Thunderstorms developed over north central Nebraska the evening of August 6th. One of these storms impacted portions of Wheeler county with heavy rain and large hail falling from it.
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.
Thunderstorms developed over north central Nebraska the evening of August 6th. One of these storms impacted portions of Wheeler county with heavy rain and large hail falling from it. Then during the overnight hours, more storms moved into the area bringing damaging winds to the area.
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 Aug 6, 2:21 AM CST, 9 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 321 AM CDT SAT AUG 6 2011 .SYNOPSIS... STRONG SHORT WAVE TROUGH MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS CURRENTLY WITH ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT MOVING SOUTHEAST...THE WESTERN EDGE OF WHICH IS APPARENTLY CONVECTIVELY INFLUENCED BY MCS IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND RAPIDLY PUSHING SOUTHWARD ACROSS NORTHERN NEBRASKA. CONVECTION DEVELOPING IN NRN PORTION OF THE STATE BEHIND FRONT WHICH HAS A BORE STRUCTURE DUE TO NEAR SFC STABLE LAYER. MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES STILL DECENT ACROSS THE WRN PORTION OF THE STATE AS WELL AND 500M/1KM WINDS HAVE INCREASED OVER THE LAST COUPLE HOURS. && .SHORT TERM (TODAY THROUGH MONDAY)... CONVECTION THIS MORNING SHOULD BE MAINTAINED THROUGH MID MORNING OR SO AND NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE FCST AREA WATCHED FOR POTENTIAL SVR TSRA. MESOANALYSIS INDICATING GOOD DOWNDRAFT POTENTIAL WHICH HAS BEEN TRUE IN THE FSD AREA...THOUGH RADAR FINE LINES SUGGESTS LOWER LEVEL MORE STABLE IN NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND WOULD THEREFORE BE TOUGHER TO GET CONVECTIVE WIND TO THE SFC. WRN EDGE OF FRONT DOES NOT HAVE AS MUCH SOUTHWARD PUSH AS WOULD BE EXPECTED AS POTENT UPPER WAVE AND ASSOCIATED CONVECTION RACE EASTWARD. MUCH DRIER AIR PROGGED BY THE MODELS TO PUSH IN BEHIND THE FRONT TODAY...BUT AS WINDS SHIFT BACK TO EASTERLY THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL RETURN QUICKLY. HIGHS TODAY WILL HAVE TO BE WATCHED IF PRESSURE RISES CONTINUE TO ACCOMPANY THE FRONT AS CONVECTION PUSHES EAST. MODELS HAVE THEIR USUAL BIASES WITH RESPECT TO ULTIMATE PLACEMENT OF THE FRONT BY EVENING...WITH THE NAM ACROSS NRN KS AND THE GFS IN SRN NEBRASKA. REGARDLESS...WITH ENHANCED BAND OF WESTERLIES NOW SAGGED INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS WILL SEE QUICK MOVING SHORT WAVES MOVE ACROSS THE AREA WITH LOW LEVEL JET DEVELOPING SOUTH OF FRONT IN RESPONSE. ELEVATED INSTABILITY WILL REMAIN NORTH OF THE FRONT ALLOWING FOR A GOOD SETUP FOR MCS DEVELOPMENT SOMEWHERE AND MODELS HAVING DIFFERENCES WITH PLACEMENT AS EXPECTED. HAVE TRENDED TOWARD A FRONTAL POSITION NEAR OR JUST SOUTH OF FCST AREA WHICH WILL KEEP PRECIP CHCS GOING SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...ESPECIALLY IN THE OVERNIGHT PERIODS AS LOW LEVEL JET DEVELOPS. TEMPS WILL BE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON ULTIMATE CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT...AS WELL AS REMNANT CLOUD REMAINS ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY. MORE POTENT COLD FRONT ARRIVES ON MONDAY AND WILL SERVE TO BRING COLDER AND DRIER AIR INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS...THOUGH THE ACTIVE PATTERN WILL CONTINUE. .LONG TERM (TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY)... THOUGH MODELS HAVE THEIR DIFFERENCES THEY CONTINUE TO INDICATE THE SRN PLAINS UPPER RIDGE WILL WEAKEN AND RETROGRADE WESTWARD TO A POSITION IN THE GREAT BASIN REGION...THEN SLIDING EAST AGAIN TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK. THE NORTHERN EXTENT OF THE RIDGE THOUGH WILL REMAIN ACTIVE AND WILL KEEP PRECIP CHANCES IN THE FCST. COOLER TEMPS INTO MID WEEK THEN WARMING SLIGHTLY BY THE END OF THE WEEK...THOUGH STILL BELOW AVE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. && .AVIATION... THE AREA OF STRONG CONVECTION ACROSS NRN NEB SHOULD CLEAR THE FCST AREA BETWEEN 10Z AND 12Z AS IT IS MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. THEREAFTER VFR IS EXPECTED TODAY AS A COLD FRONT SWEEP THE FCST AREA THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. ISOLATED STRONG OR SEVERE STORMS COULD DEVELOP IN THE FAR EAST THIS AFTERNOON. VFR IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AS STABLE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO NEBRASKA. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && SHORT TERM/EXTENDED...JWS AVIATION...CDC
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 341 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011 NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-062045- 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- 341 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011 /241 PM MDT FRI AUG 5 2011/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF LARGE HAIL AND WIND DAMAGE ARE POSSIBLE THIS EVENING ACROSS NORTHWEST NEBRASKA...MAINLY NORTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM ANTIOCH TO VALENTINE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF LARGE HAIL AND WIND DAMAGE COULD DEVELOP ALONG A COLD FRONT SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THE AREA OF CONCERN IS GENERALLY ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM STOCKVILLE TO BROKEN BOW AND ONEILL. CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME FAVORABLE FOR ISOLATED TO PERHAPS SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AND MONDAY. LARGE HAIL AND WIND DAMAGE ARE THE CONCERN. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT...HOWEVER ANY REPORTS OF RAINFALL OR SEVERE WEATHER WOULD BE APPRECIATED. && THIS PRODUCT IS NOW AVAILABLE...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER... HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATOLOGICAL INFORMATION...AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/NORTHPLATTE BROOKS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 127 AM MDT SAT AUG 6 2011 NEZ005-006-008-009-060900- BROWN NE-EASTERN CHERRY NE-KEYA PAHA NE-ROCK NE- 227 AM CDT SAT AUG 6 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN CHERRY...NORTHERN ROCK...KEYA PAHA AND NORTHERN BROWN COUNTIES UNTIL 400 AM CDT... AT 222 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SPARKS TO SMITH FALLS STATE PARK TO 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF VALENTINE TO 5 MILES EAST OF VALENTINE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE...AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH STRONGEST STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. RAINFALL RATES AROUND 2 INCHES PER HOUR WITH TOTAL RAINFALL UP TO 1 INCH IS EXPECTED AS THESE STORMS MOVE THROUGH. THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR... WOOD LAKE AROUND 240 AM CDT. HIGHWAY 12 MILE MARKER 30 AROUND 245 AM CDT. NORTH RIVER TRAIL AROUND 255 AM CDT. HIGHWAY 12 MILE MARKER 40 AND JOHNSTOWN AROUND 300 AM CDT. BOBCAT STATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA AND SPRINGVIEW AROUND 315 AM CDT. HIGHWAY 7 MILE MARKER 40...BURTON AND AINSWORTH AROUND 320 AM CDT. THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO 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. CDC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 324 AM CDT SAT AUG 6 2011 NEZ005-008>010-060945- BROWN NE-EASTERN CHERRY NE-HOLT NE-ROCK NE- 324 AM CDT SAT AUG 6 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN CHERRY...ROCK...WESTERN HOLT AND BROWN COUNTIES UNTIL 445 AM CDT... AT 317 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF BURTON TO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BOBCAT STATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA TO 6 MILES NORTH OF MOON LAKE...AND MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. RAINFALL RATES AROUND 2 INCHES PER HOUR WITH TOTAL RAINFALL UP TO 1 INCH IS EXPECTED AS THESE STORMS MOVE THROUGH. THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR... AINSWORTH AND HIGHWAY 7 MILE MARKER 40 AROUND 335 AM CDT. HIGHWAY 7 MILE MARKER 30 AROUND 345 AM CDT. LONG PINE AROUND 350 AM CDT. BASSETT AROUND 355 AM CDT. HIGHWAY 183 MILE MARKER 170 AND NEWPORT AROUND 415 AM CDT. HIGHWAY 183 MILE MARKER 150...ROSE AND TWIN LAKES STATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA AROUND 425 AM CDT. STUART AROUND 430 AM CDT. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. 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. CDC
The North Platte radar (KLNX), 125 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:27 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds were estimated between 50 m.p.h. and 60 m.p.h.
In addition to quarter size hail, 2.25 inches of rain was recorded.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, August 2011
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: 333016, 333014.