A line of nocturnal thunderstorms moved from northern Nebraska into eastern Nebraska during the morning on July 31st. Although the thunderstorms were generally weakening, a strong storm did produce damage winds in Butler County.
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.
A line of nocturnal thunderstorms moved from northern Nebraska into eastern Nebraska during the morning on July 31st. Although the thunderstorms were generally weakening, a strong storm did produce damage winds in Butler County.
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 31, 5:40 AM CST, 2 hours 28 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 640 AM CDT SUN JUL 31 2016 .SHORT TERM...(today through Tuesday) Issued at 330 AM CDT Sun Jul 31 2016 Early-morning water vapor imagery and 31/00z upper-air analysis indicate a trough over western Canada, downstream ridging over the northern High Plains and a broad, low-amplitude trough over the Great Lakes into mid Mississippi Valley. Despite the building mid-level heights, low-level upslope flow and strengthening warm advection along a nocturnal LLJ have sustained a bowing MCS, which is moving through north-central Nebraska as of 08z. Farther to the south, warm advection is fostering secondary MCS formation over north-central Kansas into south-central Nebraska. Latest short-term model guidance suggests that the former, bowing MCS will gradually decay while continuing east-southeast across the northern half of our CWA this morning. Gusty winds will remain possible along the leading edge of the system cold pool. Meanwhile, the secondary MCS should remain largely in Kansas, though its northern extent could impact some of our southeast Nebraska counties with small hail and gusty winds this morning. Residual effects of clouds and convective outflow will likely have the greatest impacts on our central and eastern counties where we have lowered afternoon highs. Tonight, conditions appear to be coming together for a potential heavy rainfall event over western Iowa. A nocturnally strengthening LLJ will promote the poleward flux of an increasingly moist air mass (i.e. PW values of around two inches), as well as enhancing lift atop a shallow front developing north into the mid Missouri Valley. The setup will favor back-building/training storms and the potential for a narrow swath of heavy rainfall. Some of this convection could linger over our western Iowa counties early Monday before shifting east of the area. Highs should be generally in the mid 80s. Monday night into Tuesday, a mid to upper-level low will pivot northeast through central Canada with an associated surface front settling southeast through the northern Plains into the mid Missouri Valley. This is a departure from previous model runs, which suggested hot conditions areawide on Tuesday. Now, it appears that high temperatures may range from the upper 80s north to mid 90s south, ahead of the front. This boundary will also serve as a focus for isolated to widely scattered storms during that time frame. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Saturday) Issued at 330 AM CDT Sun Jul 31 2016 As mentioned above, it now appears that a front will stall across the area Tuesday into Tuesday night before washing out by Wednesday. A strong short-wave trough will progress from the northern Intermountain Region into south-central Canada by Wednesday night, driving another cold front into the area on Thursday. This boundary will also stall over the region late this upcoming week beneath building heights aloft. As such, we will see a continued chance of showers and thunderstorms with the warmest temperatures around mid week (i.e. lower to mid 90s), with highs then settling back into the 80s by the end of the work week into next weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Monday morning) Issued at 640 AM CDT Sun Jul 31 2016 Thunderstorms, though weakening, are approaching KOFK and should be through the TAF site by 14Z. This complex of storms is expected to weaken as it drifts east, thus not affecting KOMA and KLNK. Winds will gust this afternoon to 20 to 25 knots before diminishing after sunset. MVFR conditions may develop late tonight as the next batch of rainfall moves in. For now confidence on this happening did not warrant mention in the TAF. && .OAX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NE...None. IA...None. && SHORT TERM...Mead LONG TERM...Mead AVIATION...Pearson
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE 535 AM CDT SUN JUL 31 2016 IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034- 042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-010045- 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- 535 AM CDT SUN JUL 31 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST IOWA...WEST CENTRAL IOWA...EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA...NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED STORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THIS MORNING WITH GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING POSSIBLE. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TONIGHT...MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF THE MISSOURI RIVER. HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A CHANCE OF MAINLY NIGHTTIME THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST DURING THE EARLY TO MIDDLE PART OF THE UPCOMING WEEK. DAYTIME TEMPERATURES WILL WARM THROUGH THE 80S INTO THE 90S WITH HEAT INDICES NEAR OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE 100 DEGREES MONDAY INTO THURSDAY. A COOL FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA LATE IN THE WEEK...BRINGING AN INCREASED CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AND SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPERATURES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY OR TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA 522 AM CDT SUN JUL 31 2016 NEZ016-030-311045- ANTELOPE NE-BOONE NE- 522 AM CDT SUN JUL 31 2016 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... AT 521 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CLEARWATER...OR 28 MILES SOUTHEAST OF O'NEILL... MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... NELIGH...ELGIN...CLEARWATER AND OAKDALE. THIS INCLUDES HIGHWAY 275 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 25 AND 48. LAT...LON 4189 9829 4222 9829 4221 9792 4189 9794 TIME...MOT...LOC 1021Z 278DEG 29KT 4210 9836 MEAD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA 555 AM CDT SUN JUL 31 2016 NEZ016-030-311145- ANTELOPE NE-BOONE NE- 555 AM CDT SUN JUL 31 2016 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... AT 554 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 12 MILES EAST OF BARTLETT...OR 37 MILES NORTHEAST OF ORD...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... PETERSBURG...PRIMROSE AND LORETTO. LAT...LON 4154 9829 4197 9829 4196 9801 4158 9810 TIME...MOT...LOC 1054Z 281DEG 19KT 4190 9831 MEAD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
643 AM CDT SUN JUL 31 2016
NEZ016-030>033-042-043-050-311230-
COLFAX NE-ANTELOPE NE-PLATTE NE-BUTLER NE-STANTON NE-BOONE NE-
MADISON NE-CUMING NE-
643 AM CDT SUN JUL 31 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL BUTLER...STANTON...
PLATTE...WEST CENTRAL CUMING...MADISON...SOUTHEASTERN BOONE...
NORTHWESTERN COLFAX AND SOUTHEASTERN ANTELOPE COUNTIES UNTIL 730 AM
CDT...
AT 642 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR BATTLE CREEK TO NEAR ALBION TO 5 MILES
NORTHEAST OF WOLBACH. MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
NORFOLK...COLUMBUS...MADISON...ALBION...STANTON...BATTLE CREEK...
NEWMAN GROVE...ST. EDWARD...CLARKSON...LEIGH...CEDAR RAPIDS...
DUNCAN...PLATTE CENTER...MONROE...LINDSAY...CRESTON...HUMPHREY...
RICHLAND...TARNOV AND CORNLEA.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
HIGHWAY 275 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 61 AND 81.
HIGHWAY 30 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 366 AND 387.
HIGHWAY 81 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILEMARKERS 110 AND 157.
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 4208 9766 4196 9692 4149 9714 4130 9737
4140 9737 4133 9759 4139 9760 4139 9770
4152 9771 4153 9788 4151 9789 4151 9804
4148 9810 4148 9829 4155 9829
TIME...MOT...LOC 1142Z 297DEG 18KT 4199 9765 4167 9800 4147 9833
PEARSONSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
727 AM CDT SUN JUL 31 2016
NEZ030>032-042-043-311330-
COLFAX NE-PLATTE NE-STANTON NE-BOONE NE-MADISON NE-
727 AM CDT SUN JUL 31 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STANTON...PLATTE...MADISON...
SOUTHEASTERN BOONE AND NORTHWESTERN COLFAX COUNTIES UNTIL 830 AM
CDT...
AT 727 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4
MILES WEST OF CRESTON...OR 18 MILES NORTH OF COLUMBUS...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
NORFOLK...COLUMBUS...MADISON...STANTON...BATTLE CREEK...
NEWMAN GROVE...ST.
EDWARD...CLARKSON...LEIGH...PILGER...DUNCAN...PLATTE CENTER...MONROE...
LINDSAY...CRESTON...HUMPHREY...TARNOV...CORNLEA...THE HIGHWAY 15 AND 32
JUNCTION AND 8 MILES SOUTH OF STANTON.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
HIGHWAY 275 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 67 AND 93.
HIGHWAY 30 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 369 AND 381.
HIGHWAY 81 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILEMARKERS 110 AND 157.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 4208 9759 4204 9705 4159 9703 4138 9741
4136 9753 4138 9760 4139 9760 4139 9763
4142 9770 4152 9771 4153 9788 4151 9789
4151 9792
TIME...MOT...LOC 1227Z 292DEG 26KT 4169 9745
PEARSONSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
827 AM CDT SUN JUL 31 2016
NEZ042>044-050-065-078-311415-
DODGE NE-COLFAX NE-PLATTE NE-SEWARD NE-BUTLER NE-SALINE NE-
827 AM CDT SUN JUL 31 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BUTLER...WEST CENTRAL DODGE...
SOUTHEASTERN PLATTE...SEWARD...NORTHWESTERN SALINE AND COLFAX
COUNTIES UNTIL 915 AM CDT...
AT 827 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTH OF COLUMBUS TO 6 MILES NORTH OF
EXETER. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 25 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
COLUMBUS...SEWARD...SCHUYLER...DAVID CITY...MILFORD...UTICA...
BELLWOOD...BEAVER CROSSING...RISING CITY...BRAINARD...STAPLEHURST...
GARLAND...PLEASANT DALE...DWIGHT...BEE...ULYSSES...GOEHNER...
CORDOVA...OCTAVIA AND BRUNO.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
HIGHWAY 30 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 375 AND 402.
HIGHWAY 81 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILEMARKERS 110 AND 116.
HIGHWAY 92 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 409 AND 430.
INTERSTATE 80 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 366 AND 388.
LAT...LON 4162 9742 4165 9690 4070 9693 4068 9737
4140 9737 4137 9745
TIME...MOT...LOC 1327Z 268DEG 20KT 4151 9733 4074 9746
MILLERThe Omaha radar (KOAX), 55 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:07 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree branches, some 6 to 8 inches in diameter were downed at the high school.
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: 643960.