Thunderstorms developed into a squall line and raced across eastern Nebraska during the evening of May 30. The storms were along a cold front that moved across the area during the evening and produced local reports of damaging winds.
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 OAX wrote it up.
Thunderstorms developed into a squall line and raced across eastern Nebraska during the evening of May 30. The storms were along a cold front that moved across the area during the evening and produced local reports of damaging winds.
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 May 30, 3:29 PM CST, 5 hours 41 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 429 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2011 .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. MAIN CONCERN IS SEVERE STORMS DEVELOPING THIS EVENING. HOURLY UPDATES FROM RUC13/HRRR3 INDICATE INGREDIENTS FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE STORM DEVELOPMENT WILL BE IN PLACE AS A STRONG COLD FRONT ADVANCES EAST THRU THE REGION. CURRENT 88D MOSAIC ALREADY SHOWING STORMS HAVE FIRED OVER NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA ALONG THE SFC BNDRY WHICH EXTENDED ABOUT KABR-KTIF-KOGA. SIGNIFICANT UPPER SUPPORT VIA RRQ JET INTENSIFYING 850-250MB DIFFERENTIAL DIVERGENCE...ALONG WITH EXPANDING HGT FALLS ASSOCIATED WITH VORT MAX LIFTING INTO THE NRN PLAINS. VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS SUGGESTING TORNADIC STORMS...0-1KM ML EHI/EFFECTIVE WIND SHEAR AND SRH/MUCAPES/BNDRY LYR- 6KM SHEAR ARE ALL ON THE HIGH SIDE THIS EVENING AND FOCUSED OVER NORTHEAST NEB. THINK THAT STORMS WILL BECOME MORE LINEAR WITH TIME AND APPROACH THE MO RIVER TOWARD MIDNIGHT...THEN SWEEP INTO SOUTHWEST IOWA. AS STORMS EVOLVE DAMAGING STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY WITH DCAPES INCREASING TO AROUND 1200-1400J/KG. OTHERWISE WILL FOR WED/WED NIGHT .LONG TERM...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. ECM/GFS BEEN CONSISTENT ADVERTISING A STAGNANT LARGE SCALE FLOW PATTERN CONSISTING OF A DEEP UPPER TROF OFF THE WEST COAST WHILE A HIGH PRESSURE DOME DOMINATES THE CNTRL/ERN CONUS. NOT SURPRISING THEN THAT LATEST REMOP PRODUCT GIVING RELATIVE HIGH CONFIDENCE FOR THIS. PROBLEM THOUGH IS DIFFERING DETAILS...MAINLY SFC FEATURES BETWEEN THE GFS/ECM...UNCERTAINLY ON WHEN VARIOUS BOUNDARIES WILL PASS THRU THE CNTRL PLAINS...THUS HOW TO HANDLE POTENTIAL PCPN. NO SIGNIFICANT SHORTWAVE TROFS MOVING THRU AND ANTICIPATE DAYTIME CAPPING WILL BE A FACTOR. SO FOR NOW AM INCLINED TO JUST GO WITH SMALL NOCTURNAL POPS WHEN INCREASING LLVL JET MAY BE ENOUGH TO KICK OFF SOME CONVECTION. DEE && .AVIATION... TAF SITES KOFK/KOMA/KLNK 18Z TAFS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG/SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT LATER THIS AFTERNOON FROM CENTRAL NEBRASKA INTO SD. THE STORMS WERE LIKELY TO BE MORE CONCENTRATED INITIALLY IN NERN NEBRASKA THUS THE TEMPO MENTION AT KOFK WITH PROB30S MENTIONED AT KOMA/KLNK. TIMING WAS NOT CHANGED FROM 12Z TAFS BUT TRENDS WILL BE MONITORED FOR ADJUSTMENTS THROUGH EVENING. STRONG SOUTH WINDS WILL PERSIST UNTIL AT LEAST 31/00Z. ALTHOUGH MVFR OR LOWER CIGS/VSBYS WILL ACCOMPANY THUNDERSTORMS...LOW CLOUD CEILINGS WERE NOT EXPECTED BEHIND FRONT AT THIS TIME. CHERMOK && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NEZ011-012- 015>018- 030>034-042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093. IA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR IAZ043-055-056- 069- 079-080-090-091. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 507 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2011 NEZ011-012-016-017-030-031-042-310500- ANTELOPE-BOONE-CEDAR-KNOX-MADISON-PIERCE-PLATTE- 507 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST NEBRASKA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND TUESDAY THERE IS A MODERATE RISK THAT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST NEBRASKA THIS EVENING AS COLD FRONT SWEEPS EAST. MORE SPECIFICALLY...THE THREAT WILL BE MOST PREVALENT ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM ABOUT WYNOT TO COLUMBUS. TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE MAIN HAZARDS. FLOODING OF THE MISSOURI RIVER WILL OCCUR IN PARTS OF KNOX COUNTY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL BE CONFINED TO THE NIGHT TIME PERIODS OVER THE OUTLOOK AREA. FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ON THE MISSOURI RIVER THIS WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTERS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR ACTIVATION THIS EVENING. IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ015-018-032>034-043>045- 050>053-065>068-078-088>093-310500- BURT-BUTLER-CASS-COLFAX-CUMING-DODGE-DOUGLAS-FREMONT IA-GAGE- HARRISON IA-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-LANCASTER-MILLS IA-MONONA IA- MONTGOMERY IA-NEMAHA-OTOE-PAGE IA-PAWNEE-POTTAWATTAMIE IA-RICHARDSON- SALINE-SARPY-SAUNDERS-SEWARD-SHELBY IA-STANTON-THURSTON-WASHINGTON- WAYNE- 507 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST IOWA...WEST CENTRAL IOWA...EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA...NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND TUESDAY A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO PUSH ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA TONIGHT. DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT AS STORMS APPROACH THE MISSOURI RIVER AROUND MIDNIGHT...THEN MOVE INTO SOUTHWEST IOWA. FLOODING OF THE MISSOURI RIVER WILL CONTINUE. THE FLOODING WILL BE MOST PRONOUNCED NEAR AND DOWNSTREAM OF PLATTSMOUTH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL BE CONFINED TO THE NIGHT TIME PERIODS OVER THE OUTLOOK AREA. FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ON THE MISSOURI RIVER THIS WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA 538 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2011 NEZ011-302330- KNOX NE- 538 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THREATENING NORTHWESTERN KNOX COUNTY UNTIL 630 PM CDT... AT 526 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO NORTHERN HOLT COUNTY. SPOTTERS HAVE CONFIRMED A TORNADO WITH THIS STORM...AS WELL AS BASEBALL SIZE HAIL. THE STORM WAS ABOUT 25 MILES WEST OF VERDEL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MPH. THE MOST SEVERE PART OF THIS STORM SHOULD MOVE JUST NORTHWEST OF KNOX COUNTY. HOWEVER...A SLIGHT TURN TO THE EAST WILL PUT NORTHWEST KNOX COUNTY UNDER A THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING LARGE HAIL AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF INCLUDE... NIOBRARA... VERDEL... 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. DERGAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA 655 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2011 NEZ011-310045- KNOX NE- 655 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THREATENING NORTHWESTERN KNOX COUNTY UNTIL 745 PM CDT... AT 652 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM THAT HAS PRODUCED A TORNADO. THIS STORM WAS NORTH OF ONEILL AND WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. A BRIEF TOUCHDOWN OF A TORNADO WAS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM. ALSO GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL IS EXPECTED. NORTHWEST KNOX COUNTY WILL LIKELY SEE THIS STORM BEFORE 730 PM. IF SPOTTERS ARE STILL REPORTING ROTATION WITH THIS STORM...A TORNADO WARNING MAY BE ISSUED. BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF INCLUDE... NIOBRARA... VERDEL... 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. DERGAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA 847 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2011 NEZ016-017-310230- ANTELOPE NE-PIERCE NE- 847 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2011 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR CENTRAL ANTELOPE AND WESTERN PIERCE COUNTIES UNTIL 930 PM CDT... AT 842 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CLEARWATER...OR 49 MILES WEST OF NORFOLK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. WIND GUSTS OVER 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. ALSO...THIS STORM HAS BEEN SHOWING SIGNS OF WEAK ROTATION. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT...SO THOSE IN ANTELOPE COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE COUNTY. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... CLEARWATER... ORCHARD... NELIGH... PLAINVIEW... OSMOND... ROYAL... BRUNSWICK... FOSTER... 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. DERGAN
The Omaha radar (KOAX), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:12 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds that were measured at 65 mph by emergency management uprooted trees at a golf course just south of town and caused tree...building and sign damage in Stanton.
Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at around 70 mph broke power poles and did tree damage along the Platte River north of Bellwood.
Thunderstorm wind gusts of 85 mph were measured by the cooperative observer near Howells.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at over 60 mph uprooted trees near Wisner.
Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated at around 60 mph.
Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at over 60 mph caused tree damage in the Tekamah area.
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, May 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: 296144, 303531, 296145, 296141, 296146, 296142.