Alert archive / Nebraska / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 39, NWS Omaha, NE

September 14, 2026Richardson County, Nebraska

NWS Omaha, NE issued this flash flood warning at Sep 14, 2026, 4:10 AM CDT for Richardson County, Nebraska. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Sep 14, 2026, 4:10 AM CDT (09:10 UTC)
Expired
Sep 14, 2026, 7:15 AM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Omaha, NE
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Richardson County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 135 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:13 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.

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 nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 133 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 2026-09-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3 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 2026-09-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -37 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
3 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-416 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1019 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-37 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
319 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

204 
WGUS53 KOAX 140910
FFWOAX
NEC147-141215-
/O.NEW.KOAX.FF.W.0039.260914T0910Z-260914T1215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
410 AM CDT Mon Sep 14 2026

The National Weather Service in Omaha/Valley has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northwestern Richardson County in southeastern Nebraska...

* Until 715 AM CDT.

* At 410 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain
  have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 2 inches in 1 hour.
  Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the
  warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
  shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  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...
  Verdon, Stella, Shubert and Dawson.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law
enforcement and request they pass this information to the National
Weather Service when you can do so safely.

&&

LAT...LON 4025 9594 4012 9590 4008 9554 4025 9564

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...1-2 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

Chehak
1 follow-up statement
622 
WGUS73 KOAX 141001
FFSOAX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
501 AM CDT Mon Sep 14 2026

NEC147-141215-
/O.CON.KOAX.FF.W.0039.000000T0000Z-260914T1215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Richardson NE-
501 AM CDT Mon Sep 14 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 AM CDT THIS
MORNING FOR NORTHWESTERN RICHARDSON COUNTY...

At 501 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 5 inches of rain have
fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 2 inches in 1 hour. Flash
flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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...
  Verdon, Stella, Shubert and Dawson.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

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

Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law
enforcement and request they pass this information to the National
Weather Service when you can do so safely.

&&

LAT...LON 4025 9594 4012 9590 4008 9554 4025 9564

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...1-2 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

Chehak

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 Sep 14, 12:09 AM CDT, 4 hours 1 minute earlier. Its key messages:

  • Two rounds of storms can be expected Monday. The first during the early morning hours with a strong storm or two possible. The second round, in the late afternoon and evening, brings a conditional risk for severe storms capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, heavy rain, and tornadoes.
  • Cooler weather and daily chances for showers and storms can be expected through the majority of the week.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 14, 12:09 AM CDT, 4 hours 1 minute before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1209 AM CDT Mon Sep 14 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Two rounds of storms can be expected Monday. The first during
  the early morning hours with a strong storm or two possible.
  The second round, in the late afternoon and evening, brings a
  conditional risk for severe storms capable of producing large
  hail, damaging winds, heavy rain, and tornadoes.

- Cooler weather and daily chances for showers and storms can be
  expected through the majority of the week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1112 PM CDT Sun Sep 13 2026

Tonight through Monday...

A few spotty showers and sprinkles lingered over the forecast area
this evening, with temperatures finally feeling crisp and fall-like,
in the upper 50s.

Quiet nighttime skies will be interrupted by a line of convection
developing along an elevated boundary early Monday morning, from
southeast through northeast Nebraska. While a strong storm or two
can't be totally ruled out, weak instability and the elevated nature
of the storms will likely limit large hail and strong wind
production.

A stout low level jet will help advect warmer air into the region
tomorrow afternoon, as morning convection shifts off to the east.
Expect scattered showers with a few embedded rumbles of thunder to
develop across the forecast area tomorrow afternoon, as a moist
unstable airmass builds into the Central Plains. Highs tomorrow
afternoon will top out in the 80s, with a few locations reaching the
low 90s in far southeast Nebraska. However, this warm-up will be
brief, as a cold front approaches from the west Monday afternoon and
evening. Out next conditional threat for severe weather will develop
ahead of this front, in a fairly impressive environment. Forecast
soundings indicate 2000-3000+ J/kg of CAPE, steep lapse rates, 30-
40kts of low and deep layer shear, as well as notable low level
turning in hodographs. These would suggest that all severe modes,
including tornadoes, would be on the table. That being said, it
doesn't look like a slam dunk widespread severe event. Daytime cloud
cover could lower temperatures a bit and strengthen the cap.
Additionally, if multiple storms do break through the cap and
develop along the front at once, they could quickly grow upscale and
congeal into more of a blob, as opposed to strong discrete cells.
Additionally, strong downbursts could collapse updrafts before the
storms can establish a strong mesocyclone, capable of producing
large hail, damaging winds, or a tornado. Overall, it appears the
main threat for severe potential would be during the first 1-3 hours
after convective initiation, when more discrete storms, with robust
rotating updrafts would be possible.

Initial potentially destructive storms will quickly push east of the
forecast area Monday evening, with more widespread, but less severe
convection filling in behind them. Heavy rainfall will be something
to keep an eye on throughout the evening and overnight hours. While
deep warm cloud layers and high PWATs indicate storms will be
efficient rain producers, the overall progressive movement of the
storms should help lower flooding risks. That being said, there
remains a 25% risk of flash flooding within a Slight Excessive
Rainfall Outlook area, highlighting areas along and east of the
Missouri River.

Tuesday and Beyond...

Shower and storm chances will continue behind the front overnight
and into Tuesday, as the LLJ noses back into the region. The best
chance remaining across southeast Nebraska into southwest Iowa.
Temperatures will be noticeably cooler Tuesday, as we slip back into
the 70s.

Similarly wet and cool conditions will remain in place as the
boundary lingers in the region through at least the middle of next
week, enhanced by a few shortwave disturbances rippling through the
south westerly flow. Abundant moisture training over the same
locations this week could potentially raise flooding concerns once
again, however, the gradual, drawn out nature of the rainfall should
help.

Temps will remain in the 70s through at least Thursday, with
slightly warmer conditions expected Friday, as a subtle ridge
develops ahead of the next trough and cold front. Long range models
continue to hint at daily rain chances through next weekend, with
temperatures dipping back below seasonal levels.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 1156 PM CDT Sun Sep 13 2026

VFR conditions, southeast winds, and overcast skies at FL060-FL080
start the period. A strong low-level jet develops over the area
during the next few hours. This low-level jet is forecast to
initiate an arcing band of thunderstorms between 07-09Z. These
thunderstorms will quickly lift northeast through morning. In
addition, strengthening southeast winds overspread the region
with gusts reaching 20-25 kts. The arcing band of thunderstorms
is anticipated to reach LNK around 08Z and OFK/OMA near 09Z.
These times may shift slightly but model consensus is high on
this approximate timing. Thunderstorms will likely reduce
visibility to MVFR with brief reductions to IFR possible. Gusty,
erratic winds are not currently anticipated with these
thunderstorms. Ceilings will lower through the morning, but
should remain VFR at all terminals except OFK which is expected
to become MVFR. Clouds break and lift as stronger south winds
overspread the region by Monday afternoon with peak gusts
between 30-35 kts. Additional thunderstorms are expected near
00Z Monday evening. While there is some uncertainty in the
exact timing of thunderstorms, widespread thunderstorms and
aviation impacts are likely near and after 00Z.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...KG
AVIATION...Chehak

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 14, 2:31 AM CDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
231 AM CDT Mon Sep 14 2026

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

0223 AM     Hail             2 S Sterling            40.44N 96.37W
09/14/2026  M1.00 Inch       Johnson            NE   Trained Spotter

&&

DAC
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 2:44 AM CDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
244 AM CDT Mon Sep 14 2026

NEZ042-043-050-140815-
Platte NE-Butler NE-Colfax NE-
244 AM CDT Mon Sep 14 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN COLFAX...SOUTHEASTERN
PLATTE AND NORTHERN BUTLER COUNTIES THROUGH 315 AM CDT...

At 244 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms 3 miles northwest of Bellwood, or 5 miles southeast of
Columbus, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.

* Locations impacted include...
  Columbus, David City, Schuyler, Bellwood, Duncan, Monroe, Octavia,
  Bruno, Linwood, Richland, Abie, Lakeview, Rogers, Fishers
  Elementary, Lake Oconee, College View Trailer Park, Camp Pawnee,
  Shell Creek Elementary School, Central Community College, and Lake
  Babcock.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 4150 9770 4159 9691 4121 9691 4125 9737
      4139 9737 4137 9745 4136 9752 4134 9757
      4137 9760 4139 9760 4139 9762
TIME...MOT...LOC 0744Z 255DEG 32KT 4138 9729

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

Chehak

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 14, 2:44 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOAXButler31 min
Sep 14, 3:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXButler, Saunders28 min
Sep 14, 3:12 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOAXNemaha, Pawnee, Richardson3 hr
Sep 14, 3:16 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXCass, Otoe29 min
Sep 14, 3:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXButler, Colfax, Dodge, Saunders31 min
Sep 14, 3:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXSaunders41 min
Sep 14, 11:24 AM CDTFlood WatchOAXCass, Douglas, Gage, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha and 4 more50 hr
Sep 14, 5:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXJefferson, Saline64 min
Sep 14, 5:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXLancaster, Saunders39 min
Sep 14, 5:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXBurt14 min
Sep 14, 6:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXDouglas, Sarpy39 min
Sep 14, 6:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXCass, Lancaster, Otoe50 min
Sep 14, 6:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXCass, Sarpy, Saunders46 min
Sep 14, 6:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXDouglas, Saunders24 min
Sep 14, 6:40 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXCass, Otoe29 min
Sep 14, 6:55 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXCass, Otoe15 min
Sep 14, 6:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXCass, Otoe48 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.