Alert archive / Nebraska / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 1, NWS Cheyenne, WY

May 30, 2026Dawes County, Nebraska

NWS Cheyenne, WY issued this flash flood warning at May 30, 2026, 3:46 PM MDT for Dawes County, Nebraska. It was in force for 3 hr. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 30, 2026, 3:46 PM MDT (21:46 UTC)
Expired
May 30, 2026, 6:34 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Cheyenne, WY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Dawes County, NE

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 138 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:46 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 30, 5:37 PM MDTRAIN 2.021 Ene Chadron, NEMesonet station EW9032 Chadron.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The text

As transmitted.

228 
WGUS55 KCYS 302146
FFWCYS
NEC045-310045-
/O.NEW.KCYS.FF.W.0001.260530T2146Z-260531T0045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
346 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

The National Weather Service in Cheyenne has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northeastern Dawes County in the panhandle of Nebraska...

* Until 645 PM MDT.

* At 346 PM MDT, the public reported thunderstorms producing heavy 
  rain and street flooding across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 
  2.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 
  to 1 inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is 
  already occurring.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Public reported.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Chadron, Chadron Municipal Airport, Chadron State Park, Red Cloud 
  Campground, Dawes County Fairgrounds and Chadron State Park 
  Campground.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 4299 10280 4275 10281 4269 10300 4280 10313
      4282 10314 4298 10324 4300 10316 4298 10296

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED

$$

Trudel
1 follow-up statement
478 
WGUS75 KCYS 310034
FFSCYS

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
634 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

NEC045-310044-
/O.CAN.KCYS.FF.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260531T0045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Dawes NE-
634 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHEASTERN DAWES COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a 
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 4299 10280 4275 10281 4269 10300 4280 10313
      4282 10314 4298 10324 4300 10316 4298 10296

$$

Mose

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 Cheyenne, WY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 30, 3:32 PM MDT, 14 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • An unsettled weather pattern will continue this weekend with daily chances for afternoon/evening showers and thunderstorms as a potent upper level disturbance moves northeast over the area.
  • Strong to severe thunderstorms will develop this afternoon for areas east of the I-25 corridor. If severe thunderstorms develop all hazards are possible; large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes are possible.
Area forecast discussion, May 30, 3:32 PM MDT, 14 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
332 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- An unsettled weather pattern will continue this weekend with
  daily chances for afternoon/evening showers and thunderstorms
  as a potent upper level disturbance moves northeast over the
  area.

- Strong to severe thunderstorms will develop this afternoon for
  areas east of the I-25 corridor. If severe thunderstorms
  develop all hazards are possible; large hail, damaging winds,
  and tornadoes are possible.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
Issued at 215 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

Primary forecast concern over the next 48 hours is the potential
for severe thunderstorms over far eastern Wyoming and western
Nebraska this afternoon through late this evening. Potent upper
level low clearly seen on IR and Visible Satellite over south
central Wyoming is forecast to become a negatively tilted open
wave trough over the next several hours. This trough axis will
accelerate northward over eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska
through early this evening. Current surface observations show
ample moisture east of a line from Lusk Pine Bluffs,
paralleling the Wyoming/Nebraska border. Activity has already
started to form across far east central Wyoming and the northern
Nebraska Panhandle where low clouds have dissipated earlier in
the day. Further south, expect another round of thunderstorms to
push across far southeast Wyoming and the southern Nebraska
panhandle, which are now starting to form south of the
Wyoming/Colorado border at this hour. This area will likely
become our primary focus as it moves northeast into this
evening. Upper level analysis shows strong upper level
diffluence increasing rapidly late this afternoon along and
east of I-25 as the base of the trough/vort max lifts northeast.
Expect multicells and isolated supercells initially, with
activity growing upscale once the vort max lifts north. Overall,
expect a large hail threat (1.00-2.00 inches) and maybe an
isolated tornado becoming a straight line wind threat through
the evening hours. Could see some gusts up to 75 MPH with the
strongest lines. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued
mainly for areas east of Interstate 25 until 900 PM late this
evening. Although cells will move north and northeast, expect
any lines of thunderstorms to propagate eastward into this
evening.

Further west, moisture is much more limited with dewpoints
already dropping into the 30s this afternoon. Still expect
isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms with a gusty wind
threat into this evening before the cooler air, associated with
the negatively tilted trough, moves east into central Wyoming.
Once the trough lifts northeast, westerly winds will increase
behind it with most models showing 700mb winds around 50 knots.
In-house wind guidance shows 55% to 65% probability of high
wind criteria for Arlington/Elk Mountain, with probabilities
between 30% to 45% for Bordeaux and the I-80 Summit/foothills.
With shallow convection over the Arlington area, and a
possibility for gusty winds, decided to upgrade the High Wind
Watch to a Warning and start it earlier (400 PM) in the day.

Thunderstorm activity should push east of our area by midnight,
with left over showers before sunrise Sunday. Can't rule out
some low clouds and patchy fog in areas that received heavy
rain, but westerly winds will quickly increase towards morning
limiting any fog threat. Other than High Wind concerns in and
near the wind prone areas and breezy conditions elsewhere, quiet
weather expected into Sunday with any thunderstorm activity
staying well to the north of I-80 towards Douglas and Lusk. Not
as cool with a slight warming trending...and high temperatures
in the upper 60s (west of I-25) to low/mid 80s for western
Nebraska.

For Monday, showers and thunderstorms should return to the high
plains as surface winds shift into the south and southeast.
Further west, another broad upper level trough will brush the
northern Great Basin region and move into Wyoming later in the
day. May see some strong to marginally severe thunderstorms with
0-6km shear around 35 knots and some low to midlevel
instability.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 231 PM MDT Fri May 29 2026

The long term will remain as unsettled as the short term with near
daily chances of precipitation through at least mid-week. With
the upper-level trough responsible for Saturday's storm expected
to eject northeastward out if the area Sunday, precipitation
chances on Sunday will be rather slim. Lingering showers could
be possible for the northern Wyoming and Nebraska zones of the
forecast area as the system ejects into the Dakotas, but even
these chances look rather slim.

Precipitation chances will increase for the start of the work week
as the upper-level trough/low begins to retrograde back towards the
northwest. The rough location of the low over the Montana/Canada
border, will allow the CWA to once again tap into moisture from the
Gulf. Moisture-rich mid-level southerly flow will usher in the
necessary humidity to fuel storm develop during the afternoon and
evening. Lift will come in the form of vorticity maxes streaming
through the area from the trough to the north, as well as another
trough the enters the picture during the middle of next week. At
this point, global models seem fairly consistent on showing daily
storm chances east of the Laramie Range Monday through Thursday. A
quick look at model soundings for areas east of the Laramie Range
show moderate amounts of CAPE each afternoon as well as decent shear
most days. As a result, severe weather cannot be ruled out each
afternoon.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1210 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

Potent upper level low/trough will lift northeast across the area
today and tonight. Numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms will
develop across the mountains and move east into the high plains this
evening. Thunderstorms will likely become strong to severe for the
western Nebraska terminals and contain strong gusty winds, hail, and
brief very heavy rainfall.

HAZARDS/WEATHER TRENDS: VFR conditions should prevail at KRWL and
KLAR, although some periods of MVFR CIGS can't be ruled out tonight
with some rain shower activity. Further east, showers and
thunderstorms are expected to develop over the next few hours and
track northeast. There is a chance of IFR conditions with these
thunderstorms (15% to 25%), but impacts should be less than 2 hours.
Also, the terminals that see heavy rainfall amounts may see some fog
and/or low CIGS later this evening and into tonight. However
confidence is low (prob and coverage), so will keep out of the TAF
for now.

&&

.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

WY...High Wind Watch from 9 PM MDT this evening through Sunday
     afternoon for WYZ106-116-117.
     High Wind Warning until 9 AM MDT Sunday for WYZ110.

NE...None.

&&

SHORT TERM...TJT
LONG TERM...NB
AVIATION...TJT

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 30, 2:25 PM MDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
225 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

NEZ002-302100-
Dawes NE-
225 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN DAWES COUNTY
THROUGH 300 PM MDT...

At 225 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Red Cloud Campground, or 8 miles south of Chadron, moving north at 25
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Chadron, Chadron Municipal Airport, Red Cloud Campground, Chadron
State Park, Dawes County Fairgrounds, and Chadron State Park
Campground.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM MDT for
the Panhandle of Nebraska.

&&

LAT...LON 4263 10283 4259 10306 4290 10324 4297 10288
TIME...MOT...LOC 2025Z 168DEG 21KT 4270 10297

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Vasquez
Special weather statement, May 30, 2:37 PM MDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
237 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

WYZ102-108-302115-
Goshen County WY-Niobrara County WY-
237 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN NIOBRARA AND
NORTHWESTERN GOSHEN COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM MDT...

At 237 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Rawhide Buttes, or 12 miles south of Lusk, moving northwest at 25
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Lusk, Manville, Keeline, Rawhide Buttes, and Niobrara County
Fairgrounds.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM MDT for
southeastern and east central Wyoming.

&&

LAT...LON 4250 10437 4247 10455 4277 10477 4284 10441
      4274 10440
TIME...MOT...LOC 2037Z 151DEG 24KT 4258 10450

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Trudel
Special weather statement, May 30, 3:08 PM MDT, 38 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
308 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

NEZ095-WYZ102-302145-
North Sioux NE-Niobrara County WY-
308 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN SIOUX AND EAST
CENTRAL NIOBRARA COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM MDT...

At 308 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 15
miles north of Van Tassell, or 19 miles northeast of Lusk, moving
northeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern Sioux
and east central Niobrara Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM MDT for
the Panhandle of Nebraska...and east central Wyoming.

&&

LAT...LON 4311 10405 4300 10405 4300 10374 4279 10406
      4280 10421 4288 10427 4313 10410
TIME...MOT...LOC 2108Z 214DEG 21KT 4289 10411

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

Mose
Local storm report, May 30, 3:10 PM MDT, 36 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
310 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0310 PM     Hail             2 NNW Chadron           42.85N 103.02W
05/30/2026  E0.75 Inch       Dawes              NE   Public

&&

NSB
Special weather statement, May 30, 3:22 PM MDT, 24 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
322 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

WYZ117>119-302200-
Central Laramie County WY-South Laramie Range Foothills WY-
East Laramie County WY-
322 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN LARAMIE COUNTY
THROUGH 400 PM MDT...

At 322 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles west of Carpenter, or 15 miles southeast of Cheyenne, moving
north at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Burns, Laramie County Fairgrounds at Archer, and Hillsdale.

This includes Interstate 80 in Wyoming between mile markers 370 and
386.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM MDT for
southeastern Wyoming.

&&

LAT...LON 4129 10467 4128 10430 4100 10441 4100 10468
TIME...MOT...LOC 2122Z 191DEG 33KT 4101 10455

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Mose
Local storm report, May 30, 3:33 PM MDT, 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
333 PM MDT Sat May 30 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0237 PM     Hail             2 NNW Chadron State Par 42.71N 103.02W
05/30/2026  E1.00 Inch       Dawes              NE   Public

            Media received report of quarter-sized hail
            at Chadron State Park.

&&

NSB

The office that day

Everything else NWS Cheyenne, WY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 29, 6:00 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSBanner30 min
May 29, 6:09 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSBanner, Morrill, Scotts Bluff51 min
May 29, 6:15 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSSioux45 min
May 29, 6:21 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSScotts Bluff24 min
May 29, 6:49 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSMorrill27 min
May 29, 6:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSCheyenne, Kimball50 min
May 29, 7:15 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSCheyenne45 min
May 29, 7:27 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSCheyenne48 min
May 29, 7:56 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSCheyenne49 min
May 29, 8:26 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSMorrill49 min
May 29, 9:00 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSMorrill45 min
May 29, 9:38 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSBox Butte52 min
May 30, 2:25 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSDawes35 min
May 30, 2:37 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSDawes38 min
May 30, 3:12 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSDawes19 min
May 30, 3:17 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSKimball43 min
May 30, 3:54 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSKimball36 min
May 30, 3:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatCYSKimball35 min
May 30, 3:59 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSKimball31 min
May 30, 4:05 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSKimball25 min
May 30, 4:18 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementCYSBanner27 min
May 30, 4:28 PM MDTTornado Warning Tornado observedCYSKimball47 min
May 30, 4:41 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCYSKimball3 hr
May 30, 4:44 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSBanner, Kimball27 min
May 30, 4:52 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSKimball38 min
May 30, 5:18 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCYSBanner, Kimball42 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Nebraska, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

Sources

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