Tornado and Flash Flooding in Nebraska, May 6, 2007

Name: Tornado and Flash Flooding in Nebraska, May 6, 2007
Start: 2007-05-06T18:50
End: 2007-05-06T22:30
Location: Nebraska

May 6, 2007 · NWS OAX · 19 events in 8 counties and zones

A large upper level disturbance over the Rocky Mountains combined with a nearly stationary front over southeast Nebraska brought strong to severe thunderstorms to parts of the area for the second night in a row. This time the stronger storms were generally confined to southeast Nebraska where a multicell cluster of storms bowed out across southeast Nebraska.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $155,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 19

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.

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 6, 2:27 PM CST, 4 hours 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 6, 2:27 PM CST, 4 hours 23 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
327 PM CDT SUN MAY 6 2007

.DISCUSSION...

SYNOPSIS...12Z UPPR AIR ANLYS INDCD DEEP URR TROF FM THEN NRN
ROCKIES SWD INTO AZ/NM. A NUMBER OF SHORTWAVE TROFS WERE ROTATING
AROUND THE HIGHLY AMPLIFIED UPPR LVL TROF...WITH THE WAVE FROM
YESTERDAY OVR NE WY AT 12Z AND THE NEXT OVR WRN NM ASSOCIATED WITH
A 60 M H6 HEIGHT FALL. AT H85...MOISTURE HAD BEEN PUSHED EWD BY
THE PASSAGE OF TROF ASSOCIATED WITH NRN PLAINS H85 CYCLONE. DEEP
MOISTURE CONTD TO OUR S WITH PWATS ABOVE 1 INCH AND GENERALLY 150
PERCENT OF NORMAL. 20Z SFC ALYS INDCD 1002 MB LO OVR CNTRL ND WITH
OCCLUDED FNT SWD THRU CNTRL NEB TO NEXT LO OVR SRN KS.

FORECAST...DIFFICULT FORECAST FOR THE NEXT 48 HOURS WITH A DEEP
UPPR TROF TO OUR WEST. LO LVL WINDS ON AREA PROFILERS INDCS
MOISTURE WHICH HAS BEEN PUSHED E OF THE FA BY THE TROF PASSAGE IS
STARTING TO COME BACK AS THESE LO LVL WINDS BACK. THIS CAN ALSO BE
SEEN WITH THE INCREASE IN THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVR KS ATTM. THUS
RAIN TONIGHT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD BET AS A LO LVL JET OF 45 KTS
DVLPNGS FM NRN OK INTO NRN KS. THUS WE EXPECT THIS CONVECTION OVR
KS TO CONT TO LIFT TO THE NWD THRU THE EVENING HOURS...AND INTO
THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. 18Z KOAX SOUNDING INDCS WEAK
INSTABILITY...BUT A MOISTENING PROFILE. THUS SVR WX THREAT LOOKS
LO THIS EVNG AS ATMOSPHERE CONTS TO BE WORKED-OVR GOOD FM LAST
NIGHTS STORMS. SOME INCREASE IN STORM INTENSITY IS LIKELY BY LATE
EVNG AS BETTER ELEVATED INSTABILITY WORKS NWD INTO SE NEB/SW IA.
THIS IS WHEN WE EXPECT PRECIP RATES TO PICK UP. LO LVL JET IS
NEARLY PARALLEL TO THE UPPR LVL FLOW...AND THUS CORFIDI VECTORS
ARE VERY LIGHT AND EVEN INDC SOME BACK BUILDING OVERNIGHT FM WEST
CENTRAL IOWA INTO SE NEB. THUS TRAINING OF THUNDERSTORMS AND SOME
HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED. WL CONT WITH THE FLOOD WATCH ACRS THE FA
WITH THIS TREAT AND THE ON-GOING FLOODING. WLD EXPECT SOME
DECREASE IN THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY DURING THE MRNG HOURS ON AS LO
LVL JET VEERS AND WAA DECREASES. THE NEXT CHC OF THUNDERSTORMS
BECOME LESS CERTAIN AS UPPR LVL LO OVR NM STARTS TO EJECT NEWD
INTO THE PLAINS. WITH THE H85 BOUNDARY IN THE SRN FA...THIS SHOULD
BRING AN INCREASE IN SHRA/TSRA ACTIVITY BY MON NIGHT AGAIN MAINLY
OVR THE SRN FA. WITH THIS UPPR LVL LO SLOWLY CROSSING THE AREA THRU
THURS...WLD EXPECT THE CHC OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS
TO CONT THRU THEN. GENERALLY PREFER THE EC AND CANADIAN WITH THE
MOVEMENT OF THIS SYSTEM...WHICH WAS ALSO PREFERRED BY THE HPC.
THUS HAVE INSERTED SOME POPS FOR THE WED INTO THURS TIME FRAME.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS/INTENSITY LOOK TO DROP OFF AS THE DYNAMICS
WEAKEN WITH TIME...AND THUS FLOODING CONCERNS FM ADDITIONAL
RAINFALL LOOK TO BE LESS AFTER TONIGHTS RAINFALL. FINALLY LOOKS
LIKE WE START TO DRY OUT TOWARD FRI AND UPPR LVL LO DROPS TO THE
SE AND UPPR LVL RIDGE BUILDS OVER-HEAD.

&&

.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY MORNING FOR NEZ011-012-015>018-
     030>034-042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093.

IA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY MORNING FOR IAZ043-055-056-069-
     079-080-090-091.

&&

BOUSTEAD

Hazardous weather outlook, May 6, 4:00 PM CST, 2 hours 50 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
500 PM CDT SUN MAY 6 2007

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-071000-
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-
500 PM CDT SUN MAY 6 2007

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST
IOWA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND MONDAY

FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST TO BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD
ACROSS THE AREA LATE THIS EVENING AND ESPECIALLY AFTER MIDNIGHT.
ALTHOUGH STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW SEVERE LEVELS...THE
ATMOSPHERE REMAINS VERY MOIST AND HEAVY RAIN IS LIKELY AT TIMES.
THE GROUND REMAINS SATURATED FROM PREVIOUS RAINFALL AND FLASH
FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH TONIGHT WITH ADDITIONAL
RAINFALL OF BETWEEN 1 AND 2 INCHES POSSIBLE...MAINLY AFTER
MIDNIGHT AND INTO MONDAY MORNING.

FLOODING WAS OCCURRING ON SEVERAL STREAMS AND RIVERS ACROSS
SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY

THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT OVER THE
OUTLOOK AREA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED TONIGHT OR MONDAY.

FOBERT

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 6, 4:39 PM CST, 2 hours 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
539 PM CDT SUN MAY 06 2007

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

0540 AM     TSTM WND DMG     HOOPER                  41.61N 96.55W
05/06/2007                   DODGE              NE   NWS EMPLOYEE

            ROOF OFF FITNESS CENTER AND SEVERAL TREE LIMBS DOWN

&&

DFOBERT

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 125 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:48 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 flash flood, 6 thunderstorm wind, 5 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When: May 6, 6:50 PM CST to 7:11 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County, 0.69 mi N of Steele City to 5 mi NE of Steele City
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.040, -97.020

A downburst that initially spun up a weak tornado in Steele City spread from that town northeast toward Diller. The damage path of the downburst was about a mile wide with sporadic damage for about 5 miles. Winds were estimated at around 80 mph. Trees and farm outbuildings were damaged.

Tornado, Jefferson

When: May 6, 6:50 PM CST to 6:53 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County, Steele City to 1 mi NE of Steele City
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 300 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.030, -97.020

Embedded in a downburst, a more concentrated area of damage with a convergent signiture signalled a tornado tracked about 1 mile through Steele City. The tornado caused structual damage to roofs and windows. In addition, a portion of the roof of the town hall was torn off and a few trees uprooted. Some twisting of trees was noted just northeast of town as the tornado lifted.

Hail, Jefferson

When: May 6, 7:05 PM CST to 7:11 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County, 0.69 mi N of Steele City to 1 mi SW of Steele City
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.040, -97.020

Hail up to nickel size fell around the Steele City area for several minutes.

Hail, Jefferson

When: May 6, 7:18 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County, 0.87 mi NW of Diller
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 40.109, -96.942

Hail, Gage

When: May 6, 7:31 PM CST
Where: Gage County, 6 mi SW of Beatrice
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.209, -96.810

Accompanied by winds around 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gage

When: May 6, 7:31 PM CST
Where: Gage County, 6 mi SW of Beatrice
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.209, -96.810

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph destroyed a machine shed south of Beatrice.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gage

When: May 6, 7:41 PM CST
Where: Gage County, 2.96 mi SSW of Beatrice
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.230, -96.751

Winds of 60 to 70 mph were estimated by emergency management south of Beatrice.

Flash Flood, Saline

When: May 6, 7:45 PM CST to 8:45 PM CST
Where: Saline County, 0.53 mi W of Wilber
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.480, -96.960

Rainfall of another inch or two produced flash flooding of streets in the Wilber area. The rainfall was on top of the 2 to 4 inches which fell the previous day.

Hail, Gage

When: May 6, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Gage County, 1.06 mi W of Beatrice
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.270, -96.750

Flash Flood, Jefferson

When: May 6, 7:50 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County, Fairbury to 2 mi NW of Diller
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.150, -97.170

Heavy rainfall of an inch or so in an hour or less produced flash flooding of a few streets in Fairbury. In addition, heavy rain caused flash flooding along portions of Indian Creek near Diller according to Jefferson county Emergency Management. A few county roads were closed due to the flood waters.

Hail, Johnson

When: May 6, 8:14 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 2.1 mi SE of Crab Orchard
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.309, -96.392

Flash Flood, Gage

When: May 6, 8:15 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where: Gage County, 5.06 mi NE of Filley
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.332, -96.462

Heavy rainfall of an inch or two produced flash flooding across county roads near Highway 136 between Filley and Crab Orchard.

Flash Flood, Gage

When: May 6, 8:20 PM CST to 9:20 PM CST
Where: Gage County, 1.06 mi W of Beatrice
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.270, -96.750

Heavy rainfall of an inch or two in an hour or so produced extensive street flooding in Beatrice.

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnson

When: May 6, 8:25 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 4 mi SW of Cook
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.479, -96.224

Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at over 60 mph uprooted an oak tree southwest of Cook.

Thunderstorm Wind, Richardson

When: May 6, 8:25 PM CST
Where: Richardson County, 3 mi W of Humboldt
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.170, -95.987

Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at around 80 mph destroyed a hay barn and cattle shed west of Humboldt along with causing some tree damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Nemaha

When: May 6, 8:35 PM CST
Where: Nemaha County, 4 mi SE of Auburn
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 40.359, -95.776

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 to 80 mph damaged a hog building and destroyed a 100 by 60 foot machine shed southeast of Auburn.

Flash Flood, Lancaster

When: May 6, 8:45 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Lancaster County, Firth
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.530, -96.600

Heavy rainfall of an inch or two produced flash flooding which blocked some county roads near Firth.

Flash Flood, Otoe

When: May 6, 9:00 PM CST to 10:15 PM CST
Where: Otoe County, Talmage to Lorton
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.520, -96.020

Heavy rainfall of 1 to 3 inches produced flash flooding which briefly crossed some county roads near Talmage and Lorton including Highways 128 and 67. The flooding also caused the temporary loss of telephone service in Talmage due to a washout.

Flash Flood, Johnson

When: May 6, 9:30 PM CST to 10:30 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 5 mi N of Tecumseh to 2 mi NW of Sterling
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.442, -96.180

Flash flooding washed out a county road bridge northwest of Sterling according to Emergency Management. A few county roads were also flooded in the area.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Nebraska in 2007 Every state in 2007 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Nebraska, 2007 Warnings in Nebraska, May 2007

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: 20291, 20298, 20296, 20286, 20287, 20293, 20292, 20281, 20288, 20282, 20289, 20284, 20283, 26476, 30085, 20290, 20285, 25787, 28455.