The weather on Christmas 2016 was so significant and unusual that it's probably a safe bet to categorize it as once in a lifetime Christmas weather for this 24-county South Central Nebraska area. While past Christmases (such as 2009) are remembered for more traditional significant winter weather such as heavy snow/blizzards, this one will go down in the record books for spring-like severe…
Every event with a place to put it; 21 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 GID wrote it up.
The weather on Christmas 2016 was so significant and unusual that it's probably a safe bet to categorize it as once in a lifetime Christmas weather for this 24-county South Central Nebraska area. While past Christmases (such as 2009) are remembered for more traditional significant winter weather such as heavy snow/blizzards, this one will go down in the record books for spring-like severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and the first three December tornadoes in Nebraska since 1975, followed by an intense damaging wind event during the evening hours featuring sustained values of 30-50 MPH and peak gusts generally 55-75 MPH. All things considered, the evening high winds were actually more impactful to the area as a whole than the daytime thunderstorms, given that fierce speeds persisted as long as two to three hours in most locations. These winds resulted in widespread, mainly minor damage to trees, power lines (promoting several power outages) and some structures, and also flipped over numerous irrigation pivots. In reality, the official convective and non-convective storm/damage reports documented here only capture a portion of all significant weather/damages observed within South Central Nebraska.
Focusing more detail on the thunderstorms and tornadoes, the culprit was a narrow, strongly forced squall line that steadily advanced across the entire local area from west-southwest to east-northeast. Timing-wise, this was a fairly early show as convection first entered far southwestern local counties such as Furnas/Gosper between 10:30-11:30 AM, swept through central areas including the Tri Cities between 12 PM and 1:30 PM and eventually exited far northeastern counties such as Polk/Nance between 2-3 PM. While most locations experienced sub-severe winds up to around 50 MPH, brief heavy rain and perhaps small hail with the passage of these storms, there were several transient small-scale bowing segments and circulations embedded within the line, resulting in pockets of damaging winds and three confirmed, short-track tornadoes. These tornadoes (two rated EF-0, one EF-1) all occurred between 11:45 AM-12:30 PM and lasted only a few minutes. The first tornado, near Funk, destroyed several large power poles. The second tornado produced minor damage at a farm southeast of Minden, and the third destroyed an outbuilding at Blue Sky Estates northwest of Gibbon. A few of the most significant damage reports not directly attributed to tornadic circulations included: construction trailers blown over and a barn destroyed on the west side of Kearney; and machine shed and tree damage southeast of Bruning.
Even though the day had already featured highly-unusual and locally-damaging Christmas weather, for many places the worst was yet to come in the form of the widespread evening damaging wind event, which largely unfolded under clear skies due to strong subsidence on the backside of an intense low pressure system. At nearly any given affected location, there were at least a few peak gusts of 60-75 MPH from the west-southwest, along with two to perhaps three hours of sustained speeds 30-50 MPH. Timing-wise, high winds rapidly overspread most of South Central Nebraska from southwest-to-northeast, with severe-criteria gusts first measured in counties such as Furnas/Harlan shortly after 5 PM, central locations such as Grand Island/Hastings between 6-7 PM and far northern counties such as Valley by 8 PM. Finally, between 9:30 and 10:30 PM, winds eased below High Wind Warning criteria for the night. Based on dozens of reports from automated sensors, only the southeastern fringe of South Central Nebraska (generally southeast of a Red Cloud-Geneva line) was spared widespread damaging winds. Meanwhile, across the rest of the area, just a sampling of peak measured wind gusts included: 76 MPH at Aurora airport, 75 MPH at Grand Island airport and near Oxford, 73 MPH near Franklin, 72 MPH in Osceola and 71 MPH at the NWS office in Hastings. Needless to say, these evening winds resulted in fairly widespread, mainly minor damage to trees, power lines and some structures, and also flipped over numerous irrigation pivots. Forecast-wise, while gusty winds were anticipated to move in behind the departing low, the ferocity of this event exceeded expectations.
Closing with an examination of the meteorological setup, it certainly was more reminiscent of March or April in South Central Nebraska than late-December. In the mid-upper levels, a powerful, negatively-tilted vorticity maximum deepened over the course of the day as it emerged from the Central Rockies, reaching north central Nebraska by early evening. Just to the southeast of the mid-level low center, a formidable upper jet streak of 120+ knots migrated overhead. At the surface, it was a classic setup for low-topped, severe convection as a deep low pressure system intensified to around 986 millibars in far northeast CO by noon, allowing a warm front to surge northward across South Central Nebraska. Despite considerable cloud cover, temperatures rising into the 50s F and dewpoints climbing into the mid-40s to low-50s F allowed mixed-layer CAPE to reach a few hundred J/kg. Combined with strong deep-layer wind shear of generally 60-80 knots and exceptional low-level shear of 50-60 knots, even this relatively meager instability proved sufficient for damaging winds and brief tornadoes. By early evening, the intense surface low pressure center reached north central Nebraska, placing the local area behind an occluded Pacific cold front and within a zone of deep atmospheric subsidence. In tandem with other factors such as steadily-rising pressures and increased vertical mixing, this allowed very strong west-southwest winds within a few thousand feet of the surface to mix downward, driving the evening damaging wind event.
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 Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 25, 5:40 AM CST, 6 hours 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
540 AM CST Sun Dec 25 2016
.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 345 AM CST Sun Dec 25 2016
The main forecast concerns tonight were the type
of precipitation and how quickly temps will warm this morning,
then the timing of precipitation, and chances for severe storms
this afternoon.
Have kept an eye on the temps warming from north central Kansas
and despite adjusting, still have been a bit slow...temps in KS
warming quicker. However, temps in central Nebraska are staying
cooler longer. Freezing drizzle/rain chances will end before
sunrise in central Nebraska as temps continue to improve across
the area. Overall temperatures will increase, and highs will be
in the 50s across most of the area.
Fog and low stratus streamed westward across the area during the
late evening. Visibilities across a good portion of the area have
improved, but have...at least at this time decided to keep the
dense fog advisory...assessing it again in a couple hours.
Mist and/or drizzle have been present at least in Hastings when
visibilities were at their lowest, and would not be surprised if
it was fairly widespread in similar conditions. Mist/drizzle has
decreased as visibilities have increased. Despite this, have kept
the chances for drizzle through the morning before rain becomes
the more dominant precipitation type towards sunrise. The high
resolution guidance depicts scattered rain showers becoming more
widespread near and after sunrise. Instability is increasing from
south to north as low level moisture streams northward. Thunder is
possible through the morning and early afternoon as upwards of
500-1000 J/KG spread northward across the area by afternoon. By
around 16-18z the development of a line of showers and
thunderstorms is possible along the cold front/dry line from south
central Nebraska south through north central Kansas. Damaging
winds and small hail are the primary threats, but as the triple
point of the warm front/cold front and dryline intersect in and
around north central Kansas/south central Nebraska a tornado or
two cannot be ruled out. Enhanced instability in this area with
the approaching lift support from the main upper wave supports at
least the chance for a low topped supercell that could produce a
tornado. SPC has kept a marginal risk across most of the forecast
area. The risk for severe storms looks end by mid to late
afternoon.
In addition to the thunderstorm chances, strong southerly winds
will impact most of the area throughout the late morning and afternoon.
Sustained speeds of 25 to 35 mph is possible during the day with
gusts to 45 mph. Winds are expected to decrease during the evening
hours.
The the expected line of thunderstorms will move eastward and exit
the area relatively quickly, but with the latest high-res
solutions keeping precip around through 00z, have slowed the
ending of precipitation chances to closer to 00z/6pm.
Skies will be mostly clear, but some clouds that wrap around the
upper low may impact portions of central Nebraska tonight. After
an unseasonably warm day, lows will be closer to seasonal temps
with values in the 20s.
.LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday)
Issued at 345 AM CST Sun Dec 25 2016
Cooler air will push into the forecast area for Monday. The winds
from the northwest will make it feel cooler. By Monday night a
surface high moves through the area and temperatures will drop off
with clear skies and as the winds become lighter. On Tuesday, the
surface high moves to the southeast and winds turn to the south and
there is warm advection. Temperatures will warm back up again. There
is an upper level wave and a cold front that move through the area
Tuesday night into Wednesday. Even with the cold front, the
temperatures should be a bit warmer on Wednesday. Northwest winds
could increase and be breezy on Thursday and temperatures will be a
little cooler.
Thursday night through Saturday there will be a transition from
northwest flow to more zonal as another upper level low moves onto
the west coast and digs into the southwest CONUS. During this period
the temperatures should be mild and weather should be dry.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 12Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 12Z Monday morning)
Issued at 540 AM CST Sun Dec 25 2016
The three main concerns include 1. LIFR conditions due to dense
fog and low ceilings, 2. Thunderstorm chances this morning and
afternoon, and 3. Low level wind shear in addition to strong
surface winds.
The dense fog continues and while at times visibilities may
improve, it has continued to be more dense than not dense. These
low visibilities and ceilings will persist through the morning
hours before improving as the surface front move through the
region this afternoon.
Thunderstorm chances increase from now through the afternoon.
Convection has already begun and while thunder has not been
observed yet, the chances increase from now on. Scattered
convection is likely through the morning hours with a line of
storms moving through the region late this morning, early
afternoon as the front moves through.
Strong sustained southerly surface winds will be present across
the area through much of the day. In addition to the surface winds
being strong, low level wind shear will be high throughout the
day.
By late this afternoon, conditions will improve to MVFR and VFR,
but the strong winds will persist through the end of the forecast
period.
&&
.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...Dense Fog Advisory until noon CST today for NEZ039>041-046>049-
060>064-072>077-082>087.
KS...Dense Fog Advisory until noon CST today for KSZ005>007-017>019.
&&
SHORT TERM...Billings Wright
LONG TERM...JCB
AVIATION...Billings WrightHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE 900 AM CST SUN DEC 25 2016 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 261200- PHILLIPS-SMITH-JEWELL-ROOKS-OSBORNE-MITCHELL-VALLEY-GREELEY-NANCE- SHERMAN-HOWARD-MERRICK-POLK-DAWSON-BUFFALO-HALL-HAMILTON-YORK- GOSPER-PHELPS-KEARNEY-ADAMS-CLAY-FILLMORE-FURNAS-HARLAN-FRANKLIN- WEBSTER-NUCKOLLS-THAYER- 900 AM CST SUN DEC 25 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A DENSE FOG ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL NOON. VISIBILITIES OF A QUARTER MILE OR LESS ARE EXPECTED AT LEAST OFF AND ON THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST DENSE FOG ADVISORY FOR DETAILS. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON ACROSS THE AREA. THE PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH. THE CHANCE OF A TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS AND PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA NEAR THE STATE LINE. STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BE PRESENT FROM MID-MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH GUSTS EXCEEDING 45 MPH POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATE THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. && MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE: HTTPS://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HASTINGS (ALL LOWERCASE) EWALD
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1033 AM CST SUN DEC 25 2016
NEZ072-082-251715-
Gosper NE-Furnas NE-
1033 AM CST SUN DEC 25 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR GOSPER AND FURNAS COUNTIES UNTIL
1115 AM CST...
At 1032 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Lebanon to 8 miles southwest of Norton.
Movement was north at 60 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts OF 45 to 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Cambridge, Arapahoe, Oxford, Bertrand, Elwood, Beaver City, Holbrook,
Edison, Wilsonville, Smithfield, Hendley, Hollinger and Johnson Lake.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Hastings.
&&
LAT...LON 4035 10020 4035 10010 4044 10009 4044 9998
4070 9998 4070 9970 4068 9964 4000 9963
4000 10019
TIME...MOT...LOC 1632Z 184DEG 51KT 4000 10021 3975 9999
NOAA/NWS/MoritzSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1051 AM CST SUN DEC 25 2016
KSZ005-017-NEZ083-251745-
Rooks KS-Phillips KS-Harlan NE-
1051 AM CST SUN DEC 25 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ROOKS...PHILLIPS AND HARLAN
COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 AM CST...
At 1049 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 10 miles northwest of Almena to 6 miles
northeast of Edmond to 7 miles southwest of Palco. Movement was
northeast at 40 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms. Small
hail is also possible.
Locations impacted include...
Phillipsburg, Plainville, Stockton, Alma, Oxford, Logan, Palco,
Stamford, Kirwin, Republican City, Woodston, Long Island, Damar,
Zurich, Huntley and Ragan.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 500 PM CST for
north central Kansas...and south central Nebraska.
LAT...LON 3913 9960 3957 9960 3957 9963 4035 9963
4035 9918 3999 9918 4000 9907 3913 9905
TIME...MOT...LOC 1649Z 241DEG 35KT 3999 9985 3968 9973 3919 9968
NOAA/NWS/MoritzSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1119 AM CST SUN DEC 25 2016
NEZ060-061-072-073-251815-
Gosper NE-Phelps NE-Dawson NE-Buffalo NE-
1119 AM CST SUN DEC 25 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR DAWSON...WESTERN BUFFALO...
EASTERN GOSPER AND PHELPS COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 PM CST...
At 1118 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Cozad to near Atlanta. Movement was northeast
at 45 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up 45 or 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Lexington, Holdrege, Cozad, Elm Creek, Bertrand, Elwood, Overton,
Odessa, Loomis, Amherst, Sumner, Funk, Miller, Atlanta, Eddyville,
Smithfield, Johnson Lake and Willow Island.
This includes Interstate 80 between mile markers 215 and 267.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4105 9917 4035 9918 4035 9966 4084 10010
4105 10020
TIME...MOT...LOC 1718Z 209DEG 39KT 4085 9995 4035 9955
NOAA/NWS/MoritzSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1131 AM CST SUN DEC 25 2016
KSZ006-018-251830-
Osborne KS-Smith KS-
1131 AM CST SUN DEC 25 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR OSBORNE AND SMITH COUNTIES UNTIL
1230 PM CST...
At 1131 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles southeast of Woodruff to 6 miles
northeast of Codell. Movement was east at 55 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Smith Center, Osborne, Downs, Kensington, Natoma, Lebanon, Gaylord,
Portis, Alton, Athol, Harlan, Cedar and Bellaire.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 500 PM CST for
north central Kansas.
LAT...LON 3957 9904 3958 9906 4000 9907 4000 9850
3913 9849 3913 9905
TIME...MOT...LOC 1731Z 263DEG 46KT 3995 9930 3927 9911
NOAA/NWS/MoritzSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Hastings NE 1141 AM CST SUN DEC 25 2016 NEZ061-074-084-251845- Kearney NE-Franklin NE-Buffalo NE- 1141 AM CST SUN DEC 25 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BUFFALO...KEARNEY AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 1245 PM CST... At 1140 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Eddyville to near Harlan County Dam. Movement was northeast at 50 mph. Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms. This includes Interstate 80 between mile markers 268 and 291. Locations impacted include... Kearney, Minden, Gibbon, Ravenna, Shelton, Franklin, Axtell, Hildreth, Wilcox, Campbell, Pleasanton, Riverdale, Upland, Naponee, Bloomington, Riverton, Heartwell, Norman and Poole. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... && LAT...LON 4104 9873 4000 9873 4000 9917 4105 9920 TIME...MOT...LOC 1740Z 244DEG 41KT 4093 9963 4003 9925 NOAA/NWS/Moritz
The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:47 UTC.
21 high wind, 10 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
This tornado touched down just south of the town of Funk. Along its short path, at least 6 power poles and 4 irrigation pivots were damaged. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be 100 MPH.
An overturned center pivot occurred from straight-line winds.
Straight-line thunderstorm winds blew over a center pivot.
Wind gusts estimated to up to 80 MPH caused damage in the Kearney area. Around 10 pine trees were blown down, as were a few irrigation pivots. Construction trailers were blown over near Kearney High School and a barn lean-to was damaged on 46th Avenue.
This tornado briefly touched down in rural portions of Kearney County southeast of Minden. Minor damaged occurred at a farmstead. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be 75 MPH.
Large tree limbs were blown down, along with some overturned pivots.
An old outbuilding had collapsed walls. Nine sections of center pivot were blown over and tin from outbuildings was wrapped around trees.
This tornado started just west of Ravenna Road northwest of Gibbon and upset a couple of irrigation pivots before entering the east end of Blue Sky Estates. One outbuilding was destroyed with debris carried one-quarter mile north-northwest of the site. Aside from the building destroyed, the tornado moved through an area of the subdivision generally void of buildings or trees. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be 85 MPH.
Multiple outbuildings were damaged with major loss of roof panels, and a pivot was overturned.
A center pivot was blown over in 3 sections.
A peak wind gust of 62 MPH was measured by a home station on the north side of town. Small tree limbs were downed.
Damage occurred to an unused barn just north of Hebron.
Part of a machine shed and some trees were damaged at a farmstead near mile marker 113 on Highway 4, east-southeast of Bruning.
The highest wind gust of 68 mph was measured at 5:12 p.m. by a mesonet site 5 miles north-northwest of Oxford. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
The highest wind gust of 75 mph was measured at 5:29 p.m. by a mesonet site 4 miles southeast of Oxford. A wind gust of 60 mph was also recorded six miles east-southeast of Oxford at 5:17 p.m. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
The highest wind gust of 61 mph was measured at 5:55 p.m. by the Holdrege airport AWOS. Other gusts that occurred between 5-6 p.m. included 59 mph measured 8 miles north of Funk and 56 mph measured 6 miles north-northwest of Holdrege and in Loomis. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
The highest wind gust of 65 mph was measured at 5:56 p.m. by a mesonet site 3 miles west of Sumner. Other wind gusts measured during this period included 63 mph three miles west of Lexington and 59 and 62 mph at the Lexington Airport AWOS. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
The highest wind gust of 73 mph was measured at 6:19 p.m. by a mesonet site 2 miles north of Norman. Other wind gusts during this period included 67 mph four miles north-northwest of Hildreth, 60 mph two miles east of Axtell and 57 mph six miles northwest of Minden. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
The highest wind gust of 73 mph was measured at 5:48 p.m. by a mesonet site 2 miles north of Franklin. Other wind gusts included 66 mph at Hildreth, 65 mph seven miles south-southeast of Wilcox and 64 mph three miles south-southwest of Naponee. A 30 to 35 foot tower on top of the four-story court house in Franklin was blown down sometime around 6 p.m. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
The highest wind gust of 70 mph was measured at 5:58 p.m. by a mesonet site in Pleasanton. Other wind gusts included 66 mph at the Kearney airport, 64 mph two miles east-northeast of Kearney, 63 mph seven miles east-northeast of Kearney and 59 mph at Ravenna and two miles east-northeast of Kearney. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
Based on observations from neighboring counties such as Furnas and Dawson, a significant high wind event impacted Gosper County for roughly two hours, likely featuring peak gusts of generally 60-70 MPH and sustained speeds 40-50 MPH.
The highest wind gust of 68 mph was measured at 5:12 p.m. by a mesonet site 5 miles north-northwest of Oxford. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
The highest wind gust of 73 mph was measured at 6:01 p.m. by a mesonet site 1 mile northeast of Juniata. Other wind gusts included 72 mph one mile west-northwest of Hastings, 71 mph at the NWS office four miles north of Hastings, 70 mph three miles south of Hastings, 65 mph two miles southwest of Roseland, 64 mph one mile south of Prosser and 63 mph at the Hastings airport ASOS. These winds resulted in roof and tree damage in portions of Hastings. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
The highest wind gust of 61 mph was measured at 6:26 p.m. by a mesonet site 6 miles south of Glenvil. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
The highest wind gust of 75 mph was measured at 6:35 p.m. by the ASOS at the Grand Island Central Nebraska Regional Airport. Other wind gusts included 65 mph one mile south of Wood River, 63 mph four miles west-southwest of Wood River and 60 mph five miles southwest of Grand Island. Grand Island utilities reported short-term power outages to over 2,300 customers. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
The highest wind gust of 76 mph was measured at 7:15 p.m. by the AWOS at the Aurora airport. A wind gust of 60 mph was measured by a mesonet site 7 miles northeast of Phillips at 6:32 p.m. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
The highest wind gust of 72 mph was measured at 7:32 p.m. by a mesonet site in Osceola. Other wind gusts included 67 mph nine miles west-northwest of Osceola, 65 mph one mile east-northeast of Shelby and 60 mph six miles west of Stromsburg. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
The highest wind gust estimated at 60 mph was reported at 7:00 p.m. by an off-duty NWS employee 6 miles west of St. Paul. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
The highest wind gust of 79 mph was measured at 7:10 p.m. by a mesonet site near the Fillmore County line north of Exeter. A wind gust of 72 mph was measured by a mesonet 4 miles west-southwest of Bradshaw at 7 p.m. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
Wind gusts were estimated to be near 70 mph in Loup City. In Ashton, a large tree fell onto a house and punched a hole in the roof/attic. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
Based on observations from neighboring counties such as Hall and Hamilton, a significant high wind event impacted Merrick County for over two hours, likely featuring peak gusts of generally 60-75 MPH and sustained speeds 40-50 MPH.
Based on observations from nearby counties such as Howard and Polk, a significant high wind event impacted Nance County for over two hours, likely featuring peak gusts of generally 60-75 MPH and sustained speeds 40-50 MPH.
The highest wind gust of 64 mph was measured at 8:03 p.m. by the ASOS at the Ord Airport. The ASOS also recorded a gust of 62 mph at 7:53 p.m. Strong sustained winds around 40 MPH or higher continued for a few hours across the area.
Based on observations from neighboring counties such as Valley and Howard, a significant high wind event impacted Greeley County for over two hours, likely featuring peak gusts of generally 60-70 MPH and sustained speeds 40-50 MPH.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Nebraska, 2016Warnings in Nebraska, December 2016
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: 664993, 668576, 668665, 670372, 670373, 664994, 668666, 668667, 664995, 668577, 668671, 670471, 665611, 665612, 665615, 665618, 665903, 665905, 665908, 665909, 670502, 670638, 673900, 670506, 670509, 670512, 670513, 670518, 670519, 670522, 670523, 670639, 670640, 670524, 670642.