Alert archive / Nebraska / Flash Flood Warnings in 1996

Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS Omaha, NE

May 9, 1996Lancaster County, Otoe County, Nebraska

NWS Omaha, NE issued this flash flood warning at May 9, 1996, 3:55 AM CDT for Lancaster County, Otoe County, Nebraska. It was in force for 5 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 9, 1996, 3:55 AM CDT (08:55 UTC)
Expired
May 9, 1996, 9:00 AM CDT
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Omaha, NE
Area
Whole counties

Counties Lancaster County, NE, Otoe County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 67 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:55 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 67 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 1996-05-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1091 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 1996-05-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 94 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1091 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-45 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
739 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
94 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
84 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
3.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KOMA 090900
FFWOMA
NEC109-131-091400-
 
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
355 AM CDT THU MAY 9 1996
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  900 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA
 
   ...SOUTHERN LANCASTER COUNTY
 
IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA
 
   ...OTOE COUNTY
 
HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST ACROSS SOUTHERN LANCASTER AND
OTOE COUNTIES AT 400 AM CDT THIS MORNING IN AN AREA THAT HAS RECEIVED
FROM 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAINFALL SINCE EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE UNTIL AROUND 600 CDT WITH AN
ADDITIONAL INCH OR TWO RAINFALL FOR THE AREA.
 
FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED IN LOW LYING AREAS AND ALONG FLOOD PRONE
AREAS OF THE SALT CREEK IN SOUTHERN LANCASTER COUNTY AND IN THE
HEADWATER STREEMS OF THE LITTLE NEMAHA RIVER IN OTOE COUNTY.
 
REMEMBER THAT A FLOOD WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT THIS MORNING FOR THE
LITTLE NEMAHA RIVER DOWNSTREEM FROM UNADILLA IN OTOE COUNTY TO THE
MISSOURY RIVER.  THE LITTLE NEMAHA RIVER IS LIKELY TO RISE TO 24 FEET
BY MID MORNING AT AUBURN.  PERSONS WITH PROPERTY OR ANIMALS NEAR THE
LITTLE NEMAHA SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE MEASURES TO PROTECT THEM FROM ANY
FLOODING TODAY.
 
PEOPLE IN THE WARNED AREA...ESPECIALLY CAMPERS...SHOULD SEEK HIGHER
GROUND WITHOUT DELAY.  MOTORISTS SHOULD USE CAUTION IN APPROACHING
LOW AREAS OF ROADS.
 
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OVER A ROAD COVERED BY WATER.  THE ROAD
COULD BE WASHED OUT UNDER THE WATER SURFACE OR YOUR CAR COULD BE
SWEPT AWAY IF WATER IS FLOWING SWIFTLY.
 
PEOPLE NEAR STREAMS OR IN LOW LYING AREAS SHOULD NOT WASTE TIME
TRYING TO SAVE PERSONAL PROPERTY...MOVE TO HIGH GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
MEIER

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 9, 2:04 AM CDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before
NEZ023>027-035>037-057-090800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
200 AM CDT (1259 AM MDT) THU MAY 9 1996

...TORNADO WATCH CANCELED FOR A PORTION OF WESTERN NEBRASKA...

A PORTION OF TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 324 IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWEST NEBRASKA
HAS BEEN CLEARD AT 200 AM CDT THIS THURSDAY MORNING.  THE CLEARED AREA
OF THE TORNADO WATCH IS NORTH OF A LINE FROM OGALLALA TO BURWELL.
ALTHOUGH SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN
THIS PART OF NEBRASKA TONIGHT THEY ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE.

REMEMBER THAT A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST
NEBRASKA UNTIL 400 AM CDT THIS THURSDAY MORNING.  VERY STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO FORM IN THIS PART OF THE STATE NEAR THE
COLORADO BORDER...NORTH OF A STATIONARY FRONT IN WESTERN KANSAS.
THEY GAIN STRENGTH AS THEY MOVE EAST ACROSS SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA AND
THREATEN THE AREA FROM IMPERIAL TO NORTH PLATTE TO BROKEN BOW AND SOUTH
TO MCCOOK WITH HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...STRONG WINDS AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO.

MEIER
Special weather statement, May 9, 3:05 AM CDT, 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
303 AM CDT THU MAY 9 1996

NEZ030-031-042-091000-
BOONE-MADISON-PLATTE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALBION...COLUMBUS...NORFOLK
303 AM CDT THU MAY 9 1996

.NOW...
TORNADO WATCH 324 HAS BEEN CANCELLED.  ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS
WITH SMALL HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN ARE POSSIBLE THE REST OF THE NIGHT
...BUT TORNADOES ARE NO LONGER A THREAT.

KLISH
Special weather statement, May 9, 3:34 AM CDT, 21 minutes before
NEZ004>012-015>018-022>053-056>078-082>093-IAZ043-055-056-069-
079-080-090-091-090920-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
330 AM CDT (230 AM MDT) THU MAY 9 1996

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 324 IS CANCELLED FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN
NEBRASKA...

...THE TORNADO WATCH FOR EAS AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA EXPIRED AT
300 AM CDT...

THE TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 324 ISSUED FOR A LARGE PART OF WESTERN
NEBRASKA HAS BEEN CANCELLED AT 300 AM CDT THIS THURSDAY MORNING.
ALTHOUGH SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE IN THE SOUTHWEST
THEY HAVE LOST MUCH OF THEIR STRENGTH.  EXCEPT FOR THE DANGER OF
LIGHTENING THESE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE.

IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 323 EXPIRED AT
300 AM CDT.  THUNDERSTORMS DIMINISHING TO SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE IN THE AREA UNTIL MID MORNING.  ASIDE FROM THE DANGER OF
ADDITIONAL BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS
PASSED.

IN THE SOUTHEAST SECTIONS OF THE STATE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL AREAS OF
HEAVY RAINFALL THIS MORNING.  TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST OF BEATRICE
ALONG BEAR...INDIAN...PIERCE AND CEDAR CREEKS IN GAGE COUNTY...AN
ESTIMATED 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN.  ALSO IN JOHNSTON COUNTY
...3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ALONG YANKEE AND HOOKER CREEKS THAT
DRAIN INTO THE BIG NEMAHA NORTH OF TECUMSEH.

LATEST REPORTS DO NOT INDICATE ANY FLOODING PROBLEMS IN THE AREA BUT
BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLASH FLOODING ALONG THESE SMALLER CREEKS...ESPECIALLY AT
BRIDGES AND IN LOW LYING AREAS.
Special weather statement, May 9, 3:42 AM CDT, 13 minutes before
NEZ004>012-015>018-022>053-056>078-082>093-IAZ043-055-056-069-
079-080-090-091-090920-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
330 AM CDT (230 AM MDT) THU MAY 9 1996

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 324 IS CANCELLED FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN
NEBRASKA...

...THE TORNADO WATCH FOR EAS AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA EXPIRED AT
300 AM CDT...

THE TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 324 ISSUED FOR A LARGE PART OF WESTERN
NEBRASKA HAS BEEN CANCELLED AT 300 AM CDT THIS THURSDAY MORNING.
ALTHOUGH SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE IN THE SOUTHWEST
THEY HAVE LOST MUCH OF THEIR STRENGTH.  EXCEPT FOR THE DANGER OF
LIGHTENING THESE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE.

IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 323 EXPIRED AT
300 AM CDT.  THUNDERSTORMS DIMINISHING TO SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE IN THE AREA UNTIL MID MORNING.  ASIDE FROM THE DANGER OF
ADDITIONAL BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS
PASSED.

IN THE SOUTHEAST SECTIONS OF THE STATE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL AREAS OF
HEAVY RAINFALL THIS MORNING.  TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST OF BEATRICE
ALONG BEAR...INDIAN...PIERCE AND CEDAR CREEKS IN GAGE COUNTY...AN
ESTIMATED 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN.  ALSO IN JOHNSTON COUNTY
...3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ALONG YANKEE AND HOOKER CREEKS THAT
DRAIN INTO THE BIG NEMAHA NORTH OF TECUMSEH.

LATEST REPORTS DO NOT INDICATE ANY FLOODING PROBLEMS IN THE AREA BUT
BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT  WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLASH FLOODING ALONG THESE SMALLER CREEKS...ESPECIALLY AT
BRIDGES AND IN LOW LYING AREAS.

MEIER

The office that day

Everything else NWS Omaha, NE issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 8, 8:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Saline36 min
May 8, 8:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Lancaster48 min
May 8, 8:50 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXGage, Lancaster40 min
May 8, 9:11 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXJefferson49 min
May 8, 9:15 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXJohnson, Nemaha, Otoe30 min
May 8, 9:29 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXGage, Johnson46 min
May 8, 9:52 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXJefferson38 min
May 8, 10:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXLancaster, Saunders54 min
May 8, 10:13 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXJohnson47 min
May 8, 10:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage48 min
May 8, 10:31 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXGage44 min
May 8, 11:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXDodge47 min
May 9, 12:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXMadison, Stanton50 min
May 9, 12:30 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXBurt, Cuming30 min
May 9, 12:48 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXSaline, Seward42 min
May 9, 1:30 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXLancaster45 min
May 9, 1:40 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXColfax50 min
May 9, 6:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXJefferson46 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Nebraska, 1996Every flash flood warning in 1996

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.