Thunderstorms develop late in the evening of July 17 in response to the nocturnal strengthening of the low-level jet over a stalled frontal boundary over southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Although the majority of these thunderstorms were strong, only isolated reports of severe weather were observed mainly in the form of strong 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 develop late in the evening of July 17 in response to the nocturnal strengthening of the low-level jet over a stalled frontal boundary over southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Although the majority of these thunderstorms were strong, only isolated reports of severe weather were observed mainly in the form of strong winds. In addition to the severe weather, the orientation of the thunderstorms from northwest to southeast resulted in repeated or training of the storms and heavy rainfall.
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 17, 10:37 PM CST, 28 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 1137 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016 .SHORT TERM...(tonight through Wednesday) Issued at 312 PM CDT Sun Jul 17 2016 Early afternoon water vapor imagery and 12z upper-air analysis indicate a short-wave trough embedded within a quasi-zonal flow regime over the upper Great Lakes with a weaker upstream perturbation along the Nebraska-Kansas border. At the surface, a weak cold front stretched along a line from south of KSUX to south of KBVN as of 18z with this boundary expected to stall across southwest Iowa and southeast Nebraska tonight. An area of elevated thunderstorms is ongoing this afternoon over southeast Nebraska with this activity likely being forced by DCVA attendant to the upstream disturbance mentioned above. Latest convection-allowing model guidance suggests that this convective regime could persist into this evening across portions of southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Meanwhile along the cold front, confidence remains low that surface-based storm development will occur. On the condition that storms can become rooted in the boundary-layer, ample instability and vertical shear are present to support an isolated severe weather threat. Tonight, strengthening low-level warm advection atop the shallow frontal surface may foster isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms from portions of east-central Nebraska into western Iowa. Some of this activity could linger into Monday morning before dissipating or shifting to the southeast. Some patchy fog could also develop on the immediate cool side of the stalled front late tonight into early Monday. Mid-level heights will begin to rise in earnest Monday over the north-central U.S. into south-central Canada, between troughs over the northeast Pacific and eastern Canada. An embedded short-wave trough originating near the Four Corners Monday morning will crest the building ridge axis over South Dakota and northern Nebraska Monday night before weakening to our east on Tuesday. The dynamic response to this upper-air system will augment the nocturnal LLJ, which in turn will contribute to the development of elevated storms Monday night with the best precipitation chances across the northern half of the CWA. Tuesday into Wednesday, mid-level heights continue to rise with a warmer low-level air mass initially over the High Plains migrating northeast into the mid Missouri Valley. High temperatures in the 90s coupled with dewpoints in the mid 60s to lower 70s will yield afternoon heat indices of around 100F on Tuesday and 105-107F on Wednesday. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Sunday) Issued at 312 PM CDT Sun Jul 17 2016 12z medium-range guidance continues to indicate that the central U.S. ridge will be maintained through Thursday before mid-level heights are suppressed by a series of short-wave troughs translating through the north-central states. The seasonably warm temperatures will continue through Thursday into Friday with highs in the mid 90s to around 100 and heat indices of 105-110F. Given these expected conditions, we will have to consider a heat advisory or excessive heat warning leading up to Wednesday. Of note, existing record high temperatures will likely not be challenged during this upcoming week. A cold front will move into the area Friday night, ushering in a slightly cooler air mass, at least for the northern part of our area. This boundary will linger over the mid Missouri Valley through next weekend, supporting a low-probability chance of thunderstorms. && .AVIATION...(06Z TAFS for KOMA...KLNK...KOFK through 06Z Tuesday) Issued at 1136 PM CDT Sun Jul 17 2016 Scattered showers and thunderstorms will make their way through the region tonight. The majority of this precipitation should remain south of KOFK and east of KLNK. KOMA could see a few storms very early on in the TAF period. Light winds along with plenty of moisture could lead to reduced visibilities, mainly at KOFK Monday morning. By Monday afternoon VFR conditions will prevail and winds will become southeasterly and increase slightly. && .OAX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NE...None. IA...None. && SHORT TERM...Mead LONG TERM...Mead AVIATION...KG
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 1132 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016 IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ034-044-045-050>053-065>068- 078-088>093-181845- MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT- PAGE-BURT-DODGE-WASHINGTON-BUTLER-SAUNDERS-DOUGLAS-SARPY-SEWARD- LANCASTER-CASS-OTOE-SALINE-JEFFERSON-GAGE-JOHNSON-NEMAHA-PAWNEE- RICHARDSON- 1132 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST IOWA...WEST CENTRAL IOWA...EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND MONDAY THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING...MAINLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM COLUMBUS TO ONAWA. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO SEVERE...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN HAZARDS. HEAVY RAINFALL ALSO WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH STORMS TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING. OTHERWISE...HOT AND HUMID WEATHER IS EXPECTED BY MID TO LATE WEEK WITH AFTERNOON HEAT INDEX VALUES RISING INTO THE 100S IN MANY AREAS. THURSDAY HEAT INDEX VALUES DURING THE AFTERNOON COULD RANGE 105 TO 110. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TONIGHT OR MONDAY. NEZ011-012-015>018-030>033-042-043-181845- KNOX-CEDAR-THURSTON-ANTELOPE-PIERCE-WAYNE-BOONE-MADISON-STANTON- CUMING-PLATTE-COLFAX- 1132 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST NEBRASKA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND MONDAY HO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING. OTHERWISE...HOT AND HUMID WEATHER IS EXPECTED BY MID TO LATE WEEK WITH AFTERNOON HEAT INDEX VALUES RISING INTO THE 100S IN MANY AREAS. THURSDAY HEAT INDEX VALUES DURING THE AFTERNOON COULD RANGE 105 TO 110. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TONIGHT OR MONDAY. MAYES
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1115 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016
IAZ091-180445-
PAGE IA-
1115 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN PAGE COUNTY UNTIL 1145
PM CDT...
AT 1115 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
NEAR BLANCHARD...OR 13 MILES NORTHEAST OF TARKIO...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 20 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CLARINDA...COIN...COLLEGE SPRINGS...SHAMBAUGH...BRADDYVILLE...
YORKTOWN...NORTHBORO AND BLANCHARD.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 4058 9533 4062 9537 4080 9519 4081 9493
4073 9493 4073 9491 4057 9492
TIME...MOT...LOC 0415Z 232DEG 19KT 4061 9524
MAYESSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1142 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016
IAZ055-069-NEZ045-180515-
HARRISON IA-POTTAWATTAMIE IA-WASHINGTON NE-
1142 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL HARRISON...
NORTHWESTERN POTTAWATTAMIE...NORTHEASTERN DOUGLAS AND SOUTHEASTERN
WASHINGTON COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 AM CDT...
AT 1142 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4
MILES EAST OF FORT CALHOUN...OR 13 MILES NORTH OF OMAHA...MOVING EAST
AT 20 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MISSOURI VALLEY...FORT CALHOUN...
WILSON ISLAND STATE PARK AND HITCHCOCK NATURE CENTER.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
HIGHWAY 75 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 102 AND 108.
INTERSTATE 29 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 63 AND 74.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 4142 9572 4137 9593 4139 9594 4139 9601
4148 9604 4159 9582 4157 9575 4147 9567
TIME...MOT...LOC 0442Z 253DEG 17KT 4145 9594
MAYESSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1146 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016
IAZ091-180515-
PAGE IA-
1146 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN PAGE COUNTY UNTIL
1215 AM CDT...
AT 1146 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4
MILES NORTHWEST OF BRADDYVILLE...OR 19 MILES NORTHEAST OF TARKIO...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CLARINDA...COLLEGE SPRINGS...SHAMBAUGH...BRADDYVILLE AND YORKTOWN.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 4058 9519 4072 9524 4083 9493 4073 9493
4073 9491 4057 9492
TIME...MOT...LOC 0446Z 239DEG 22KT 4063 9510
MAYESSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1154 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016
IAZ091-180530-
PAGE IA-
1154 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL PAGE COUNTY UNTIL 1230 AM
CDT...
AT 1154 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6
MILES NORTH OF COIN...OR 22 MILES NORTH OF TARKIO...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 25 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CLARINDA...YORKTOWN AND HEPBURN.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 4067 9526 4076 9532 4090 9510 4090 9493
4073 9493
TIME...MOT...LOC 0454Z 239DEG 22KT 4075 9522
MAYESSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1203 AM CDT MON JUL 18 2016
NEZ053-180530-
SARPY NE-
1203 AM CDT MON JUL 18 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN CASS...SARPY AND
SOUTHEASTERN SAUNDERS COUNTIES UNTIL 1230 AM CDT...
AT 1202 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4
MILES SOUTH OF GRETNA...OR 17 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OMAHA...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BELLEVUE...PAPILLION...LA VISTA...GRETNA...SPRINGFIELD...
CEDAR CREEK...OFFUTT AFB...KOA CAMPGROUND AND CHALCO.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 430 AND
444.
LAT...LON 4100 9620 4109 9633 4111 9632 4112 9631
4112 9632 4119 9629 4119 9605 4113 9593
TIME...MOT...LOC 0502Z 207DEG 19KT 4107 9624
DEWALDSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA 1204 AM CDT MON JUL 18 2016 IAZ069-180530- POTTAWATTAMIE IA- 1204 AM CDT MON JUL 18 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY UNTIL 1230 AM CDT... AT 1204 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF UNDERWOOD...OR 23 MILES EAST OF OMAHA...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... NORTHEASTERN COUNCIL BLUFFS...OAKLAND...AVOCA...TREYNOR... UNDERWOOD...CARSON...MINDEN...NEOLA...CRESCENT...HANCOCK... MCCLELLAND...ARROWHEAD PARK... BOTNA BEND PARK AND HITCHCOCK NATURE CENTER. THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS... HIGHWAY 59 IN IOWA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 48 AND 64. INTERSTATE 80 IN IOWA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 8 AND 23...AND NEAR MILE MARKER 43. LAT...LON 4122 9582 4144 9587 4150 9528 4124 9521 TIME...MOT...LOC 0504Z 262DEG 20KT 4135 9558 DEWALD
The Omaha radar (KOAX), 33 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:04 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Images received from social media indicate numerous tree branches, some 6 to 9 inches in diameter, downed in the city of Papillion.
Social media images showed tree and power line damage in the city of Omaha near 45th and H street.
A trained spotter estimated winds to near 60 mph. There was also 6 to 8 inch tree branches knocked down.
Local law enforcement reported that Highways 275 and 91 were closed due to flooding. Nebraska department of roads camera network showed extensive flooding in the area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, July 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: 643921, 643922, 643920, 643925.