Nebraska, 1997

High Wind in Nebraska, October 11, 1997

October 11, 1997 · NWS LBF · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Strong south winds gusting to 60 mph at times ahead of an approaching cold front caused considerable damage to corn fields and property in southwest Nebraska. The destructive winds caused corn ears to become dislodged and fall to the ground so that harvesting the downed ears will be impossible.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$36,000
Crop damage
$240,000
Events
6

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 LBF wrote it up.

Strong south winds gusting to 60 mph at times ahead of an approaching cold front caused considerable damage to corn fields and property in southwest Nebraska. The destructive winds caused corn ears to become dislodged and fall to the ground so that harvesting the downed ears will be impossible. Estimates indicate losses to farmers ranging from 5 to 20 percent. A tree was blown over causing a power outage in the south part of North Platte. There were also scattered reports of wind damage to siding, shingles and other residential property.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Chase

When
October 11, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where
Chase forecast zone
Property damage
$6,000
Crop damage
$40,000
Coordinates
40.524, -101.698 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Frontier

When
October 11, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where
Frontier forecast zone
Property damage
$6,000
Crop damage
$40,000
Coordinates
40.530, -100.394 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hayes

When
October 11, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where
Hayes forecast zone
Property damage
$6,000
Crop damage
$40,000
Coordinates
40.525, -101.062 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Keith

When
October 11, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where
Keith forecast zone
Property damage
$6,000
Crop damage
$40,000
Coordinates
41.199, -101.661 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Lincoln

When
October 11, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where
Lincoln forecast zone
Property damage
$6,000
Crop damage
$40,000
Coordinates
41.048, -100.745 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Perkins

When
October 11, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where
Perkins forecast zone
Property damage
$6,000
Crop damage
$40,000
Coordinates
40.851, -101.650 (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, October 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5617872, 5617873, 5617874, 5617875, 5617876, 5617877.