Alert archive / Nebraska / Flash Flood Warnings in 2019

Flash Flood Warning 34, NWS Omaha, NE

August 21, 2019Johnson County, Nemaha County, Nebraska

NWS Omaha, NE issued this flash flood warning at Aug 21, 2019, 2:33 AM CDT for Johnson County, Nemaha County, Nebraska. It was in force for 6 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
Aug 21, 2019, 2:33 AM CDT (07:33 UTC)
Expired
Aug 21, 2019, 8:30 AM CDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Omaha, NE
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Johnson County, NE, Nemaha County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:36 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

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 159 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, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 2019-08-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 5140 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, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 2019-08-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 135 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
5140 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-74 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1104 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
135 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
256 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
3.0
Supercell composite
22.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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.

NWS Omaha, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Aug 20, 11:15 PM CDT, 3 hours 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 20, 11:15 PM CDT, 3 hours 18 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1115 PM CDT Tue Aug 20 2019

.SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Friday)
Issued at 355 PM CDT Tue Aug 20 2019

Main threat in the near term are the miserable apparent temperatures.
Dewpoints in the upper 70s and lower 80s coupled with mid- to
late-afternoon temperatures in the lower 90s, coupled with light
winds are creating AppT in the 105-109 range. Temperatures nor
dewpoints will start to trend downward for a few hours. Boundary
draped across southern Nebraska, and serves as the dividing line
of uncomfortable and oppressive heat and do not expect much
movement, with H7/H5 heights remaining stable. Heat advisory is in
effect, and will issue a very short-term Excessive Heat Warning
to heighten awareness about dangerous conditions during the after
work and after school hours. Still plan to expire at 02z.

Focus next turns to increasing chances of thunderstorms during the
overnight period. CAMS picking up on isolated convection across
northeast Nebraska beginning late this afternoon ahead of frontal
boundary draped across Minnesota and the South Dakota. With
isentropic ascent increasing, aforementioned secondary boundary
begins to shift slightly northward with two boundaries merging and
serving as low level focus for thunderstorm development later
tonight. Current thinking is that warm H7 temperatures in the
13-15C range initially will limit large hail growth initially,
with heavy rain and damaging winds being the primary threat
initially. Precipitable water amounts of 1.5 to 2.0 inches could
be realized; however, with 1- and 3-hour FFG only right around
these values decided to hold off on Flash Flood Watch for now.
Lapse rates begin to steepen during the 06-12z period as cooling
associated with vortex dropping out of eastern Canada approaches.
As such, expect hail threat to increase during the late night
hours. Expect coverage of storms to increase as LLJ increases and
enhancing moisture transport. CAMS are depicting serial MCS to
track along frontal boundary across the region, with the prime
time for strong to severe convection 07-08z. Large scale cyclonic
flow and isentropic ascent continue across the area during the day
on Wednesday and into Wednesday night. Broad cyclonic flow
remains across area through Friday, but better dynamic and
thermodynamic forcing will move northeast, so trending
precipitation chances downward. Currently, storm total
precipitation tonight through Thursday looks to be in the 2.5 to
3.0 inch range.

Better news on temperature trend. After very warm start to the
week, temperatures tomorrow and Thursday will be at least 15-20
degrees cooler. Temperatures will rebound by the end of the week
with slight upper level ridging.

.LONG TERM...(Friday night through Tuesday)
Issued at 355 PM CDT Tue Aug 20 2019

Nebulous trough moves across northern plains Saturday into Sunday,
with quasi-zonal flow establishing itself thereafter. Medium range
models indicating periodic chances of storms, though confidence on
timing is not the greatest.  Temperatures appear seasonable.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Wednesday night)
Issued at 1114 PM CDT Tue Aug 20 2019

A gradual uptick in thunderstorm development is anticipated
overnight into Wednesday morning, resulting in periods of MVFR
ceilings and visibilities as well as variably gusty winds. The
showers and thunderstorms should end initially at KOFK around
midday and KOMA and KLNK by late afternoon or early evening. Light
and variable winds will switch to northeast overnight at around 10
kt with the passage of a cold front through the area.

&&

.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...None.
IA...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...Fortin
LONG TERM...Fortin
AVIATION...Mead
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 20, 6:58 PM CDT, 7 hours 35 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
658 PM CDT Tue Aug 20 2019

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-211400-
Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-
Page-Knox-Cedar-Thurston-Antelope-Pierce-Wayne-Boone-Madison-
Stanton-Cuming-Burt-Platte-Colfax-Dodge-Washington-Butler-
Saunders-Douglas-Sarpy-Seward-Lancaster-Cass-Otoe-Saline-
Jefferson-Gage-Johnson-Nemaha-Pawnee-Richardson-
658 PM CDT Tue Aug 20 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest
Iowa...west central Iowa...east central Nebraska...northeast
Nebraska and southeast Nebraska.

.DAY ONE...Tonight and Wednesday

Thunderstorms are expected to increase in coverage and intensity
across the area after midnight and linger into Wednesday morning.
The strongest storms will be capable hail to golf ball size,
damaging winds of 60 to 70 mph, and locally heavy rainfall. The
greatest severe weather threat will exist south of a Neligh to
Onawa, Iowa line.

Minor flooding will continue on the Missouri River above Lewis
and Clark Lake and from around Plattsmouth downstream past Rulo.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday night through Tuesday

Rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue into Thursday. No
severe weather is anticipated.

Minor flooding will continue on the Missouri River above Lewis
and Clark Lake and from around Plattsmouth downstream into
Missouri.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will probably not be needed tonight.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 21, 1:42 AM CDT, 51 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
142 AM CDT Wed Aug 21 2019

NEZ066-089>093-210715-
Gage NE-Pawnee NE-Lancaster NE-Johnson NE-Nemaha NE-Richardson NE-
142 AM CDT Wed Aug 21 2019

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN LANCASTER...
JOHNSON...SOUTHWESTERN NEMAHA...NORTHWESTERN RICHARDSON...
NORTHEASTERN PAWNEE AND NORTHEASTERN GAGE COUNTIES UNTIL 215 AM
CDT...

At 142 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Cortland to 8 miles south of Sterling to 8
miles north of Humboldt. Movement was south at 10 mph.

Penny size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Auburn, Tecumseh, Firth, Cortland, Sterling, Johnson, Hallam,
Pickrell, Stella, Adams, Sprague, Elk Creek, Crab Orchard, 7 Miles
South Of Auburn, Stagecoach State Recreation Area and 8 Miles South
Of Johnson.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4022 9621 4040 9680 4064 9677 4048 9633
      4041 9581 4019 9568
TIME...MOT...LOC 0642Z 339DEG 8KT 4048 9676 4034 9636 4028 9593

MEAD
Special weather statement, Aug 21, 1:45 AM CDT, 48 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
145 AM CDT Wed Aug 21 2019

NEZ078-088-089-210715-
Jefferson NE-Gage NE-Saline NE-
145 AM CDT Wed Aug 21 2019

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON...
SOUTHEASTERN SALINE AND WEST CENTRAL GAGE COUNTIES UNTIL 215 AM
CDT...

At 145 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 5
miles northwest of Plymouth, or 17 miles west of Beatrice, moving
southeast at 15 mph.

Penny size hail will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
De Witt, Plymouth, Western, Jansen, Swanton, Harbine, Swan Creek
Wildlife Management Area and Cub Creek Recreational Area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4031 9728 4047 9715 4036 9679 4010 9700
TIME...MOT...LOC 0645Z 301DEG 12KT 4034 9707

MEAD
Special weather statement, Aug 21, 2:21 AM CDT, 12 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 21, 2:32 AM CDT, 1 minute before
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    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 21, 1:42 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOAXJohnson, Nemaha33 min
Aug 21, 1:45 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOAXJefferson30 min
Aug 21, 1:50 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Johnson, Pawnee25 min
Aug 21, 2:21 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOAXGage, Pawnee24 min
Aug 21, 2:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Johnson, Pawnee, Richardson24 min
Aug 21, 2:37 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOAXRichardson6 hr
Aug 21, 3:19 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOAXSaline26 min
Aug 21, 3:36 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOAXGage, Johnson, Pawnee, Richardson3 hr
Aug 21, 3:42 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXSaline, Seward18 min
Aug 21, 6:21 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOAXGage, Johnson, Pawnee, Richardson114 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Nebraska, 2019Every flash flood warning in 2019

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.