Nebraska, 1997

High Wind in Nebraska, April 6, 1997

April 6, 1997 · NWS OAX · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

A strong low pressure system moved northeast from the central plains through northern Minnesota to eastern Canada. The tight pressure gradient between the low and a cold Canadian high pressure system which moved south into the plains behind the low generated very strong winds.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
12

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OAX wrote it up.

A strong low pressure system moved northeast from the central plains through northern Minnesota to eastern Canada. The tight pressure gradient between the low and a cold Canadian high pressure system which moved south into the plains behind the low generated very strong winds. Winds gusted over 60 mph over the area. Some trees were blown down and scattered power outages occurred.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Pierce

When
April 6, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Pierce forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
42.264, -97.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wayne

When
April 6, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Wayne forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
42.209, -97.119 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Madison

When
April 6, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Madison forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
41.917, -97.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Stanton

When
April 6, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Stanton forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
41.917, -97.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Cuming

When
April 6, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Cuming forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
41.916, -96.787 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Burt

When
April 6, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Burt forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
41.852, -96.329 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Platte

When
April 6, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Platte forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
41.571, -97.521 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Colfax

When
April 6, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Colfax forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
41.574, -97.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Butler

When
April 6, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Butler forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
41.226, -97.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Seward

When
April 6, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Seward forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
40.872, -97.139 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Saline

When
April 6, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Saline forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
40.524, -97.141 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Jefferson

When
April 6, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Jefferson forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
40.176, -97.143 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Nebraska in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, April 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5594531, 5594532, 5594533, 5594534, 5594535, 5594536, 5594537, 5594538, 5594539, 5594540, 5594541, 5594542.