Landspout, hail kickstart complex spring storm in Cheyenne County

POTTER - A complex early spring storm created gusty winds, hail landspouts in Cheyenne County on Saturday afternoon.

The National Weather Service office in Cheyenne said they were tracking a strong thunderstorm capable of producing a landspout 10 miles north of Potter at 1:11 p.m. Wind gusts in excess of 50 mph and half-inch hail were also possible.

WeatherEye Meteorologist Laura Lockwood says a landspout east of Potter is more of a cold air funnel situation, not a tornado.

"They dynamics are very different than a tornado, but it can still look very menacing, and it's always good to err on the side of caution and treat it like as a tornado if you happen to come across or see one of those spin-ups," Lockwood said. "The National Weather Service is continuing to monitor this very closely, along with us."

She says a tornado warning isn't issued in a situation like this.

A severe thunderstorm watch was issued Saturday afternoon until 7 p.m. Saturday for Deuel, Garden, Keith, Arthur and Perkins Counties. The watch extends into south-central Nebraska. The weather service said the main threats were isolated tornadoes, hail the size of quarters and wind gusts up to 75 mph. 

Straight-line winds of 70 mph were registered on Interstate 76, two miles east of Sterling. 

The Kimball Police Department advised against traveling in town, "unless you absolutely have to." A tree victimized by the brutal winds blocked the street on the 500 block of South Howard Street.

Temperatures near Huntsman dropped to 43 degrees. 

Rain was expected to transition to snow Saturday night. Snow accumulation of one to three inches was possible with wind gusts of more than 80 mph. 

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