Thunderstorms developed along and behind a cold front in northeast Nebraska late in the evening of August 31. The front was driven southeast by a relatively strong upper level trough dropping out of Canada toward the Great Lakes region.
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 along and behind a cold front in northeast Nebraska late in the evening of August 31. The front was driven southeast by a relatively strong upper level trough dropping out of Canada toward the Great Lakes region. Other thunderstorms developed in the early morning hours of Sept 1 east of Beatrice. High amounts of instability present allowed a few of the storms to produce isolated wind damage in southeast Nebraska and also from a line that tracked southeast along the Missouri River from northeast Nebraska.
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 31, 10:48 PM CST, 2 hours 57 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 1148 PM CDT SAT AUG 31 2013 .AVIATION... 06Z TAFS FOR KOFK...KOMA AND KLNK. TIMING OF COLD FRONT PUSHING THROUGH ERN NEBRASKA WAS A LITTLE SLOWER THAN THOUGHT WITH 00Z ISSUANCE AND WIND FORECAST WAS ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY. ALSO WITH CONVECTION DEVELOPING SW INTO NERN NEBR TO THE NORTH OF KOFK...A TEMPO TSTM GROUP WAS MENTIONED AT KOFK TO BEGIN TAF PERIOD. WHETHER OR NOT ACTIVITY CAN MAINTAIN ITSELF FARTHER SE TOWARD KOMA AND KLNK WAS LESS CERTAIN. HOWEVER...TRENDS WILL BE MONITORED AND POSSIBLE TAF AMENDMENTS MAY BE NEEDED THROUGH 09-11Z AFTER WHICH ANY ACTIVITY SHOULD BE SE OF TAF SITES. AFTER THAT VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL AT SITES. CHERMOK .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 303 PM CDT SAT AUG 31 2013/ SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. SHORTWAVE MOVING INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS SHOULD DRIVE A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE AREA TONIGHT. MID LEVEL TEMPS REMAIN QUITE WARM IN THE LOWER TO MID TEENS...BUT FORCING MAY BE STRONG ENOUGH TO OVERCOME THIS. PREVIOUS FORECASTS HAVE MAINTAINED 20 TO 40 PERCENT POPS TONIGHT...AND LATEST GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THIS IS STILL REASONABLE... ALTHOUGH THE NAM WAS SUSPICIOUSLY ABSENT OF ALL CONVECTION IN OUR FORECAST AREA AND WOULD LEAVE MOST AREAS DRY. STILL APPEARS THAT THE GREATER THREAT MAY BE NORTH OF I80 THIS EVENING...AND STORM POTENTIAL MAY HOLD OFF ALONG I80 AND POINTS SOUTH UNTIL VERY LATE IN THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. WITH CONTINUE FORWARD PROGRESS OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY...COULD SEE LINGERING SHOWERS ALONG THE KS/NE AND MO/IA BORDER AREAS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. BEYOND TONIGHT...THE REMAINDER OF THE SHORT TERM PERIOD LOOKS VERY PROMISING FOR COOLER...DRIER AND DOWNRIGHT PLEASANT WEATHER. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN BEHIND THE FRONT WILL BRING REFRESHING RELIEF TO THE RECENT HEAT WAVE SUNDAY AND ESPECIALLY LABOR DAY WITH ABUNDANT SUNSHINE. LOWS MONDAY MORNING SHOULD BE MOSTLY IN THE 50 AND HIGHS MONDAY AFTERNOON IN THE LOWER 80S. COULD SEE SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPS TUESDAY MORNING IN THE UPPER 40S IN WESTERN IOWA AS THE RIDGE AXIS PASSES OVERHEAD. SOUTHERLY FLOW RETURNS BY TUESDAY WITH HIGHS BACK INTO THE MID/UPPER 80S WITH DRY WEATHER. LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. A WEAK WAVE MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHERN PLAINS SHOULD DRIVE A COOL FRONT TOWARD THE AREA BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE LATEST GFS DOES NOT PUSH THIS FRONT THROUGH...WHILE CONSECUTIVE RUNS OF THE ECMWF HAVE INDICATED THAT IT COULD MAKE IT AT LEAST INTO PART OF THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT. PREVIOUS FORECAST ALREADY HAD SMALL POPS ALONG/NORTH OF I80 WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND WILL LEAVE THOSE INTACT FOR CONSISTENCY SAKE. OTHERWISE...JUST A VERY BRIEF COOL DOWN ON THURSDAY...AND NOT BY MUCH...WITH TEMPS BACK INTO THE LOWER 90S BY SATURDAY WITH CONTINUED DRY WEATHER. DEWALD && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. IA...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 506 PM CDT SAT AUG 31 2013 IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034- 042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-011215- 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- 506 PM CDT SAT AUG 31 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SUNDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST NEBRASKA THIS EVENING WITH THE RISK SHIFTING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE I80 CORRIDOR LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. IF STORMS DO MANAGE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE REGION...THEY COULD BE SEVERE WITH STRONG WINDS THE PRIMARY HAZARD. ISOLATED LARGE HAIL WOULD ALSO BE POSSIBLE. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE TRACKING INTO NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA WILL DRIVE A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING. THIS COMBINATION COULD BRING SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TO THE REGION. HOWEVER...WARM MID LEVEL TEMPERATURES...A MODEST LOW LEVEL JET AND MARGINAL WIND SHEAR COULD LIMIT THE COVERAGE OR CONCENTRATE IT MORE TOWARD FAR NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AND WEST CENTRAL IOWA. A FEW MOSTLY NON-SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS COULD LINGER ACROSS FAR SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA SUNDAY MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY THERE IS A SMALL CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS ANOTHER DISTURBANCE AND FRONT MOVE ACROSS THE AREA. AT THIS TIME SEVERE WEATHER CHANCES APPEAR LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THERE IS A SMALL CHANCE THAT SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS EVENING...AND THEN GENERALLY NORTH OF COLUMBUS NEBRASKA TO HARLAN IOWA. CHERMOK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1257 AM CDT SUN SEP 1 2013
IAZ043-NEZ015-033-034-010630-
MONONA IA-THURSTON NE-BURT NE-CUMING NE-
1257 AM CDT SUN SEP 1 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN MONONA...THURSTON...
NORTHWESTERN BURT AND NORTHEASTERN CUMING COUNTIES UNTIL 130 AM
CDT...
AT 1253 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR PENDER...OR 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SIOUX
CITY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
PENDER...LYONS...MACY...WALTHILL...WINNEBAGO...DECATUR...BANCROFT...
ROSALIE AND THURSTON.
LAT...LON 4203 9617 4189 9654 4214 9683 4222 9683
4228 9667 4228 9648
TIME...MOT...LOC 0553Z 310DEG 29KT 4218 9666
BOUSTEADSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
133 AM CDT SUN SEP 1 2013
IAZ055-NEZ034-045-010700-
HARRISON IA-WASHINGTON NE-BURT NE-
133 AM CDT SUN SEP 1 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN HARRISON...NORTH
CENTRAL WASHINGTON AND BURT COUNTIES UNTIL 200 AM CDT...
AT 130 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES EAST OF LYONS...OR 41 MILES SOUTH OF
SIOUX CITY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF DIMES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
TEKAMAH...LYONS...MONDAMIN...HERMAN AND LITTLE SIOUX.
LAT...LON 4157 9612 4194 9650 4202 9637 4191 9616
4190 9616 4187 9614 4187 9607 4177 9588
TIME...MOT...LOC 0630Z 311DEG 29KT 4190 9634
MAYESSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
220 AM CDT SUN SEP 1 2013
NEZ044-045-052-010800-
DODGE NE-DOUGLAS NE-WASHINGTON NE-
220 AM CDT SUN SEP 1 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN DODGE...DOUGLAS AND
WASHINGTON COUNTIES UNTIL 300 AM CDT...
AT 216 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ARLINGTON...OR 24 MILES NORTHWEST OF
OMAHA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF DIMES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
OMAHA...RALSTON...ARLINGTON...FORT CALHOUN...KENNARD...BENNINGTON...
BOYS TOWN AND WASHINGTON.
LAT...LON 4128 9590 4130 9590 4130 9593 4123 9591
4119 9593 4120 9613 4151 9650 4164 9634
4142 9593 4137 9593 4135 9596 4132 9592
4132 9589 4129 9587
TIME...MOT...LOC 0716Z 311DEG 29KT 4152 9634
MAYESSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA 223 AM CDT SUN SEP 1 2013 NEZ051-053-066-067-010815- CASS NE-SARPY NE-SAUNDERS NE-LANCASTER NE- 223 AM CDT SUN SEP 1 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CASS...SOUTHERN SARPY...SOUTHERN SAUNDERS AND NORTHEASTERN LANCASTER COUNTIES UNTIL 315 AM CDT... AT 220 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES EAST OF VALPARAISO...OR 17 MILES NORTH OF LINCOLN...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PEAS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... ASHLAND...SPRINGFIELD...WEEPING WATER...LOUISVILLE...GREENWOOD... CEDAR CREEK...MURDOCK...CERESCO...MANLEY...MEMPHIS AND SOUTH BEND. LAT...LON 4104 9684 4118 9677 4108 9602 4082 9611 TIME...MOT...LOC 0720Z 285DEG 29KT 4107 9665 MAYES
The Omaha radar (KOAX), 20 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:43 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at around 75 mph blew an empty grain bin across a road and also destroyed at least one farm outbuilding in the region.
Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at close to 60 mph downed a large branch which blocked a road near 32nd and Modification.
Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 70 mph destroyed a large machine shed which briefly blocked Highway 77. Some tree and power line damage was also reported in the region.
Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at around 60 mph downed numerous large tree branches and limbs in the area.
The Asos at Falls City measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 62 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, September 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: 465983, 465984, 465985, 465986, 465987.