Thunderstorms developed near a stationary front in northern Nebraska early in the afternoon of August 1. The storms intensified and moved southeast through the evening and the strongest storms remained in Nebraska.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 near a stationary front in northern Nebraska early in the afternoon of August 1. The storms intensified and moved southeast through the evening and the strongest storms remained in Nebraska. However, in response to the thunderstorms to the east, strong gradient winds spread over southwest Iowa causing at least one strong wind gust.
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 Aug 1, 2:20 PM CST, 6 hours 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 320 PM CDT THU AUG 1 2013 .DISCUSSION... ACTIVE WEATHER EXPECTED THIS EVENING AS A MATURE MCS ACROSS NORTHERN NEBRASKA SHOULD ROLL EAST SOUTHEAST. SEVERE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AND NORTHWEST IOWA...AND A TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. HOP WRF AND RAP SEEM TO HAVE THE BEST HANDLE ON DEVELOPING CONVECTION... THUS WILL HAVE HIGH POPS THIS EVENING WITH A SEVERE THREAT. HAVE ISSUED A COUPLE OF SEVERE WARNINGS IN EXTREME NORTHEAST NEBRASKA... BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY HAIL REPORTS BIGGER THAN DIME TO NICKEL SIZE. EFFECTIVE SHEAR REMAINS QUITE HIGH AT 50 TO 60 KNOTS...BUT MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE SLIGHTLY MARGINAL. WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO MONITOR TRENDS AND ISSUE WARNINGS AS NECESSARY FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WITHIN THE STRONGEST CORES...AND MAY HAVE TO EVENTUALLY EXTEND THE WATCH FURTHER EAST/SOUTHEAST TOWARD THE I80 CORRIDOR IN TIME. THE BACK EDGE OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL PROBABLY STILL BE IN THE AREA FRIDAY MORNING MOVING OUT OF SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA. THE AFTERNOON MAY BE MOSTLY DRY...ALTHOUGH THERE DOES APPEAR TO BE ANOTHER WEAK SURGE OF MOISTURE MOVING SOUTH...WHICH COULD BRING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF STORMS FRIDAY NIGHT. BY SATURDAY...HIGH PRESSURE NOSING SOUTH OUT OF THE DAKOTAS SHOULD KEEP SATURDAY DRY AND SLIGHTLY COOLER. THIS NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BECOMES EAST SATURDAY NIGHT. AT THE SAME TIME...THERE IS ANOTHER WAVE MOVING OUT OF THE ROCKIES...SO IT WILL BE A BATTLE OF HOW FAR EAST THIS SYSTEM CAN GET BY DAYBREAK SUNDAY...VERSUS THE DRY EASTERLY FLOW WITH HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS THE MID MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY. CHANCES SHOULD SPREAD ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA SUNDAY THOUGH...BUT MAY STILL STRUGGLE TO MOVE INTO WESTERN IOWA. WAVE COULD MOSTLY BE EAST SOUTHEAST OF THE AREA SO SHOULD BE MOSTLY DRY SUNDAY NIGHT. FOR THE EXTENDED FORECAST...THE REGION REMAINS IN PESKY NORTHWEST FLOW. FORECAST CHALLENGES REMAIN TRYING TO TIME WEAK WAVES INTO THE AREA...THUS OVERALL FORECAST CONFIDENCE REMAINS LOW. TOWARD THE END OF THE PERIOD...ANOTHER FRONT SETTLING SOUTH COULD BRING SOME COOLER TEMPS TO THE REGION BY THURSDAY...BUT COULD ALSO SHUNT ANY PRECIP THREAT OUT OF THE AREA AS WELL. DEWALD && .AVIATION...18Z TAFS FOR KOFK...KOMA AND KLNK. SCATTERED TSTMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE REGION...POSSIBLY HITTING TAF SITES LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING HOURS. CONDITIONS SHOULD REMAIN VFR FOR THE MOST PART...HOWEVER SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD CONTAIN LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS AND MVFR TO IFR CONDITIONS. KERN && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. IA...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 421 PM CDT THU AUG 1 2013 IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034- 042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-021130- MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT- PAGE-KNOX-CEDAR-THURSTON-ANTELOPE-PIERCE-WAYNE-BOONE-MADISON- STANTON-CUMING-BURT-PLATTE-COLFAX-DODGE-WASHINGTON-BUTLER- SAUNDERS-DOUGLAS-SARPY-SEWARD-LANCASTER-CASS-OTOE-SALINE- JEFFERSON-GAGE-JOHNSON-NEMAHA-PAWNEE-RICHARDSON- 421 PM CDT THU AUG 1 2013 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 FRIDAY THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING AND SPREAD SOUTH THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS...HOWEVER LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE. THUNDERSTORMS MAY LINGER INTO FRIDAY MORNING AND THEN REDEVELOP AGAIN FRIDAY AFTERNOON. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE FRIDAY AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF STORMS ON FRIDAY EVENING IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AREA LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...PERHAPS LINGERING INTO SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED THIS EVENING. KERN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA 844 PM CDT THU AUG 1 2013 NEZ066-068-089-090-020215- JOHNSON NE-GAGE NE-OTOE NE-LANCASTER NE- 844 PM CDT THU AUG 1 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN JOHNSON... NORTHEASTERN GAGE...SOUTHWESTERN OTOE AND SOUTHEASTERN LANCASTER COUNTIES UNTIL 915 PM CDT... AT 841 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR FIRTH...OR 18 MILES SOUTH OF LINCOLN... MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... HICKMAN...FIRTH...STERLING...ADAMS...CORTLAND...PANAMA AND ROCA. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR CENTRAL NEBRASKA. LAT...LON 4054 9675 4068 9666 4053 9629 4031 9654 TIME...MOT...LOC 0141Z 326DEG 28KT 4055 9661 BOUSTEAD
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
854 PM CDT THU AUG 01 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0854 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 E GARLAND 40.94N 96.93W
08/01/2013 M1.80 INCH SEWARD NE EMERGENCY MNGR
&&
VDEWALDSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
857 PM CDT THU AUG 1 2013
NEZ078-088-089-020230-
JEFFERSON NE-GAGE NE-SALINE NE-
857 PM CDT THU AUG 1 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR JEFFERSON...GAGE AND SOUTHERN
SALINE COUNTIES UNTIL 930 PM CDT...
AT 855 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM HALLAM TO DE
WITT TO 6 MILES EAST OF OHIOWA...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 21
MILES SOUTH OF LINCOLN TO 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF BEATRICE TO 35 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF YORK...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BEATRICE...DE WITT...PLYMOUTH...WESTERN...CLATONIA...PICKRELL...
DAYKIN...FILLEY...TOBIAS...JANSEN...SWANTON...VIRGINIA AND HARBINE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM CDT
FRIDAY MORNING FOR CENTRAL NEBRASKA.
LAT...LON 4038 9737 4047 9737 4040 9701 4053 9683
4052 9677 4039 9646 4015 9647 4013 9710
TIME...MOT...LOC 0155Z 297DEG 41KT 4052 9676 4038 9694 4040 9733
BOUSTEADPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
858 PM CDT THU AUG 01 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0540 PM TSTM WND DMG LEIGH 41.70N 97.24W
08/01/2013 COLFAX NE PUBLIC
SEVERAL POWER POLES DOWN. SIGNIFCANT TREE DAMAGE. TREE
FELL ONTO HOME THROUGH ROOF. OBTAINED THROUGH SOCIAL
MEDIA.
&&
VDEWALDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
951 PM CDT THU AUG 01 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0855 PM TSTM WND DMG SWANTON 40.38N 97.08W
08/01/2013 SALINE NE EMERGENCY MNGR
EM REPORTS HALF THE TOWN WITHOUT POWER AND SEVERAL LARGE
TREES ACROSS STREETS.
&&
BOUSTEADPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
952 PM CDT THU AUG 01 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0950 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 E MILLIGAN 40.50N 97.37W
08/01/2013 M3.09 INCH SALINE NE EMERGENCY MNGR
0950 PM HEAVY RAIN 6 SW WILBER 40.42N 97.04W
08/01/2013 M3.45 INCH SALINE NE EMERGENCY MNGR
0950 PM HEAVY RAIN SWANTON 40.38N 97.08W
08/01/2013 M2.90 INCH SALINE NE EMERGENCY MNGR
&&
VDEWALDThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong gradient winds spread over parts of southwest Iowa in response to thunderstorms over southeast Nebraska. A wind gust of 67 mph was measured by the Awos in Red Oak.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, August 2013
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: 457569.