High Wind Event Across Western and North Central Nebraska.
A slow moving, powerful upper level low pressure center and associated surface low moved slowly across South Dakota on Wednesday. On the southern periphery of the system, very strong westerly winds of 30 to 50 MPH, with gusts of 50 to 80 MPH occurred across Western and North Central Nebraska Wednesday morning and afternoon. Wind speeds slowly decreased by late afternoon. Below is a satellite image of the low pressure system and a summary of wind speeds recorded at locations across Western and North Central Nebraska as of 5 PM CDT.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 305 PM CDT WED APR 19 2006
...FIERCE WINDS CONTINUE TO BATTER WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA...
AN INTENSE SPRING STORM SYSTEM CONTINUES TO PRODUCE HIGH WINDS THIS AFTERNOON. NEBRASKA DOT EQUIPMENT HAS RECORDED HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS ALONG HIGHWAY 20 BETWEEN RUSHVILLE AND MERRIMAN EARLIER THIS MORNING. WINDS ARE BEGINNING TO ABATE SOMEWHAT AS THE INTENSE LOW PRESSURE MOVES SLOWLY TO THE NORTHEAST. THE MORE SIGNIFICANT REPORTS AS OF 3 PM CDT...
LOCATION COUNTY PEAK WIND GUST NORTH PLATTE LINCOLN.......... 60 MPH (1056 AM CDT) THEDFORD THOMAS........... 61 MPH (700 AM CDT) OGALLALA KEITH............ 58 MPH (1151 AM CDT) BROKEN BOW CUSTER........... 56 MPH (1153 AM CDT) IMPERIAL CHASE............ 55 MPH (1038 AM MDT) VALENTINE CHERRY........... 53 MPH (549 AM CDT) ONEILL HOLT............. 50 MPH (913 AM CDT) AINSWORTH BROWN............ 49 MPH (530 AM CDT)
WEATHER OBSERVATIONS COURTESY OF THE NEBRASKA WILDLIFE REFUGEE.
LOCATION COUNTY PEAK WIND GUST CRESCENT LAKE GARDEN........... 63 MPH (1105 MDT) VALENTINE LAKES CHERRY........... 58 MPH (510 AM CDT) HALSEY THOMAS........... 51 MPH (850 AM CDT)
WEATHER OBSERVATIONS COURTESY OF THE NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. EQUIPMENT IS SITED ALONG WELL TRAVEL ROUTES.
HIGHWAY 20 NEAR RUSHVILLE SHERIDAN......... 84 MPH (655 AM MDT) HIGHWAY 87 S OF WHITE CLAY SHERIDAN......... 60 MPH (405 AM MDT) HIGHWAY 20 E OF GORDON CHERRY........... 77 MPH (504 AM MDT) ELLSWORTH SHERIDAN......... 68 MPH (1130 AM CDT) HIGHWAY 61 NEAR STEVENSON LAKE CHERRY........... 64 MPH (322 AM MDT) MERRIMAN CHERRY........... 64 MPH (330 AM MDT) 12S OSHKOSH GARDEN........... 63 MPH (100 PM MDT) HIGHWAY 83 NEAR BROWNLEE CHERRY........... 61 MPH (524 AM CDT) HIGHWAY 83 DISMAL RIVER THOMAS........... 61 MPH (707 AM CDT) SUTHERLAND LINCOLN.......... 59 MPH (1200 PM CDT) HIGHWAY 70 NEAR WESTERVILLE CUSTER.......... 59 MPH (1054 AM CDT) 3E BIG SPRINGS KEITH............ 58 MPH (830 AM MDT) 10W BIG SPRINGS DEUEL............ 55 MPH (130 PM MDT) HIGHWAY 183 NORTH OF ROSE ROCK............. 51 MPH (632 AM CDT) NEWPORT ROCK............. 51 MPH (900 AM CDT) DUNNING BLAINE........... 51 MPH (1230 PM CDT)
THESE STRONG WINDS HAVE CAUSED VISIBILITIES TO BE REDUCED DRASTICALLY...SOMETIMES DOWN TO A MILE OR LESS...IN BLOWING DUST.
