Thunderstorms that developed over central Nebraska earlier that day pushed southeast across eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa during the late afternoon and early evening hours of August 12th. Despite a large scale upper ridge in place across the region, the storms became severe as they tapped a large pocket of instability over eastern Nebraska.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS OAX wrote it up.
Thunderstorms that developed over central Nebraska earlier that day pushed southeast across eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa during the late afternoon and early evening hours of August 12th. Despite a large scale upper ridge in place across the region, the storms became severe as they tapped a large pocket of instability over eastern Nebraska. The storms developed a large cold pool and produced scattered areas of strong and damaging winds as several bow echoes moved across the area.
In addition, torrential rain occurred within the strongest part of the complex with near zero visibilities causing conditions to become like nightfall prompting street lights to come on.
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 Aug 12, 2:11 AM CST, 12 hours 24 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
311 AM CDT SUN AUG 12 2007
.DISCUSSION...
INITIAL FORECAST PROBLEM WILL BE THE HEAT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL
DAYS AS A SERIES OF FRONT MOVE THROUGH THE REGION. SECONDARY
FORECAST CONCERNS WILL BE AREAL PLACEMENT OF CONVECTION ASSOCIATED
WITH SAID FRONTS...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...THEN AGAIN TUESDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY.
COOL FRONT AT 08Z EXTENDED FROM SCNTRL NEBRASKA THRU NCNTRL IOWA. THE
FRONT WILL PROBABLY STALL NEAR THE KANSAS BORDER THIS AFTERNOON...
THEN MOVE BACK NORTH AS A WARM FRONT BEGINNING TONIGHT. WHILE
THERE IS AN ACCAS FIELD DEVELOPING FROM KOMA EASTWARD AND A COUPLE
OF ISOLATED SHOWERS HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED ACROSS CENTRAL IOWA...
ANYTHING THIS MORNING SHOULD REMAIN EAST OF THE CWFA. FOR THIS
AFTERNOON...THE NAM IGNITES THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WHILE THE GFS
FOCUSES DEVELOPMENT WELL NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY AS THE LEADING EDGE
OF THE NEXT IMPULSE (NOW SEEN MOVING THROUGH WYOMING) MOVES IN THE
MID MISSOURI VALLEY REGION. FEEL THE CAP WILL STILL HOLD STRONG
ALONG THE FRONT AND HAVE FOLLOWED THE GFS TREND...BRINGING IN A
SLIGHT CHANCE OF STORMS THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS NORTHEAST NEBRASKA.
REGARDING THE HEAT...THERE WILL BE SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPS BEHIND
THE FRONT...BUT DEWPOINT POOLING ALONG THE FRONT WILL ALLOW FOR
ANOTHER DAY OF HOT TEMPS AND ELEVATED HEAT INDEX VALUES SOUTHERN
CWFA. DESPITE NOT MEETING THE NIGHTTIME CRITERIA FOR HI...HAVE
OPTED TO CONTINUE THE ADVISORY TODAY AS HI VALUES AGAIN EXCEED 105
IN SOME AREAS THIS AFTERNOON.
FOR TONIGHT...THE BEST CHANCE FOR CONVECTION WILL BE NORTH OF THE
FRONT...AS THE UPPER LEVEL SHORT WAVE MOVES INTO THE UPPER
MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY. FAVORABLE UPPER LEVEL JET STRUCTURE IN
TANDEM WITH LOW LEVEL JET RIDING OVER THE WARM FRONT SHOULD BE
ENOUGH FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TO GET GOING. ITS A SCENARIO
NOT THAT DISSIMILAR FROM EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...ALBEIT IT MAY BE A
TAD FURTHER NORTH.
VERY HOT TEMPS REDEVELOP FOR MONDAY AS THE FRONT EITHER WASHES OUT
OR JUMPS FURTHER NORTH. THIS SHOULD ALLOW MID TO UPPER 20S H85
TEMPS TO EDGE BACK IN PUSHING HIGHS INTO THE 95 TO 102 RANGE. MAY
HAVE TO CONSIDER EXTENDING THE HEAT ADVISORY FOR ALL AREAS THAT
DAY...BUT WILL LET THE DAY SHIFT PIN DOWN THE DETAILS SINCE ITS
IN THE THIRD FORECAST PERIOD.
ANOTHER FRONT IS PROGGED TO DROP INTO THE REGION MONDAY NIGHT...IN
SIMILAR FASHION TO WHATS HAPPENING THIS MORNING...ALTHOUGH PROBABLY
NOT AS MUCH POST FRONTAL COOLING WITH THIS NEXT FRONT. THE MODELS
HAVE BEEN ADVERTISING ANOTHER IMPULSE MOVING OUT OF THE CENTRAL
ROCKIES BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON...THUS BUMPED UP THE REINTRODUCTION
OF PRECIP BY ABOUT 6 HOURS FROM PREVIOUS FORECAST. THIS FRONTAL
BOUNDARY WILL NOT MOVE MUCH THROUGH MID WEEK RESULTING IN A CONTINUED
CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS... ESPECIALLY NORTHERN HALF OF THE CWFA
THROUGH THURSDAY. WILL ALSO HAVE TO CONTEND WITH CONTINUED HEAT
SOUTH OF THE FRONT THROUGH MID WEEK...WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO
AN EXTENSION OF THE HEAT ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN AREAS FOR AT LEAST
TUESDAY AS TEMPS COULD AGAIN RANGE FROM 98 TO 102 ALONG AND SOUTH
OF THE BOUNDARY.
NEXT BEST CHANCE OF PRECIP APPEARS TO POSSIBLY BE SATURDAY...ALTHOUGH
THATS SO FAR OUT AND GIVEN OVERALL LOW CONFIDENCE IN EXTENDED
MODEL SOLUTIONS...WILL LET THE DAY SHIFT MAKE A FULL EVALUATION
BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES AND KEPT THE CURRENT DRY FORECAST FOR NOW.
&&
.AVIATION...
LIGHT WINDS EXPECTED ACROSS TAF SITES THRU MORNING HOURS WITH WK SFC
FNT IN THE AREA. EARLY MORNING HAZE MAY DROP VISIBILITIES TO NEAR
5SM...BUT OTHERWISE NO RESTRICTIONS EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. A
FEW SCATTERED CU ARE POSSIBLE IN THE AFTERNOON WITH MORE OF A BROKEN
MID DECK ACROSS KOFK. SFC WINDS TURN TO THE SE BY AFTERNOON.
&&
.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NEZ050>053-065>068-
078-088>093.
IA...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR IAZ069-079-080-090-
091.
&&
DEWALD/GRIFFISHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 237 PM CDT SUN AUG 12 2007 IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034- 042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-130200- 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- 237 PM CDT SUN AUG 12 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 588 IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA UNTIL 9 PM. THIS WATCH MAINLY AFFECTS AREAS SOUTH OF A LINE FROM ORCHARD TO DECATUR. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE MAIN THREATS. DAYTIME HEATING AND A PASSING UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL FURTHER ENHANCE DESTABILIZATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT...PARTICULARLY IN THE VICINITY OF A STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY EXTENDING ALONG THE NEBRASKA...KANSAS BORDER. AS THE FRONT BEGINS TO LIFT THIS EVENING...ADDITIONAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY OVER THE WATCH OUTLOOK AREA. OTHERWISE...HOT AND HUMID WEATHER WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON. A HEAT ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND PARTS OF SOUTHWEST IOWA WHERE HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL EXCEED 105 DEGREES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY HOT AND HUMID WEATHER WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH AT LEAST MID WEEK. DURING THIS TIME...THE AFTERNOON HEAT INDEX MAY EXCEED 105 IN SOME AREAS EACH AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY. MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE FORECAST FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE DURING THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. DEE
The Omaha radar (KOAX), 102 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:36 UTC.
26 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at over 60 mph uprooted a few trees and caused other tree damage in the Humphrey area.
Thunderstorm winds were estimated at 60 to 70 mph by the public.
The emergency manager reported 60 to 70 mph winds southwest of Columbus knocking down a few tree limbs.
Thunderstorm winds did damage to the roof and south wall of a trailer house.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph downed several tree limbs 3 inches and larger in diameter.
A large tree was blown down across the highway just north of town by thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph.
Tree limbs up to 3 inches in diameter were downed by thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph.
Several large branches and trees were downed by thunderstorm winds in town.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 to 70 mph flattened corn near Snyder.
Tree limbs up to 3 inches in diameter were broke off by thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed in town due to thunderstorm winds estimated at around 70 mph. Several windows in town were blown out by the winds along with some door, roof and vehicle damage.
Rainfall of 1 to 2 inches in less than 1 hour caused water 2 to 3 feet deep to run across highway 275 toward the south end of West Point. The water ran down hill from the east toward the west across the road. Traffic flow was temporarily stopped and the flooding lasted between 30 minutes and 1 hour.
Numerous trees were reported downed southwest of Oakland near the Dodge county line.
The cooperative observer near Weston measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 73 mph.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph downed several 3 to 5 inch in diameter tree limbs. There were 2 periods of the strongest winds within about 5 minutes of each other.
A thunderstorm wind gust was measured at 68 mph by an area media meteorologist.
Thunderstorm winds were estimated at 70 mph by a amateur radio operator.|
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 mph flattened and stripped corn west of West Point.
A gust of 58 mph was measured by wind equipment near 150th and Fort Streets. The strong winds spread across the Omaha area causing scattered tree damage including on large tree that fell on 2 cars near the 4600 block on South 34th Street. Also a tree fell across South 15th Street near the 1900 block blocking traffic.
Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 70 to 75 mph did significant damage to corn and trees in an area 6 miles wide by 10 miles long from east of Wahoo to northeast of Ashland according a local crop consultant. A grove of elm trees was uprooted and corn flattened in the area.
In the Camp Ashland area, approximately 50 trees were destroyed and several roofs sustained damage.
A thunderstorm wind gust was estimated at 60 mph by an area media meteorologist.
A large wooden play set was flipped over by thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph.
Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 60 mph blew down a tree blocking a local road near 121st and Fairview Road.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph downed a few trees in town causing power outages.
A thunderstorm wind gust estimated at around 60 mph was reported near 21st and Polk Streets in south Omaha.
Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 60 mph downed large tree branches and power lines in town.
Rainfall of an inch or two in less than 1 hour caused areas of flash flooding along Wahoo Creek and a few of it's tributaries. About a dozen roads in the area were barricaded for a while, and state Highway 92 was closed near Wahoo for a while because of flood waters.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, August 2007
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: 42199, 40035, 40036, 40026, 40027, 40028, 40029, 46262, 46259, 40030, 40031, 40023, 40032, 40037, 40038, 40039, 40040, 40041, 40042, 42217, 40043, 40033, 40047, 40044, 40034, 40045, 40046, 46304.