Thunderstorm Wind — Thayer, Nebraska

2024-06-15 · near Gilead, Thayer, Nebraska

Event narrative

Wind gusts estimated to be near 65 MPH resulted in damage to an outbuilding just south of Gilead, when wind was able to get in open areas and shifted part of the building off its foundation. A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located one mile northwest of Gilead.

Wider weather episode

A building was shifted off its perch as strong winds blew through the Gilead area. The building, consisting of wood posts and aluminum sheeted sides and roof, had a large opening on one end and space near the ground on the sides for airflow. As the gust hit the building, the wind was able to lift the building from the ground up and dislodge/twist it from its original location a small distance. A measured wind gust of 58 mph was recorded near Gilead but winds were likely stronger at the damaged building location.

The damaging thunderstorm was among a small cluster of thunderstorms that formed in north central Kansas and moved northeast along a warm front. The thunderstorms formed at the nose of an axis of 4,000 J/kg CAPE riding into the area aboard 70+ surface dew points. A clearly defined upper level short wave moved across central Nebraska and triggered the storms, which gained traction initially in an area of 40kt effective shear, though the more favorable shear shifted east fairly quickly, as did the thunderstorms themselves.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.1500, -97.4200)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1180576. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.