A semi stationary front extended north to south on the high plains as moisture deepened across western Nebraska. Thunderstorms developed by late afternoon as an upper level disturbance moved east with storms developing into a cluster.
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 LBF wrote it up.
A semi stationary front extended north to south on the high plains as moisture deepened across western Nebraska. Thunderstorms developed by late afternoon as an upper level disturbance moved east with storms developing into a cluster. The cluster of storms moved southeast across the northern sandhills to produce several strong thunderstorm wind gusts.
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 North Platte, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 29, 2:07 PM CST, 3 hours 27 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 307 PM CDT THU JUL 29 2010 .SHORT TERM DISCUSSION... A SURFACE TROUGH EXTENDING FROM NERN WY INTO THE WRN NEBR PNHDL AND NERN CO WILL BE A FOCUS FOR AFTN CONVECTION TO SPREAD SOUTHEAST OVERNIGHT. INSTABILITY OVERNIGHT ACROSS WRN NEBR COMBINED WITH LOW LEVEL JET TO AID IN LOW CHC POPS ACROSS WRN SANDHILLS INTO SWRN NEBR. ADDITIONAL AREA OF FOCUS WILL BE CURRENT OUTFLOW BOUNDARY EXISTING SOUTH OF VTN THROUGH ANW AND ONL. MODEL CONSENSUS IS FOR A CLUSTER OF STORMS IN SCTRL SD TO EXPAND AND TURN SOUTHEAST ACROSS SERN SD AND NERN NEBR. CURRENT PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES AOA 1.5 INCHES WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE AHEAD OF FRONT. NERN COUNTIES FCST TO PEAK AROUND 2 INCHES TONIGHT...PROVIDING AMPLE MOISTURE FOR HEAVY RAINFALL POTENTIAL. CURRENT FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR BOYD AND HOLT COUNTY TONIGHT LOOKS WARRANTED AND WILL CONTINUE. ON FRIDAY...THE FRONT WILL PUSH SOUTHEAST AND SHOULD JUST CLEAR SERN ZONES AROUND 18Z. THERE SHOULD BE A BREAK IN SHOWER CHCS NCTRL DURING THE AFTN AND EVENING WITH SLIGHT CHCS SOUTH AND WEST. HIGHS NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN TODAY WITH AROUND 90 MOST AREAS. FRONT FRIDAY NIGHT WILL ESSENTIALLY GET WASHED OUT BY SATURDAY WITH A RETURN SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST FLOW. A SLIGHT CHC REMAINS FOR TSTMS SATURDAY AFTN THROUGH SUNDAY MAINLY WEST AND NORTHWEST. BETTER CHC STILL LOOKS TO ARRIVE SUNDAY NIGHT WITH ANOTHER FRONT PUSHING IN. BETTER CHCS AGAIN FAVOR THE NCTRL. && .EXTENDED DISCUSSION (MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)...FRONTAL BOUNDARY FCST TO STALL NEAR THE NEBR AND KS BORDER MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY LIFTING NORTH THURSDAY. UPPER RIDGE CENTER FCST TO RETROGRADE WESTWARD FROM ACROSS ARKANSAS MONDAY INTO TX PNHDL. UPPER RIDGE WILL BE FLATTENED WITH CENTRAL PLAINS CATCHING THE FASTER WESTERLIES. THIS WILL BRING AT LEAST A SLIGHT CHC FOR TSTMS THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH HIGHS MAINLY UPPER 80S TO LOWER 90S. && .AVIATION... 00Z-12Z FRIDAY...GENERALLY VFR SOUTH OF U.S. HIGHWAY 20. ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 20...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE WEST TO EAST OVERNIGHT. ACTIVITY COULD BECOME NUMEROUS NORTH OF KONL AFTER 06Z. SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 20 TO THE KS BORDER...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE. SFC WINDS WILL BE SOUTHEAST AT 10 KTS...BUT VARIABLE AND GUSTY NEAR STORMS. AFTER 12Z MONDAY...STORMS SHOULD HAVE EXITED TO THE EAST. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR NEZ007-010. && DISCUSSION...ROBERG AVIATION...TAYLOR
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 316 PM CDT THU JUL 29 2010 NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-302015- SHERIDAN-EASTERN CHERRY-KEYA PAHA-BOYD-BROWN-ROCK-HOLT-GARDEN- GRANT-HOOKER-THOMAS-BLAINE-LOUP-GARFIELD-WHEELER-ARTHUR-MCPHERSON- LOGAN-CUSTER-DEUEL-KEITH-PERKINS-LINCOLN-CHASE-HAYES-FRONTIER- WESTERN CHERRY- 316 PM CDT THU JUL 29 2010 /216 PM MDT THU JUL 29 2010/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA TONIGHT. THE BEST CHANCE FOR STORMS WILL BE NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80...WHERE A FEW SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE. THE SEVERE WEATHER RISKS WOULD BE FROM LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...BUT CONDITIONS COULD ALSO SUPPORT AN ISOLATED TORNADO. TROPICAL MOISTURE WILL ALSO BE IN PLACE...SO STORMS CAPABLE OF VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT FOR NORTHERN HOLT AND BOYD COUNTIES...WHERE THE GROUND IS WET FROM FLOODING RAINS LAST WEEK. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS COULD DEVELOP ONCE AGAIN LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE MAIN CONCERNS. TROPICAL MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE THREAT OF VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. SUNDAY AND BEYOND...A STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN ANCHORED OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. THE RIDGE WILL CIRCULATE TROPICAL MOISTURE NORTHWARD THROUGH THE CENTRAL PLAINS. AT TIMES... CONDITIONS WILL BE FAVORABLE LARGE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF VERY HEAVY RAIN. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT...MAINLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80. && THIS PRODUCT IS NOW AVAILABLE...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER... HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATOLOGICAL INFORMATION...AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/NORTHPLATTE TAYLOR
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 412 PM CDT THU JUL 29 2010 NEZ094-292200- WESTERN CHERRY NE- 312 PM MDT THU JUL 29 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN CHERRY COUNTY UNTIL 400 PM MDT... AT 308 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF MEDICINE LAKE...OR 39 MILES WEST OF VALENTINE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... CODY AROUND 335 PM MDT. NENZEL AROUND 400 PM MDT. THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY....AND A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS AREA. BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS....FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. TAYLOR
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 503 PM CDT THU JUL 29 2010 NEZ005-094-292245- EASTERN CHERRY NE-WESTERN CHERRY NE- 403 PM MDT THU JUL 29 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN CHERRY COUNTY UNTIL 445 PM MDT/545 PM CDT/... AT 358 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NENZEL...OR 35 MILES WEST OF VALENTINE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... CODY AROUND 415 PM MDT. NENZEL AROUND 440 PM MDT. KILGORE AROUND 445 PM MDT. THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY....AND A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS AREA. BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS....FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. TAYLOR
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 615 PM CDT THU JUL 29 2010 NEZ005-094-300000- EASTERN CHERRY NE-WESTERN CHERRY NE- 515 PM MDT THU JUL 29 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL CHERRY COUNTY UNTIL 600 PM MDT/700 PM CDT/... AT 508 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SCHOOLHOUSE LAKE...OR 37 MILES WEST OF VALENTINE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... STEER CREEK CAMPGROUND... MERRITT RESERVOIR DAM... ANDERSON BRIDGE STATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA... HIGHWAY 97 MILE MARKER 110... THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY....AND A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS AREA. BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS....FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. PERSONS ON MERRITT RESERVOIR...SHOULD GET OFF THE LAKE IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK SHELTER. LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES BIGGEST KILLERS. REMEMBER IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU CAN BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. BUTTLER
The North Platte radar (KLNX), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:31 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The public reported the rain to be falling nearly horizontally with some pea sized hail.
The public reported heavy rain falling nearly horizonatally as it was driven by strong thunderstorm winds.
A trained spotter reported very heavy rain with thunderstorm winds at least 60 mph and pea sized hail.
The public reported 3 to 4 inch diameter live tree branches were blown down by winds estimated at 60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, July 2010
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: 245840, 245841, 245842, 245839.