Hail, Otoe
- When
- July 23, 3:55 PM CST
- Where
- Otoe County, Syracuse
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 40.650, -96.180
Mostly dime-size.
Hail and Damaging Winds in Nebraska, July 23, 2011
For the second consecutive day scattered thunderstorms developed along a weak boundary in southeast Nebraska that separated temperatures and dew points around 100 and in the mid 70s respectively from readings around 90. A few of the storms produced either large hail or strong winds.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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.
What happened
The episode as NWS OAX wrote it up.
For the second consecutive day scattered thunderstorms developed along a weak boundary in southeast Nebraska that separated temperatures and dew points around 100 and in the mid 70s respectively from readings around 90. A few of the storms produced either large hail or strong winds.
What forecasters said that day
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 Omaha, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 23, 2:08 PM CST, 1 hour 47 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 23, 2:08 PM CST, 1 hour 47 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
308 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2011
.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. THE AREA REMAINS WITHIN A
MOIST PLUME AS INDICATED BY RECENT WATER VAPOR IMAGERY. A SUBJECTIVE
UPPER AIR ANALYSIS REVEALED A DECENT RIDGE ALOFT WITH LOCAL HEIGHT
RISES...BUT A 40 TO 50KT JET JUST TO OUR NORTH...WHICH PLACES US
IN THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION AND WITHIN AN AREA OF ASCENT. THUS...
SPOTTY SHOWERS HAVE CONTINUED WITHIN THIS MOIST PLUME THROUGH THE DAY
WHICH HAS ALSO RESULTED IN A VERY NARROW BAND OF CLOUDS...WHICH
HAS HELD TEMPERATURES DOWN A BIT MORE THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.
THUS...WILL LIKELY BE ABLE TO TRIM SOME OF THE EXISTING HEAT
ADVISORY WITH THIS AFTERNOON. TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF THIS BAND...
SKIES HAVE REMAINED MOSTLY SUNNY...AND WE/VE EITHER MET OR SHOULD
MEET HEAT ADVISORY CRITERIA THROUGH EARLY EVENING.
MEANWHILE...THE ADVANCING COLD FRONT EXTENDED FROM CENTRAL SOUTH
DAKOTA THROUGH CENTRAL NEBRASKA...AND WILL BE MOVING INTO NORTHEAST
NEBRASKA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS WILL BE A FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS
EVENING IF THE CAP CAN BE BROKEN...ALTHOUGH SEVERE STORMS COVERAGE MAY
BE MARGINAL DUE TO RELATIVELY WEAK WIND SHEAR OF 25 TO 30
KTS...BUT STILL A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS WOULD BE POSSIBLE
THIS EVENING IN NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AND NORTHWEST IOWA. THE FRONT
CONTINUES TO MAKE SLOW PROGRESS SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE FORECAST
AREA OVERNIGHT AND MAY REACH NORTHEAST KANSAS AND NORTHWEST
MISSOURI BY DAYBREAK SUNDAY. WHILE I DONT BELIEVE WE/LL SEE
WIDESPREAD STORM COVERAGE OVERNIGHT...STILL SUFFICIENT FORCING
FOR 30 TO 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN.
DUE TO THAT MOISTURE PLUME THAT WILL PROBABLY REMAIN IN PLACE...
THERE COULD STILL BE SOME POST FRONTAL SPOTTY SHOWERS SUNDAY
MORNING...AND WITH BUILDING HEAT IN THE AFTERNOON...COULD SEE
ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS REDEVELOP...PRIMARILY SOUTHERN FORECAST
AREA...THAT COULD ALSO LINGER INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. WE WILL EXPERIENCE
A NORTHEASTERLY FLOW DURING THIS TIME...WHICH WILL BRING IN SLIGHTLY
COOLER TEMPS...AND SLIGHTLY LESS HUMID AIR AS WELL TO SOME AREAS...AS
HIGH PRESSURE PREVAILS BEHIND THE COLD FRONT.
THE HIGH PRESSURE AXIS DOES BEGIN TO SHIFT EAST ON MONDAY. THE
QUESTION REMAINS...AS FLOW RETURNS TO THE SOUTHEAST...WHETHER WE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO POP A FEW SHOWERS WITHIN THE MOIST
PLUME...MAINLY THROUGH THE HEAT OF THE AFTERNOON. FOR MONDAY NIGHT
AND TUESDAY...THE RIDGE BEGINS TO REESTABLISH ITSELF ACROSS THE
PLAINS. LATEST MODELS SUGGEST THAT ANOTHER IMPULSE COULD BE
TOPPING THE RIDGE MOVING THROUGH THE DAKOTAS...WHICH CLOUD CLIP
NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA.
.LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THE RIDGE THAT WAS IN PLACE
ACROSS THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES SHOULD FLATTEN EARLY IN THE PERIOD
IN RESPONSE TO A WAVE MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHERN ROCKIES AND
EVENTUALLY NORTHERN PLAINS. THIS WILL PUSH A SLOW MOVING FRONT
TOWARD THE REGION FROM THE NORTH...BUT IN TYPICAL FASHION...THE
FRONT WILL LIKELY STALL NEAR OUR AREA RIGHT ON THROUGH THE PERIOD.
WITH A GENERALLY FLAT RIDGE AND A STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY REMAINING
ACROSS THE NEBRASKA AND IOWA VICINITY...IT APPEARS TO BE A SOMEWHAT
UNSETTLED WEATHER PERIOD ONCE AGAIN WITH NEARLY A DAILY CHANCE OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AS NUMEROUS RIPPLES CONTINUE TO MOVE
THROUGH A FAST WESTERLY FLOW. THIS SHOULD HOWEVER LIMIT THE HEAT
JUST A BIT...WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 80S TO LOWER 90S.
DEWALD
&&
.AVIATION...
TAF SITES KOFK/KOMA/KLNK
18Z TAFS
OVERALL VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THRU THE FCST PD. SCATTERED TSRA
EXPECTED THOUGH TO ACCOMPANY COLD FRONT DROPPING SWD THRU ERN NEB
LATER TONIGHT. AREAL COVERAGE OF CONVECTION IN QUESTION...SO HAVE
OPTED TO KEEP MVFR/PROB30 GROUPS BTWN 24/06-12Z AT ALL
TERMINALS.
DEE
&&
.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NEZ011-012-015>018-
030>034-042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093.
IA...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR IAZ043-055-056-069-
079-080-090-091.
&&Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 23, 3:45 PM CST, 10 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 445 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2011 IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034- 042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-241100- ANTELOPE-BOONE-BURT-BUTLER-CASS-CEDAR-COLFAX-CUMING-DODGE-DOUGLAS- FREMONT IA-GAGE-HARRISON IA-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-KNOX-LANCASTER-MADISON- MILLS IA-MONONA IA-MONTGOMERY IA-NEMAHA-OTOE-PAGE IA-PAWNEE-PIERCE- PLATTE-POTTAWATTAMIE IA-RICHARDSON-SALINE-SARPY-SAUNDERS-SEWARD- SHELBY IA-STANTON-THURSTON-WASHINGTON-WAYNE- 445 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MOST OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AND PARTS OF SOUTHWEST IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SUNDAY A HEAT ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR PARTS OF THE AREA INTO THE EARLY EVENING. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA THROUGH THE EVENING. A FEW STORMS COULD PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT AS WELL...AS A COLD FRONT DROPS SOUTHWARD ACROSS INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS. A FEW STORMS COULD APPROACH SEVERE LIMITS...WITH STRONG WINDS AND HAIL. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE. THUNDERSTORMS MAY LINGER OVER PARTS OF SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA ON SUNDAY...BUT AT THIS TIME THE SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL SUNDAY SEEMS LOW. WIDESPREAD MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR PARTS OF THE AREA FROM SUNDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...THEN AGAIN FROM WEDNESDAY INTO SATURDAY. MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. MILLER
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 23, 3:20 PM CST, 35 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA 420 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2011 NEZ066>068-232145- CASS NE-LANCASTER NE-OTOE NE- 420 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2011 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR WESTERN OTOE...SOUTHEASTERN LANCASTER AND SOUTHWESTERN CASS COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM CDT... AT 417 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR PANAMA...OR 16 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LINCOLN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... DOUGLAS... PALMYRA... UNADILLA... SYRACUSE... AVOCA... EAGLE... CHERMOK
Special weather statement, Jul 23, 3:48 PM CST, 7 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA 448 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2011 NEZ067-068-090-091-232215- CASS NE-JOHNSON NE-NEMAHA NE-OTOE NE- 448 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2011 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR OTOE...NORTHWESTERN NEMAHA...EASTERN JOHNSON AND SOUTHEASTERN CASS COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM CDT... AT 446 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM AVOCA TO 5 MILES SOUTH OF SYRACUSE TO TECUMSEH...AND MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO OCCUR. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE... AVOCA... WEEPING WATER... TECUMSEH... COOK... NEHAWKA... TALMAGE... UNION... JOHNSON... MURRAY... NEBRASKA CITY... AUBURN... OTOE... DUNBAR... LORTON VILLAGE... BROCK... JULIAN... CHERMOK
The radar
The Omaha radar (KOAX), 76 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:55 UTC.
Event by event
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Otoe
- When
- July 23, 4:35 PM CST
- Where
- Otoe County, 0.87 mi NE of Nebraska City Arpt
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- AWOS
- Coordinates
- 40.680, -95.860
The Awos at Nebraska City measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 69 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind, Cass
- When
- July 23, 4:45 PM CST
- Where
- Cass County, 0.87 mi SE of Plattsmouth
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 41.010, -95.890
Tree damage was observed with thunderstorm wind gusts that were in excess of 60 mph.
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Lightning Strike in Michigan, July 23, 2011
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, July 23 to 25, 2011
- Flash Flooding and Hail in North Dakota, July 23, 2011
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Illinois, July 23 to 24, 2011
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Massachusetts, July 23, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, July 23, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Ohio, July 23, 2011
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Arkansas, July 23 to 25, 2011
- Damaging Winds in Iowa, July 23, 2011
- Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Iowa, July 23, 2011
- Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 23, 2011
- Flash Flood in West Virginia, July 23, 2011
More
Every storm in Nebraska in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, July 2011
Sources
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: 314601, 314600, 314599.