Flash Flooding and Flooding in Nebraska, June 10 to 15, 2010

Heavy rain that fell earlier in the morning caused Beaver Creek to steadily rise all day eventually flooding across part of Highway 39 just west of St. Edward. In addition, a few farm fields and county roads near the creek were flooded.

Three inches of rain fell in about 60 minutes.

Rainfall of around 2 inches in an hour or so fell across the East Fork of Maple Creek basin during the morning of 6/10. The rainfall fell on saturated soils due to several inches of rain that fell earlier in the week and produce flash flooding along sections of the East Fork of Maple Creek including across the bridge near the Junction of Highways 15 and 32 forcing the closure of Highway 15. Farm fields near the creek also flooded. Damage included flooded crops and gravel washed from some county roads.

Rainfall of around 4 inches was measured in about 60 minutes.

Heavy rain fell across the Columbus area causing considerable street flooding which lifted several manhole covers off drainage systems and caused several vehicles to stall in rain-swollen intersections. Almost 1.5 inches of rain fell in 40 minutes with a little over 2 inches in about 2 hours measured at the Coop site just northeast of town.

Rainfall of 2 to 3 inches in an hour or so brought flash flooding along Union Creek and its tributaries near Madison. The rain fell on saturated soils due to rains that fell earlier in the week and most of the damage from this flood was confined to gravel washed off of county roads and some crop damage.

Rainfall of around 3 inches in an hour or so brought flash flooding along Shell Creek and tributaries near and south of Lindsay. The flooding closed Lindsay Highway that runs south from town to Highway 22 and flooded the Lindsay Manufacturing parking lot and pedestrian bridge. The rain fell on saturated soils due to rains that fell earlier in the week and most of the damage from this flood was confined to gravel washed off of county roads and some crop damage.

Thunderstorm winds estimated at close to 60 mph snapped a 7 foot tall tree that was about 4 to 5 inches in diameter. Various other 3 to 5 inch in diameter branches were also downed around town.

Rainfall of 2 to 3 inches fell in an hour or so producing flash flooding along Maple Creek and it's tributaries near and north of Howells. Water covered 4th Street and both approaches over Maple Creek near town. The rain fell on saturated soils due to heavy rain that fell earlier in the week. Damage from this flooding consisted mainly of gravel washed off county roads and some crop damage.

Rainfall of 2 inches or so in about an hour caused flash flooding across various county roads and portions of Highways 15 and 64 in northwest Butler county. The rain fell on saturated soils due to heavy rain that fell earlier in the week. Damage from this flooding consisted mainly of gravel washed off county roads and some crop damage.

Heavy rain of 2 inches or more in an hour or so produced flash flooding along Pebble Creek and its tributaries which brought 2 to 3 feet of water across the Junction of Highways 91 and 275 northwest of Scribner. The rain had fallen on saturated soils due to rains earlier in the week and flooding persisted for an extended period due to additional rains after the 10th.

Rainfall of a little over 3 inches was reported near town.

Heavy rain of 2 inches or more in an hour or so produced flash flooding along Pebble Creek and its tributaries in the county. High water also forced the closure of Highway 275 between Scribner and West Point. Otherwise the flooding mainly affected farm fields and a few county roads.

Rainfall of almost 3.5 inches was measured by the coop observer in Dodge, the rain fell in a an hour or two.

Heavy rain producing thunderstorms from around June 7th through the 14th brought high water and a prolonged period of flooding along the Union Creek near Madison. Union Creek near Madison crested at 22.9 feet during the evening of June 11th, flood stage is 20 feet. The creek near Madison was above flood stage for much of the period from the morning hours of June 10th through the early morning hours of June 13th. Flooding affected mostly county roads and farm fields near the stream, although flood waters did cross Highway 81 for a while prompting its closure.

Several periods of heavy rain fell across the Maple Creek basin from June 8th through the 14th produced a period of flooding along the East Fork of Maple Creek in southwest Stanton county. The high water flooded county roads in the area and also flooded the intersection of Highways 32 and 15 prompting their closure. Farmland near the creek was also flooded. The main stem of Maple Creek near Nickerson, in Dodge county, crested around 15.5 feet during the early morning of June 12th and was at or above its 10 foot flood stage from the afternoon of June 10th through late in the evening on the 14th.

Several periods of heavy rain fell across the Maple Creek basin from June 8th through the 14th which produced a prolonged period of flooding along Maple Creek near and northwest of Nickerson. The high water backed up along a railroad track and closed Highway 91 leading into Nickerson for a while. Farmland and county roads near the creek were flooded causing damage to both. Maple Creek near Nickerson crested around 15.5 feet during the early morning of June 12th and was at or above its 10 foot flood stage from the afternoon of June 10th through late in the evening on the 14th.

Several periods of heavy rain fell across the Pebble Creek basin from June 8th through the 14th which produced a prolonged period of high water and flooding along Pebble Creek near and west of Scribner. The high water flooded and closed sections of Highways 275 and 91 near town as well as county roads and farmland in the area. Pebble Creek near Scribner crested at just over 23 feet during the late afternoon of June 10th, flood stage is 18 feet. The creek near Scribner was above flood stage most of the period from around noon on the 10th until late in the afternoon on June 12th, although a few times during this stretch the creek dropped below flood stage.

Heavy rain from roughly June 7th into the 14th produced prolonged flooding along Shell Creek and its tributaries from near Lindsay in Platte county downstream to near Platte Center then to around Schuyler in Colfax county. The high water flooded many county roads and forced the closure of Highway 81 northwest of Columbus and also Highway 91 between Humphrey and Lindsay. A motorist had to be rescued by area residents late on the 10th when his vehicle became flooded while attempting to drive through flood waters west of Platte Center, the motorist was uninjured. Cropland was also damaged because of the high water. Shell Creek near Columbus crested around 21.6 feet for a prolonged period from late morning on June 12th until early morning on the 13th. Flood stage is 20 feet. The creek near Columbus was above flood stage from the evening of June 11th until the late afternoon hours of June 14th, although flooding occurred earlier than the 11th upstream of the gauge and probably lasted longer than the 14th downstream.

Heavy rain of 2 to 3 inches fell across much of the area on June 10th on top of soils that were saturated from several inches of rain that fell earlier in the week. The rain produced flooding along Bell Creek and its tributaries which began on June 10th and was aggravated and continued by additional heavy rain during the next few days. Eventually the Elkhorn River near Arlington also flooded. The flooding from Bell Creek and then high water from the Elkhorn closed Highway 30 near Arlington for an extended period with additional flooding of county roads and farm fields observed for an extended period across the county. In addition a trailer court on the east side Arlington and the fairgrounds experienced minor flooding.

Heavy rain from roughly June 7th into the 14th produced prolonged flooding along Shell Creek and its tributaries from near Lindsay in Platte county downstream to around Schuyler in Colfax county. The high water flooded many county roads and forced the closure of Highway 15 north of Schuyler for a while. Shell Creek or one of its tributaries also flooded sections of northeast Schuyler prompting homes and businesses to sandbag to try to limit the damage. Nonetheless, some damage to about 200 homes and businesses occurred anyway, mostly to basements. Damage was also noted to county roads and crops because of the prolonged period of high water. Emergency management reported that at one time as many as 40 county roads and 40 bridges were under water in the county. Shell Creek near Columbus crested around 21.6 feet for a prolonged period from late morning on June 12th until early morning on the 13th. Flood stage is 20 feet. The creek near Columbus was above flood stage from the evening of June 11th until the late afternoon hours of June 14th, although flooding probably lasted longer than the 14th downstream of the gauge in Colfax county.