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Tornadoes

Tornado Watch Issued for Portions of Far Western Iowa, Northeast Nebraska, and Extreme Southeast South Dakota

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Far Western Iowa, Northeast Nebraska, and Extreme Southeast South Dakota by the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center. The watch is effective from Thursday afternoon to Thursday evening, with the primary threats including a couple of tornadoes, scattered damaging winds, and isolated significant gusts to 80 mph. Thunderstorm development is anticipated within a very unstable airmass across central/northeast Nebraska, with upscale growth expected after the initial cellular mode. Strong wind gusts are possible within the resultant convective line, including gusts over 75 mph.

Key Takeaways:

  • A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Far Western Iowa, Northeast Nebraska, and Extreme Southeast South Dakota by the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center.
  • The watch is effective from Thursday afternoon to Thursday evening, from 310 PM to 1000 PM CDT.
  • Primary threats include a couple of tornadoes, scattered damaging winds, and isolated significant gusts to 80 mph.
  • Thunderstorm development is anticipated within a very unstable airmass across central/northeast Nebraska, with upscale growth expected after the initial cellular mode.
  • Strong wind gusts are possible within the resultant convective line, including gusts over 75 mph.
  • The tornado watch area is approximately along and 75 statute miles north and south of a line from 5 miles north northwest of Broken Bow, NE to 10 miles east of Denison, IA.
  • A complete depiction of the watch can be seen on the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).
  • A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
  • Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.
  • Aviation is also warned of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 2 inches, extreme turbulence, and surface wind gusts to 70 knots.

Statistics:

  • Time period: Thursday afternoon to Thursday evening, 310 PM to 1000 PM CDT.
  • Tornado watch area: Approximately along and 75 statute miles north and south of a line from 5 miles north northwest of Broken Bow, NE to 10 miles east of Denison, IA.
  • Thunderstorm development: Anticipated within a very unstable airmass across central/northeast Nebraska.
  • Upscale growth: Expected after the initial cellular mode, with strong wind gusts possible within the resultant convective line, including gusts over 75 mph.
  • Hail: Surface and aloft to 2 inches, with a probability of 10 or more severe hail events of 60%.
  • Wind: Surface wind gusts to 70 knots, with a probability of 10 or more severe wind events of 60%.
  • Tornadoes: Probability of 2 or more tornadoes of 40%, and probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes of 20%.

Sources:

  • National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center
  • NWS Tornado Watch Number 501
  • WOUS64 KWNS WOU1 - Associated watch outline update

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