

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

1015 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 NW Wray               40.10N 102.25W
05/20/2024  M63 MPH          Yuma               CO   AWOS

            AWOS station K2V5 2 NW Wray.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1033 PM MDT Mon May 20 2024

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

1015 PM     Flash Flood      1 SSE Yuma              40.12N 102.72W
05/20/2024                   Yuma               CO   Trained Spotter

            Spotter reported that streets and basements
            are flooding in the city of Yuma at 10:15 pm
            MDT.

&&

Vincent

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1034 PM MDT Mon May 20 2024

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

1031 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 NE Vernon             39.98N 102.20W
05/20/2024  M59 MPH          Yuma               CO   Mesonet

            Weatherlink site Osmus Farm.

&&