Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Nebraska, June 7 to 10, 2008

Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated around 60 mph downed numerous branches in Madison, knocked over a large tree and blew a trampoline across a street causing moderate damage.

Heavy rain during the evening and overnight hours of June 7th and 8th caused flash flooding from around Boone west across Highway 14 south of Albion. The flooding prompted the brief closing of Highway 14. The flooding also closed a few county roads in the area and flooded agricultural lowlands.

Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at close to 60 mph downed several large tree limbs onto streets in the Pilger area.

Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at over 60 mph caused substantial damage at a golf course just northwest of Pender. About 10 trees on the course were downed or severely damaged, and a maintenance building also sustained damage.

Heavy rain during the evening and overnight hours of June 7th and 8th caused flash flooding around the Jct of Highways 9 and 16 near Pender. The water caused debris to be washed onto the road and bridge and prompted its closure for a while. Damage was mainly reserved to debris cleanup.

Taken from wind equipment from the home of a meteorologist. This was from the bow echo that spun up 2 tornadoes, with the first one touching down a few miles southwest of this location at about this time.

This was the first touchdown of 2 tornadoes that hit the Omaha metro area this night. Tornado number 1 started just southeast of 232ND and West Angus Road about a mile west of Gretna. A garage was demolished at this point, suggesting EF1 damage. The tornado moved east northeast at 45 mph and produced scattered EF0 damage in Gretna with tree and shingle damage noted. From there tornado number 1 continued northeast to near 156th and Giles Road. EF 2 damage was noted just southwest of that point with major roof damage to a home. The tornado then crossed over into the Millard area of Douglas county where it continued for about 3 more miles before merging with tornado number 2. Tornado 1 also caused EF2 damage in Douglas county with much of it concentrated in the vicinity of 137th and Y Streets.

The tornadoes spun up on the leading edge of a bow echo that gathered strength as it raced through the Omaha metropolitan area. More than 500 homeowners reported damage from the storm and OPPD reported that 13,800 customers lost power.

This is the second tornado to cause damage to the Omaha metro area this night. Tornado number 2 first touched down just southwest of 204th and Q Streets and produced EF1 damage to the roof and decking of a home. The tornado produced mainly EF0 damage as it moved east, passing just south of Zorinsky Lake and just southeast of Oak View Mall. Tornado number 2 then merged with tornado number 1 near 132nd and Westwood Lane and then continued on to around 114th and Shirley Streets. Minor structure damage, tree damage and lifted shingles compromised most of the damage with this tornado. Although the track of this tornado in Douglas county was longer than Tornado number 1, the more significant damage occurred with the first tornado.

The tornadoes spun up on the leading edge of a bow echo that gathered strength and raced through the Omaha metropolitan region. OPPD stated that 13,800 customers lost power from the storm. More than 500 home owners reported damage.

A large tree branch was downed near 120th and Blondo Streets by thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.

This is the continuation of tornado number 1 (of 2) to hit the Omaha metro area this night. Tornado number 1 crossed over from Sarpy county near 144th and Harrison Streets before merging with tornado number 2 just east of 132nd and Westwood Lane. From there the merged tornado continued northeast to near 114th and Shirley Streets. Tornado number 1 traveled at about 50 mph in Douglas county. Tornado number 1 produced EF2 damage in both Douglas and Sarpy counties. Although tree and roof damage was noted along most of the track, the area hardest hit in Douglas county was around 137th and Y Streets. A few homes had their roofs completely blown off in this area, while others had significant roof and siding damage. The tornado then hit a Walmart, Sams Club and Home Depot causing damage to each of those businesses after it crossed L Street.

Tornado number 1 first set down just southeast of 232nd and West Angus Road about a mile west of Gretna in Sarpy county. It traveled about 8 miles in Sarpy county before crossing into Douglas county.

The tornadoes spun up on the leading edge of a bow echo that gathered strength and raced through the Omaha metropolitan region. OPPD reported that 13,800 customers lost power from the storm. In total, more than 500 homeowners reported damage from the storm and according to FEMA, 7 homes were destroyed and 21 others sustained major damage.

A thunderstorm wind gust was estimated at 70 mph by an off duty NWS employee. The winds were from the bow echo that spun up 2 tornadoes that apparently had lifted by the time it reached this location.

Heavy rain caused flash flooding which closed Highway 121 and many county roads around Battle Creek as well as a few streets in Battle Creek. Basements in town were flooded. Unofficial reports of 3 to 4 inches of rain fell from this storm in Battle Creek, and Norfolk, just to the east of town, received 3 inches of rain in about a 3 hour period leading up to the flooding.

Battle Creek continued to rise in the Battle Creek area into Sunday afternoon June 8th. This kept several roads in town including Highway 121 closed until around evening. The flood waters tried going through the town park as it attempted to get to the Elkhorn River. So despite sandbags placed around many homes in the area, quite a few residents on the east side of town had their basements flooded.

Heavy rain during the overnight hours of June 7th/8th caused Shell Creek to flood from around the Lindsay area to near Platte Center. Besides flooding agricultural lowlands, almost every road that intersected the creek was closed due to flood waters.

Heavy rain that fell over northeast Nebraska on June 7th and 8th caused Beaver Creek or it's tributaries to flood for the second time in little over a week from Loretto downstream to around St. Edward. The creek at Loretto hit a crest of 9.9 feet around 10am CDT on June 8th, flood stage is 9 feet. The flooding from either this storm or the one on June 4th washed out approaches to two county roads. County roads and agricultural lowlands in the area were also flooded.

Heavy rain that fell over northeast Nebraska on June 7th and 8th caused the Elkhorn River to flood from west of Wisner downstream through West Point. The river at West Point crested at 12.4 feet around 1015am CDT on 6/9, flood stage is 12 feet. The flooding affected mainly just agricultural lowlands.

Areas of heavy rain continued to fall across the Platte River basin during the first week of June, culminating with heavy rain producing thunderstorms late on June 7th and early on the 8th. This caused another round of flooding along the Platte River from mid afternoon on June 9th through early afternoon on the 10th from just northeast of Ashland downstream through the Louisville area. The Platte River reached a crest of 20.4 at Ashland around 230am CDT on June 10, flood stage is 20 feet. The river crested at 9.1 feet at Louisville around 515am on June 10, flood stage at Louisville is 9 feet. The flooding affected mainly just agricultural bottom-lands.

Areas of heavy rain continued to fall across the Platte River basin during the first week of June, culminating with heavy rain producing thunderstorms late on June 7th and early on the 8th. This caused another round of flooding along the Platte River from mid afternoon on June 9th through early afternoon on the 10th from just northeast of Ashland downstream through the Louisville area. The Platte River reached a crest of 20.4 at Ashland around 230am CDT on June 10, flood stage is 20 feet. The river crested at 9.1 feet at Louisville around 515am on June 10, flood stage at Louisville is 9 feet. The flooding affected mainly just agricultural bottom-lands.