May 29, 2008 Tornado Outbreak
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This page obviously needs work and updated- This was my first run at it- It seemed like a good start- but I don't know how to put pictures in or anything like that, nor do I really have the time. Anyway, I hope someone can make use of some of this info.
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[edit] Set-up
In the early morning of May 29, 2008, the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma issued a High Risk for Severe Weather in Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa. High Risk Area and Discussion The NWS also forecasted a greater than 30% chance for a tornado within 25 miles of a given point. Further, it gave a 10% of an EF2-EF5 tornado within 25 miles of a given point.
A strong southerly flow ahead of a powerful low pressure system kicking out of the desert southwest set the stage for this event. The air ahead of this system was very moist with temperatures exceeding 80 degrees throughout the midwest with dew points ranging from 60-70 in Nebraska and Northern Kansas. Hays, Kansas reported a temperature of 86 and a dew point of 68 shortly before 4:00 p.m. Comparatively, across the border in Colorado, dew points west of the dry line fell to 18 in Limon, CO.
This outbreak came within days of the devastating outbreak of May 22 to May 27. This outbreak spawned tornadoes from southwestern Texas to Minnesota.
[edit] Tornado Watches
At 1:35 PM CDT, a Tornado Watch was issued for NE Colorado, Extreme NW Kansas, much of Western Nebraska, and parts of South Dakota. Western NE Tornado Watch
At 2:30 PM CDT, a Tornado Watch was issued for Central Nebraska and North Central Kansas in effect until 10:00 PM CDT. It was labeled a Particularly Dangerous Situation. The National Weather Service warned that there could be Destructive Tornadoes, Large Hail up to 4 inches in diameter, wind gusts up to 80 MPH and dangerous lightning.Tornado Watch - PDS
- At 5:55, a NWS mesoscale discussion concerning Tornado Watch 386 (above) seemed to show the Tornado threat shifting a little further to the South. Their forecasted threat now dips southward to the Topeka, KS area. Mesoscale Discussion
At 5:25 PM CDT, a Tornado Watch was issued for Extreme NW Iowa, Extreme NE Nebraska, and SE South Dakota in effect until 11:00 PM CDT. This was not issued as a PDS, but the forecast was for possible tornadoes, hail up to 2 inches in diameter, wind gusts up to 70 MPH, and dangerous lightning.
[edit] Nebraska
[edit] Kearney Supercells
Storms became tornadic in Southern Nebraska close to 4:00 p.m. The first tornado warnings were prompted by Doppler radar for the Lexington, NE area. The storm also dropped up to baseball sized hail.
Other supercells began to fire west of the Lexington supercell. By 4:30 there was almost a solid line of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings from just East of North Platte, NE to just west of Garden City, KS.
The storm continued eastward. At 5:11 PM CDT a Tornado Warning was issued until 5:30 for NE Phelps, NW Kearney, SE Dawson, and W Buffalo Counties. Trained weather spotters reported a Tornado located near Odessa, NE (12 miles W of Kearney) moving to the East. Doppler Radar indicated that the storm was moving at E at 31 MPH. The storm showed classic rotation on the Doppler and the tops of the storm reached up to 55K Feet [1]
The supercell also dropped a large amount of rainfall. Preliminary Radar Estimates showed 2-4 inches along the storm track. However, often times the rainfall estimates are inaccurate due to hail falling within the storm. Either way, the storm is dropping copious amounts of water.
At 5:30, the National Weather Service reported that there was a Tornado on the ground in Kearney, NE. Damage had already been reported in the Kearney area.
As the first supercell moved eastward to the Kearney area, another Tornadic storm developed just to the Southeast of Lexington. The storm was located near Overton, NE (14 miles SE of Lexington) at 5:42 PM CDT. This storm was moving off to the East at 45 MPH.
By 6:00, the first storm was closing in on Grand Island, NE. Shelton, Cairo, and Wood River were all in the path of this dangerous Supercell. The storm was 20 miles southwest of Grand Island and was moving to the east at 45 MPH.
By 6:20, the second storm was located on the North side of Kearney and was showing a signature hook on the Doppler Radar. The second storm was taking a very similar track to the first storm. Multiple touchdowns had been reported in Kearney.
[edit] Kansas
[edit] NW Kansas
At 4:32, the National Weather Service in Goodland Kansas issued Tornado Warnings for Western Graham County and Central Sheridan County in Northwestern Kansas until 5:15 CDT. This tornado was first indicated by Doppler Radar 7 miles southwest of Hoxie, KS (70 miles NW of Hays, KS) moving to the Northeast at 39 MPH. The storm had previously produced over 75 MPH winds along with golf ball sized hail.
At 5:14 PM CDT, The National Weather Service in Goodland, KS issued a Tornado Warning for NE Graham County and SE Norton CO in NW Kansas valid until 615 CDT. This warning was prompted by Doppler Radar indicated rotation located near Penokee, KS (50 miles NW of Hays, KS).
At 5:42 PM CDT, two more warnings were issued to the southwest of the Penokee storm. The tornado was located to the east of Oakley or 11 Miles SW of Grinnell, KS. This storm was racing off to the East at 49 MPH and was forecasted to be near Garfield and Park at 6:00 and 6:05 respectively. This Tornado warning was prompted by Doppler radar indicated rotation.
Later in the evening, NWS issued a tornado warning for Mitchel, and Jewell counties. The tornado struck Jewell leaving the local cafe in rubble, the town's water tower laying on the ground, and many homes and businesses damaged. The storm skimmed the NW corner of Cloud County, affecting the Jamestown area. The sirens were sounded. The citizens only received high winds and rain. The high winds caused a few powerlines to go down, but no injuries occurred.
After the storm swept through Mitchel, Jewell and NW Cloud County, the storm headed into Republic County were the storm appeared to gain strength. According to local weather spotters, the tornado was about a mile wide at the base. When the tornado reached Highway 81, the tornado receded and then went back down into two different funnels. The bases were an estimated 1/4 of a mile wide and only 2 miles apart. Kansas Highway Patrol closed off Highway 36, leading from Highway 81 toward Rydal.
[edit] Outside of Moderate to High Risk Area
[edit] Wyoming
Trained weather spotters reported a tornado on the ground at 4:33 PM CDT that was 29 miles southwest of Buffalo, WY moving to the northeast at 23 MPH. A warning was issued for Central Johnson County. The storm was accompanied by nickel-sized hail and winds up to 60 MPH.
[edit] South Dakota
At 6:05 PM CDT, a Tornado Warning was issued by the Sioux Falls National Weather Service for East Central Bon Homme County in SE South Dakota until 6:30. The storm was located near Springfield, SD (25 miles West of Yankton, SD) moving NE at 22 MPH.
