Flash Flood and Flood in Nebraska, September 3 to 4, 2016

Name: Flash Flood and Flood in Nebraska, September 3 to 4, 2016
Start: 2016-09-03T17:05
End: 2016-09-04T07:00
Location: Nebraska

September 3 to 4, 2016 · NWS GLD · 5 events in 1 county or zone

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GLD wrote it up.

During the late afternoon and through most of the night strong to severe thunderstorms moved east across Red Willow County. The thunderstorms developed near a surface boundary and moved slowly northeast as they increased in intensity. Large hail up to golf ball size was reported near McCook. The main impact with these storms was the prolonged heavy rainfall that occurred. The majority of the rainfall fell east of Highway 83 between Highways 34 and 89. However McCook was close enough to the long lasting rainfall for flash flooding to occur in town where Highway 83 was closed along with numerous other roads. The water was so deep that cars stalled and were abandoned.

What forecasters said that day

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 Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 3, 1:48 PM CST, 3 hours 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 3, 1:48 PM CST, 3 hours 17 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
148 PM MDT SAT SEP 3 2016

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday)
Issued at 1234 PM MDT Sat Sep 3 2016

Through tonight...Thunderstorms have already developed in eastern
Colorado where there is plenty of sun and little to no cap. These
storms have developed near a surface boundary and in advance of a
strong shortwave trough and upper jet. This development should
continue with increasing coverage through the afternoon into the
evening hours.

Convective allowing guidance has caught on this rather well so
considering the trends and decent agreement increased or maintained
high pops into the evening. Many locations in my southern and
western forecast area received 2 to 6 inches of rainfall last
night with reports of flash and areal flooding being received.
Pwats are 1 to near 1.5 inches, similar to last night. So issued a
Flash Flood Watch, through late tonight, for those counties with a
lot of the model output producing heavy rainfall in the same area,
especially in the southern half of my area. Collaboration with Wpc
increased my confidence as well. So for my entire area I have
moderate to heavy rainfall.

In addition, with moisture, shear, and instability parameters about
the same or better than yesterday, also have inserted severe
wording in the forecast and emphasized this in the hwo. Parameters
in place through this evening that will make large hail and a few
tornadoes possible.

For Sunday...do not have a good feel for this day, and have not
had as much time to look at it. Looks like we will be moist and
unstable again with another shortwave moving in. Looks like slight
chance to low chance pops will suffice for now, but this will have
to be looked at again. Models warmed up tomorrow but will need to
see how tonight goes with areal coverage of rainfall and if there
will be any mesoscale affects from the overnight convection.

.LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday)
Issued at 148 PM MDT Sat Sep 3 2016

Deep upper low will be situated over the northern Rockies Sunday
night and into Monday with a high pressure ridge in place over the
middle Mississippi Valley. Multiple weak troughs will traverse the
CWA as we will be situated within the gradient between these two
features. A theta-e boundary will set up in the central portions of
the CWA and will move back and forth as these troughs traverse the
region. We will see PoPs diminish along the boundary on Sunday night
as instability is lost. Another slgt chc of thunderstorms is in the
forecast for Monday mainly during the afternoon with the boundary
providing a focus for development. Upper level support is a bit weak
thus coverage will be isolated.

The upper low will push eastward on Tuesday and Wednesday and
develop a surface low and associated trough/cold front in the
northern Plains as we head into Thursday. This front will remain
mainly north of the CWA Tuesday with the better thunderstorm chances
remaining north of I-70. The front will slide east on Wednesday with
dry weather expected through Friday.

Above normal high temperatures in the lower 90s prevail on Monday
with near normal temperatures in the 80s on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thursday through Saturday, we will see high temperatures near to
slightly below average with highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s.
Overnight lows will fall into the middle 50s in eastern Colorado to
the lower 70s in the eastern portions of the CWA through tuesday
with with lower 50s to lower 60s Wednesday through Friday.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon)
Issued at 1124 AM MDT Sat Sep 3 2016

Look for MVFR conditions to continue through the afternoon with
perhaps brief periods of VFR. Thunderstorms will form this
afternoon first to the west of KGLD, then expand eastward. The
strongest storms will remain south of KMCK with enough coverage to
include TS for both locations beginning around 03Z. Will update if
TS begins sooner but most high resolution data indicates the 03Z
time frame. Conditions should return to VFR at KMCK during the
evening and overnight as storms exit the region with KGLD
remaining MVFR.

&&

.GLD Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
KS...Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for KSZ013-027>029.

CO...Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for COZ090>092.

NE...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...BULLER
LONG TERM...TL
AVIATION...TL

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 3, 10:40 AM CST, 6 hours 25 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1040 AM MDT SAT SEP 3 2016

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-041200-
YUMA COUNTY-KIT CARSON COUNTY-CHEYENNE COUNTY-CHEYENNE-RAWLINS-
DECATUR-NORTON-SHERMAN-THOMAS-SHERIDAN-GRAHAM-WALLACE-LOGAN-GOVE-
GREELEY-WICHITA-DUNDY-HITCHCOCK-RED WILLOW-
1040 AM MDT SAT SEP 3 2016 /1140 AM CDT SAT SEP 3 2016/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL COLORADO...
EXTREME SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA AND NORTHWEST KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE TRI
STATE AREA AROUND MIDDAY...INCREASING IN COVERAGE THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THREATS INCLUDE LARGE HAIL IN EXCESS OF TWO
INCHES...DAMAGING WINDS...HEAVY RAINFALL...AND A FEW TORNADOES.
IF HEAVY RAINFALL OCCUR AT LOCATIONS THAT RECEIVED HIGH RAINFALL
AMOUNTS LAST NIGHT...FLASH FLOODING WILL OCCUR RAPIDLY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS
OF THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAIN REGION ALMOST EVERY PERIOD THROUGH
WEDNESDAY NIGHT. A FEW THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE
WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE PRIMARY THREATS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 3, 4:40 PM CST, 25 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
540 PM CDT SAT SEP 3 2016

KSZ003-015-032300-
DECATUR KS-SHERIDAN KS-
540 PM CDT SAT SEP 3 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN DECATUR AND
NORTHEASTERN SHERIDAN COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM CDT...

AT 540 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8
MILES SOUTH OF DRESDEN...OR 11 MILES NORTH OF HOXIE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
JENNINGS...DRESDEN AND LEOVILLE.

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.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO
STATIONS AND AVAILABLE TELEVISION STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

LAT...LON 3939 10033 3950 10052 3975 10035 3966 10018
      3957 10018 3957 10016 3952 10016
TIME...MOT...LOC 2240Z 217DEG 20KT 3951 10037

HUSTED

Special weather statement, Sep 3, 4:44 PM CST, 21 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
444 PM MDT SAT SEP 3 2016

COZ091-032300-
KIT CARSON COUNTY CO-
444 PM MDT SAT SEP 3 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN KIT CARSON COUNTY
UNTIL 500 PM MDT...

AT 444 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5
MILES SOUTH OF SEIBERT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SEIBERT AND VONA.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 70 IN COLORADO BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 400 AND
416.

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.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO
STATIONS AND AVAILABLE TELEVISION STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

LAT...LON 3909 10290 3925 10300 3941 10276 3917 10259
TIME...MOT...LOC 2244Z 241DEG 17KT 3921 10287

HUSTED

Special weather statement, Sep 3, 4:49 PM CST, 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
549 PM CDT SAT SEP 3 2016

NEZ081-032300-
RED WILLOW NE-
549 PM CDT SAT SEP 3 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN RED WILLOW COUNTY UNTIL
600 PM CDT...

AT 549 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6
MILES SOUTH OF MCCOOK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MCCOOK.

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.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO
STATIONS AND AVAILABLE TELEVISION STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

LAT...LON 4013 10035 4000 10058 4000 10062 4010 10076
      4012 10076 4032 10060
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 223DEG 15KT 4011 10062

HUSTED

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:05 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail, 1 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Red Willow

When: September 3, 5:05 PM CST
Where: Red Willow County, 2.66 mi S of Mc Cook
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.161, -100.621

Hail, Red Willow

When: September 3, 5:22 PM CST
Where: Red Willow County, 2.66 mi S of Mc Cook
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.161, -100.621

Hail, Red Willow

When: September 3, 5:50 PM CST to 5:56 PM CST
Where: Red Willow County, Mc Cook
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 40.200, -100.620

Flash Flood, Red Willow

When: September 3, 6:30 PM CST to September 4, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Red Willow County, 1.95 mi SE of Perry to 2.74 mi SSE of Mc Cook Culbertson A
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 40.202, -100.692

Prolonged heavy rainfall occurred over Red Willow County, mainly southeast of McCook. Radar estimates of four to ten inches rain fell, with the highest amounts east of Highway 83 between Highways 89 and 34. Highway 83 was closed in McCook due to flood waters causing vehicles to stall and become abandon on the highway. Numerous other roads were also reported to be closed. McCook was the only town in the county affected by the flooding. No specific property damage information from the flooding was given.

Flood, Red Willow

When: September 4, 4:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where: Red Willow County, 1.94 mi SE of Perry to 2.75 mi SSE of Mc Cook Culbertson A
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 40.202, -100.692

Repeated rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall continued over the flood area into the overnight hours. Highway 83 was closed due to stalled vehicles being stalled and abandoned on the highway. Numerous other roads were also closed due to the flooding. No specific information was given regarding property damage.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Nebraska in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Nebraska, September 2016

Sources

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: 659902, 659904, 659903, 659936, 659938.