Nebraska, 2004Flood in Nebraska, May 30, 2004
May 30, 2004 · NWS OAX · 1 event in 1 county or zone
1 flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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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- 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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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at May 29, 1:50 PM CST, 12 hours 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 29, 1:50 PM CST, 12 hours 10 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
250 PM CDT SAT MAY 29 2004
.DISCUSSION...
MAIN PROBLEMS SURROUND SEVERE WEATHER AND HEAVY RAINFALL POTENTIAL
TONIGHT.
18Z SURFACE ANALYSIS PLACES A WARM FRONT JUST TO THE NORTH OF THE
CWA INTO SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST IOWA. ANOTHER
BOUNDARY...THOUGH MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO PICK OUT APPEARS TO BE FROM
NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS INTO SOUTHEAST KANSAS. THE GFS DOES NOT REALLY
PICK UP ON THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY...WHILE THE ETA MAKES IT A MAIN
FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. AGREE WITH SPC DISCUSSION THAT
ELEMENTS ARE IN PLACE FOR A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK WITH
INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE...AND AMPLE 0-6KM SHEAR FOR
SUPERCELLS. ONE PROBLEM IS THAT THE 18Z OAX SOUNDING DOES SHOW A
RATHER STRONG CAP STILL IN PLACE...HOWEVER THE TOP SOUNDING
INDICATES SOME COOLING HAS TAKEN PLACE SINCE 12Z BETWEEN 850 AND 700
MB WHICH SHOULD CONTINUE TO ERODE THE CAP. THINK THAT AS THE UPPER
LEVEL WAVE TO THE WEST CONTINUES TO LIFT INTO THE AREA THAT SHOULD
ALSO HELP GET THINGS GOING WITH EXPLOSIVE DEVELOPMENT EXPECTED.
HAVE SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL AS WELL...WITH
PRECIPITABLE WATER VALES OVER 1.5 INCHES FORECAST ACROSS MUCH OF THE
CWA. ONE INHIBITING FACTOR IS THAT THE SYSTEM COULD BE PROGRESSIVE
AS CORFIDI VECTORS SUGGEST THE OVERALL MCS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE
EAST TONIGHT AND NOT STALL OUT. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION DECIDED TO
ISSUE A FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT OVER THE ENTIRE CWA SINCE THE ENTIRE
AREA COULD SEE HEAVY RAIN AMOUNTS APROACHING FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE
VALUES...AND THE HPC EXCESSIVE RAINFALL OUTLOOK ALSO COVERS THE
ENTIRE CWA.
THE SURFACE SYSTEM MOVES EAST OF THE AREA BY SUNDAY MORNING...AND
WILL BRING AN END TO THE RAIN CHANCES FOR A TIME...HOWEVER HAVE SOME
CONCERN THAT A FEW SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS COULD DEVELOP IN THE
AFTERNOON AS THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVES THROUGH. 850-500 MB LAPSE
RATES BECOME RATHER STEEP BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON...SO WILL CARRY A
CHANCE POP TO COVER. STEEP LAPSE RATES THEN CONTINUE MONDAY
AFTERNOON...WITH THE COLD POCKET ALOFT STILL FORECAST TO BE OVER THE
REGION...SO ANOTHER SMALL POP LOOKS WARRANTED.
KEPT THINGS DRY TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE LOOKS TO
DOMINATE AT THE SURFACE AND A RIDGE BUILDS IN ALOFT. BROUGHT IN THE
NEXT CHANCE OF STORMS ON FRIDAY WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF WARM AIR
ADVECTION.
&&
.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 4 AM SUNDAY FOR THE ENTIRE OAX NEBRASKA CWA.
IA...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 4 AM SUNDAY FOR THE ENTIRE OAX IOWA CWA.
&&
NOTE...EFFECTIVE 1200 UTC JUNE 8TH THE AWIPS PRODUCT IDENTIFIER
/PID/ FOR THE AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION ISSUED BY OMAHA WFO WILL
CHANGE TO OMAAFDOAX. THE WMO CODE WILL REMAIN FXUS63 KOAX.
KING
Hazardous weather outlook, May 29, 10:10 PM CST, 3 hours 50 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
1110 PM CDT SAT MAY 29 2004
IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-301000-
ANTELOPE-BOONE-BURT-BUTLER-CASS-CEDAR-COLFAX-CUMING-DODGE-DOUGLAS-
FREMONT IA-GAGE-HARRISON IA-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-KNOX-LANCASTER-MADISON-
MILLS IA-MONONA IA-MONTGOMERY IA-NEMAHA-OTOE-PAGE IA-PAWNEE-PIERCE-
PLATTE-POTTAWATTAMIE IA-RICHARDSON-SALINE-SARPY-SAUNDERS-SEWARD-
SHELBY IA-STANTON-THURSTON-WASHINGTON-WAYNE-
1110 PM CDT SAT MAY 29 2004
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PARTS OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AND
SOUTHWEST IOWA.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SUNDAY
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE ACROSS EASTERN NEBRASKA
INTO SOUTHWEST IOWA THROUGH 3 AM CDT. THE PRIMARY HAZARDS WILL
BE DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 70 MPH AND HEAVY RAIN. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE. SOME FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED IN PARTS OF
NORTHEAST AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA.
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS EASTERN NEBRASKA INTO WESTERN
IOWA THROUGH 6 AM SUNDAY WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS GRADUALLY
DIMINISHING FROM WEST TO EAST.
A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL STILL EXIST EARLY SUNDAY
MORNING AND AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON...BUT SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT
EXPECTED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY ACROSS THE
OUTLOOK AREA...AND AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT. INSTABILITY WILL BE
LIMITED...AND SEVERE WEATHER IS UNLIKELY FROM THESE STORMS.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE REQUIRED THIS EVENING. BE PREPARED
TO ACT QUICKLY ONCE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP IN YOUR AREA.
FOBERT
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 29, 11:42 PM CST, 2 hours 18 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA NE
1242 AM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1236 AM TSTM WND GST OMAHA 41.26N 96.01W
05/30/2004 67 MPH DOUGLAS NE OFFICIAL NWS OBS
MEASURED AT EPPLEY AIRPORT.
&&
DEWALDLocal storm report, May 29, 11:51 PM CST, 2 hours 9 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA NE
1251 AM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1234 AM TSTM WND GST OMAHA 41.26N 96.01W
05/30/2004 67 MPH DOUGLAS NE OFFICIAL NWS OBS
MEASURED AT EPPLEY AIRPORT.
&&
DEWALDLocal storm report, May 29, 11:55 PM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA NE
1255 AM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1228 AM TSTM WND GST LA VISTA 41.18N 96.04W
05/30/2004 50 MPH SARPY NE AMATEUR RADIO
50 MPH OR HIGHER WIND GUST.
1237 AM HAIL COUNCIL BLUFFS 41.24N 95.86W
05/30/2004 1.00 INCH POTTAWATTAMIE IA AMATEUR RADIO
1239 AM TSTM WND DMG BELLEVUE 41.16N 95.92W
05/30/2004 SARPY NE AMATEUR RADIO
3 INCH LIMBS BLOWN DOWN.
&&
DEWALDSpecial weather statement, May 30, 12:04 AM CST, 1 hour 56 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
104 AM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004
IAZ043-055-NEZ015-030>034-042>045-050>053-065-066-078-088-089-300630-
BOONE-BURT-BUTLER-COLFAX-CUMING-DODGE-DOUGLAS-GAGE-HARRISON IA-
JEFFERSON-LANCASTER-MADISON-MONONA IA-PLATTE-SALINE-SARPY-SAUNDERS-
SEWARD-STANTON-THURSTON-WASHINGTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALBION...BEATRICE...BELLEVUE...BLAIR...
COLUMBUS...CRETE...FAIRBURY...FREMONT...LINCOLN...NORFOLK...OMAHA...
ONAWA...SEWARD...TEKAMAH
104 AM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 327 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...
IN NEBRASKA...
BOONE...BURT...BUTLER...COLFAX...CUMING...DODGE...DOUGLAS...GAGE...
JEFFERSON...LANCASTER...MADISON...PLATTE...SALINE...SARPY...
SAUNDERS...SEWARD...STANTON...THURSTON AND WASHINGTON.
IN IOWA...
HARRISON AND MONONA.
SMITH
Local storm report, May 30, 1:13 AM CST, 47 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA NE
213 AM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0135 AM FLOOD DILLER 40.11N 96.94W
05/30/2004 JEFFERSON NE LAW ENFORCEMENT
3 FEET OF WATER OVER HIGHWAY 103.
&&
DEWALDSpecial weather statement, May 30, 1:18 AM CST, 42 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
218 AM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004
IAZ056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ067-068-090>092-300735-
CASS-FREMONT IA-JOHNSON-MILLS IA-MONTGOMERY IA-NEMAHA-OTOE-PAGE IA-
PAWNEE-POTTAWATTAMIE IA-SHELBY IA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...AUBURN...CLARINDA...COUNCIL BLUFFS...
HARLAN...NEBRASKA CITY...RED OAK...SIDNEY
218 AM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 327 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...
IN IOWA...
SHELBY...POTTAWATTAMIE...MILLS...MONTGOMERY...FREMONT AND PAGE
IN NEBRASKA...
CASS...OTOE...JOHNSON...NEMAHA AND PAWNEE
DEWALD
Flood, Gage
- When
- May 30, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
- Where
- Gage forecast zone
- Reported by
- OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
- Coordinates
- 40.262, -96.689 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Three to over 4 inches of rain that fell during the evening and overnight hours of May 29th produced areas of flooding along the Big Blue River on May 30th. Beatrice received 4.28 inches from the storms for one of the heavier totals. The river at Barneston crested at 22.8 feet at 8am Cdt on the 30th, flood stage is 20 feet. The Big Blue was above flood stage at Barneston from 300 am through 500 pm on May 30th. Mainly agricultural lowlands were flooded.
- Flood
- Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Indiana, May 30 to 31, 20041 death · 26 injured · $21 million · F2 · 35 events
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Indiana, May 30, 20041 death · 11 injured · $5.6 million · F3 · 6 events
- Tornado in Indiana, May 30, 20041 injured · $6.0 million · F3 · 1 event
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in West Virginia, May 30 to 31, 20041 death · $17 million · 1.25 in hail · 23 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, May 30 to 31, 20041 death · 3 injured · $440,000 · F1 · 29 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kentucky, May 30 to 31, 2004$33 million · F1 · 122 events
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Tennessee, May 30 to 31, 20041 death · 2 injured · $574,000 · 1.5 in hail · 53 events
- Flash Flood and Hail in Tennessee, May 30, 200422 injured · $331,000 · 1.75 in hail · 22 events
- Tornado and Hail in Ohio, May 30 to 31, 20041 death · $82,000 · F1 · 23 events
- Tornado in Missouri, May 30, 20041 death · $100,000 · F1 · 1 event
- Tornadoes and Hail in Indiana, May 30, 2004$3.8 million · F2 · 8 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Illinois, May 30, 20047 injured · $250,000 · F1 · 61 events
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: 5395052.