Flash Flooding and Flooding in Nebraska, June 20 to 29, 2010

The first round of Hail up to golf ball to baseball-size fell across Lincoln for a period of 15 to 25 minutes, mostly across the north part of town. Hail of 1 to 2 inches in diameter was reported at 33rd and Holdrege, 27th and Superior and North 1st Streets with the baseball-size hail reported 2 miles north of Lincoln. The hail damaged vehicles and houses in the area including 23 police cruisers that were parked in an uncovered lot near 27th and Holdrege. At least 140 insurance claims of hail damage were received by one insurance firm alone in the Lincoln area as of June 22nd.

The hail was mostly nickel-size but a few stones up to quarter-size were reported near 180th and Q Streets.

A second round of large hail hit mostly northeast Lincoln to the Waverly area with hail up to baseball-size, the largest of which was about a mile north northwest of Havelock and near Waverly. The hail caused some vehicle and house damage in the area.

Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches fell across the Lincoln area during the evening of 6/20. The heavy rain produced flash flooding across several streets in the Lincoln area including 26th and Superior, Arbor and 56th, a few locations along Highway 77 and near 26th and Saltillo.

Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches fell in several hours during the evening of 6/20 produced flash flooding across numerous county roads including State Spur 13 into Weeping Water and Highway 50 near the spur. Some water also flowed across Highway 75 near Reike Road. Flood waters also spilled into a few homes in the Weeping Water area, and two people were almost trapped when flood waters poured into a basement putting them in neck-deep water before they escaped through a window.

Heavy rain caused Flash flooding across Highway 91 west of Albion and also Highway 14 north of town.

Heavy rain caused flash flooding across a few roads in the Battle Creek area.

Heavy rain caused flash flooding across streets in the Syracuse area and also flooded near a trailer park in town causing it to be evacuated when a creek rose 10 feet in a half an hour. The flood waters reached at least one trailer and flooded some vehicles.

Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at close to 60 mph broke off most of a mature tree in Oakland which fell on a car destroying it.

Heavy rain caused flash flooding across Highway 77 and Highway 32 near Oakland.

Heavy rain caused some flash flooding across streets in the West Point area.

Rainfall of 3.75 inches was measured in the Stanton area during the evening of 6/20, this produced flash flooding across several streets in town.

Rainfall of 2 to over 4 inches that fell during the evening of 6/20 caused flooding along Weeping Water Creek and most likely many of its tributaries. The flooding caused the evacuations of Weeping Water, Union and Nehawka and shelters were established in each of those towns. Weeping Water Creek at Union crested at a record, almost 33 feet, during the morning of 6/21. Flood stage is 25 feet. The creek at Union was above flood stage from the early morning until early evening hours of 6/21. Many county roads and bridges were flooded in the area as were farmlands near the creek.

Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches that fell during the evening of 6/20 caused flooding along Little Nemaha River and the North Fork of the Little Nemaha River from around Dunbar southeast through the Auburn area. The Little Nemaha near Auburn, just downstream in Nemaha county, crested at almost 27 feet during the evening of 6/21, flood stage is 22 feet. The river near Auburn was above flood stage from the morning of 6/21 until the morning of 6/22. The flooding along the North Fork of the Little Nemaha caused the evacuation of the houses of 11 people in the Dunbar area. County roads and farmland also experienced flooding.

Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches that fell during the evening of 6/20 caused flooding along Little Nemaha River in Nemaha county. The river near Auburn crested at almost 27 feet during the evening of 6/21, flood stage is 22 feet. The river near Auburn was above flood stage from the morning of 6/21 until the morning of 6/22. The flooding along the Little Nemaha and tributaries led to the closure of Highways 34 and 75 in the Auburn area and also flooded county roads and agricultural lowlands near the river.

A second round of heavy rain producing thunderstorms produced additional flash flooding across parts of Lincoln, especially the north part of town near Interstate 80, near 56th and Arbor Road and 63rd and Fletcher.

Rainfall of 3 to 5 inches on June 20 and 21 combined with additional heavy rains the days following pushed the Platte River at Louisville above its 9 foot flood stage for much of the time period from the morning of the 21st until the evening of 6/23. The river crested around 9.5 feet during the afternoon of 6/21. Mainly bottom lands along the river were affected, although a few county roads and recreation areas were flooded.

Heavy rain flooded farm fields and some county roads near Lincoln Creek and Branch Oak Road. Wild Cat Creek near 462nd St. and Davey Road north of Utica also flooded. The water eventually caused Lincoln Creek to flood later in the day.

Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches on 6/20 caused flooding along the Big Blue River from near Surprise to near Ulysses. The river at Surprise crested at close to 8 feet in the afternoon of 6/21, flood stage is 7 feet. The river was above flood stage at Surprise from the morning until the evening of 6/21. The flooding affected mainly farmland near the river but a few county roads were also flooded.

Heavy rain on June 21st and 22nd caused flooding along Salt Creek from northeast of Lincoln to its confluence with the Platte River northeast of Greenwood. At Greenwood the creek crested at 23.3 feet around noon on the 21st, flood stage is 20 feet. The creek was above flood stage at Greenwood from the morning of the 21st until the late evening of the 21st. Farm fields and county roads near the creek were flooded.

Heavy rain on June 20th and 21st caused flooding along Salt Creek from northeast of Lincoln to its confluence with the Platte River northeast of Greenwood. At Greenwood the creek crested at 23.3 feet around noon on the 21st, flood stage is 20 feet. The creek was above flood stage at Greenwood from the morning of the 21st until the late evening of the 21st. Farm fields and county roads near the creek were flooded as were some local ball parks. One of the county roads closed because of flood waters forced the closure of a National Guard Camp for a few days because access to the camp was too difficult.

Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches caused Rock Creek and Wahoo Creek to flood in southern Saunders county. At Ceresco the Rock Creek crested at 18 feet during the evening of 6/21, flood stage is 15 feet. Other flooding was observed from around Ashland northwest to near Wahoo along Wahoo Creek and its tributaries. Wahoo Creek crested around 1/2 foot above its 19 foot flood stage at Ithaca during the evening of 6/21 and almost a foot above its 19 foot flood stage at Ashland during the early morning hours of 6/22. The flooding of these creeks or ponding of water in low areas flooded many farm fields and closed many county roads.

Rainfall of at least 2 to 4 inches on 6/20 and 6/21 and additional rains a few days after that caused prolonged flooding along Lincoln Creek in Seward county. The Creek near Seward crested at a little over 18 feet during the morning of 6/23, flood stage is 15 feet. The creek was above flood stage near Seward from the afternoon of 6/21 until the early evening of 6/27. Flooding of county roads and farmland near the creek was observed.

Rainfall of 2 to 5 inches that fell from 6/20 through 6/22 caused Beaver Creek to flood around the St. Edward area. Besides flooding farm fields and county roads near the creek, Highway 39 just west of St. Edward was closed for a while.

Rainfall of 3 to 5 inches on 6/20 and 6/21 and additional rain the next few days caused the Blue River to flood in Saline County. The river at Crete crested at a little over 22.5 feet around noon CDT on the 26th, flood stage is 18 feet. The river at Crete was above flood stage from around midnight on the 22nd until the early morning of 6/29. Farmland and county roads near the river flooded.

Heavy rain prior to June 23rd caused Turkey Creek to flood lowlands and a few roads near Wilber. A base camp of a film production crew was wiped out either by Turkey Creek or one of its tributaries. The creek at Wilber was near or a little above its 11 foot flood stage for almost 2 days.

Rainfall of 3 to 5 inches on 6/20 and 6/21 and additional rain the next few days eventually caused the West Fork of the Blue River to flood in Saline County. The river near Dorchester crested at a little over 16.5 feet during the evening of 6/26, flood stage is 15 feet. Farmland and county roads near the river flooded.