Thunderstorm Wind in Clay County, Nebraska

Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH downed a few tree limbs, one of which was at least 6 inches in diameter.

This Tuesday had an upper level trough axis making its way through central Canada and the Northern Plains, which pushed a strong surface cold front southeast across the local area during the day. Conditions were quiet through midday, with scattered storms starting to develop along this cold front during the early afternoon hours. By 3 PM CDT, storms had erupted along the entire frontal boundary, which at that time was roughly along a line from Silver Creek, NE to Palco, KS. The main line of activity along surface front continued to push east through the day, but there were a few storms which lagged further west closer to the 850mb front. Though lower and mid-level lapse rates were less than ideal, mixed-layer CAPE mainly around 2000-2500 j/kg and sufficient deeper layer shear allowed for scattered storms to become strong to severe. The majority of reports from the day were hail, with reports extending from Fillmore to Adams to Franklin and Harlan Counties of south central Nebraska, southward into Phillips and Rooks Counties of north central Kansas. The largest hail reported was golf ball size, from the Woodruff, KS area. Some minor tree and roof damage from straight-line winds was also reported in Clay County, NE.