Historical flooding occurred in north central Nebraska as rivers, creeks and other streams rose due to the combination of snow, rain, and rapid snow melt on top of frozen ground. The greatest flooding occurred along the Niobrara, Keya Paha, Elkhorn and Loup Rivers; Ponca, Long Pine, Victoria and Cedar creeks; and one fatality occurred from the failure of Spencer Dam that is located on the…
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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 LBF wrote it up.
Historical flooding occurred in north central Nebraska as rivers, creeks and other streams rose due to the combination of snow, rain, and rapid snow melt on top of frozen ground. The greatest flooding occurred along the Niobrara, Keya Paha, Elkhorn and Loup Rivers; Ponca, Long Pine, Victoria and Cedar creeks; and one fatality occurred from the failure of Spencer Dam that is located on the Niobrara River. In addition to the Spencer Dam failure, several privately owned dams failed. The failure of these private dams contributed to additional overland flooding and most likely exacerbated the flooding in localized areas that led to community evacuations. The combination of weather elements on ice in the rivers led to increased runoff and rapid breakup of ice. Large ice chucks on several rivers destroyed or damaged river bridges, to include state, county and private owned bridges in several counties.
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 North Platte, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 13, 5:20 AM CST, 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service North Platte NE 620 AM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Thursday) Issued at 337 AM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019 A blend of the HRRR and the RAP models was the basis for the temperature forecast today and this evening. The model consensus has been too cold and these models correctly predicted the upper 60s across swrn Nebraska Tuesday afternoon. The HRRR-RAP blend strategy slowed the changeover from rain to snow across nwrn Nebraska today but had little impact on the overall snowfall forecast which was based on a blend of the models noted above plus the HREF and the previous forecast. The forecast still pledges snowfall totals around 20 inches across northern Sheridan county. In fact, the 03z RAP snowfall accumulation product placed a 20 inch total in the same region. No doubt, winds will fracture the dendrites and heavy drifting will make accurate measurements difficult. The wind gust forecast was a blend of the national model blend plus the 03z RAP model. This produced gusts to 70 mph on Thursday which were limited to 65 mph in keeping with the climatology of strong spring blizzards which has been researched back to 1945 locally. Consensus MOS was the basis for wind speeds of 35 to 45 mph today through Thursday afternoon. The blizzard warnings remain in place as the latest forecast is consistent with these conditions developing. Southwest Nebraska gets a winter storm warning late this afternoon through early Thursday morning followed by a high wind warning until 7 pm CDT. The models show the forcing cutting out of this region with a new area of heavy snow developing across ncntl Nebraska where a winter storm warning is in place tonight and Thursday. The models have be inconsistent with placement of this second area of snow. The blended forecast strategy produces 2 to 4 inches of snow across Holt county and the surrounding counties. If heavier snow develops than this area would likely need an upgrade to a blizzard warning. .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Tuesday) Issued at 337 AM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019 Strong high pressure begins to build into the region on Thursday night and Friday. This high will bring dry conditions to north central Nebraska through the beginning of next week. In addition to dry weather, warmer temperatures will also return. Expect highs to rise from the mid 30s to low 40s on Friday to the mid 40s to low 50s by the beginning of next week. There is only one low chance of some precipitation early next week. A weak system will track southeast across central Nebraska. At this time, it's still quite early to determine details. However, it appears to be a fast moving system, so regardless if precipitation is rain or snow, it should not accumulate to much. Will keep precipitation chances in the low chance range for now until details can become more certain. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday morning) Issued at 619 AM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019 IFR/areas of LIFR in rain, low vsby, low and very ceilings will transition to MVFR/IFR/areas of LIFR in snow with the passage of a cold front later today and tonight. Winds become 33035G50KT with the passage of the front. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 337 AM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019 Thunderstorms and widespread light to occasionally moderate rain is underway across southwest and north central Nebraska and expected to continue today. 1 to 1 and 1/2 inches of rain is likely before the changeover to snow and colder temperatures. This prompted a flood watch as the rain will be falling over frozen ground and runoff rates will be relatively high. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning from 9 AM CDT /8 AM MDT/ to 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ Thursday for NEZ025-026-036>038-057>059-069>071. Flood Watch through this evening for NEZ006>010-024>029-035>038- 056>059-069>071. Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM CDT /3 PM MDT/ this afternoon to 9 AM CDT /8 AM MDT/ Thursday for NEZ025-026-036>038-057>059- 069>071. Winter Storm Warning from 7 PM this evening to 7 PM CDT Thursday for NEZ006>010-027>029. Blizzard Warning until 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ Thursday for NEZ004- 005-022>024-035-056-094. && SHORT TERM...CDC LONG TERM...Kulik AVIATION...CDC HYDROLOGY...CDC
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service North Platte NE 336 AM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019 NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-140845- Sheridan-Eastern Cherry-Keya Paha-Boyd-Brown-Rock-Holt-Garden- Grant-Hooker-Thomas-Blaine-Loup-Garfield-Wheeler-Arthur-McPherson- Logan-Custer-Deuel-Keith-Perkins-Lincoln-Chase-Hayes-Frontier- Western Cherry- 336 AM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019 /236 AM MDT Wed Mar 13 2019/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and north central Nebraska. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible into Wednesday morning across portions of central and southwest Nebraska. Severe weather is not anticipated. A Flood Watch is in effect through Wednesday with rain and thunderstorms expected for parts of southwest Nebraska, the Sandhills, and north central Nebraska. Please refer to the Flood Watch message for more information. Freezing rain is likely to develop across the northwestern Sandhills into portions of the northern Panhandle. Ice accumulations of up to a quarter of an inch are possible. Light freezing rain will transition to snow and move south and east across the area Wednesday afternoon into the evening. Blizzard conditions are expected to begin along and west of a line from Big Springs to Valentine. Snow accumulations of up to 20 inches are expected with the heaviest snowfall expected over Sheridan and western Cherry County. Lighter snow amounts are likely further south and east but the development of strong northwesterly winds gusting up to 60 mph are likely, leading to considerable blowing and drifting snow and visibility restrictions. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. Strong winds will continue into late afternoon Thursday, continuing the threat for blowing snow. Winds begin to diminish Thursday evening with the threat for blowing snow also decreasing. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight. && Get your weather, hydrological, and climate information at http://www.weather.gov/northplatte
The North Platte radar (KLNX), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:24 UTC.
33 flood, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding with water reported over the road on Highway 96 northwest of Burwell.
Flooding with water reported over the road on Highway 96 northwest of Burwell.
Highway 45B near Ewing crossing the Elkhorn River is closed due to water over the road.
Numerous roads reported washed out in Logan County.
Flooding reported on the Garfield Table road.
Water reported over the road on Highway 40 from the junction of highway's 40 and 47 south of Arnold, to Arnold. Ditches are full with several secondary roads washed out in the Callaway area.
The NDOR web site reported flooding on Highway 92, 10 miles east of Arnold.
The NDOR web site reported flooding on Highway 92 or about 8 miles west of Merna.
The NDOR reported flooding along several stretches between Anselmo and the end of Highway 21A, 6 miles east of Anselmo.
Street flooding reported in Oconto.
Road flooded 1 mile west of Berwyn.
The NDOR web site reported flooding on Highway 91 between county road L5B and east Milburn Road with water over the roadway.
The NDOR web site reported water over Highway 183 in several places between Bassett and the Junction of Highway 96 and Highway 183 south of Rose.
Water reported over several streets in O'Neill.
Wheeler County EM reported extensive roadway flooding throughout the entire county. Nebraska Department of Roads reports roadway flooding from Ericson to the Junction of U.S. Highway 281 and Highway 91.
Heavy rainfall combined with snow melt and frost in the ground for ice jams that produced blocked roadways from large ice blocks and flood waters on Highway 7 in Keya Paha County along the Keya Paha and Niobrara rivers.
The NDOR web site reported street flooding in Butte as well as along Highway 12 from 3 miles south of Butte.
Heavy rainfall led to high flows on Ponca Creek that produced extensive flooding and evacuations in Lynch. Homes and business along Ponca Creek sustained four feet or more of flood water damage, while several privately own bridges along Ponca Creek were destroyed. The flood waters eroded streets along and south of Highway 12.
Numerous roads in eastern Lincoln County near Maxwell and Brady are flooded.
Widespread flooding reported in Newport.
Highway 70 east of Westerville to the Custer and Sherman county line was closed due to flooding.
Custer county EM reports widespread flooding in Anselmo.
Custer county emergency management reports extensive flooding in Sargent.
County road bridge 8 miles south of Naper along the Niobrara River reported destroyed by heavy rain and snow melt that led to ice jams that broke up and moved downstream.
Flooding reported at the Hidden Paradise Resort along the Long Pine Creek.
The Highway 11 bridge across the Niobrara River about 5 miles south of Butte is closed due to flooding. An ice jam produced large ice blocks that remained at the time of NWS storm survey.
Ehler road completely washed out.
Heavy rain on top of frozen ground, rivers and streams led to historical runoff on the Niobrara River downstream of the Norden river crossing. At 6:46 AM CDT Holt County Dispatch reported the failure of Spencer Dam. A series of ice jams that developed upstream broke loose that led to a wall of water, large blocks of ice and debris that moved downstream to destroy the dam structure with flood waters to destroy the south bridge abutment on U.S. Highway 281 and the campground, bar and home immediately downstream of the dam. The flood caused one fatality.
Historical bridge 1 mile south of Sargent destroyed by Ice flows along the Middle Loup River.
Bridge abutment crossing the South Loup River on Highway 21 northeast of Oconto destroyed.
Public reports flooding along Highway 20 or about 4 miles west of Bassett.
Bridge approaches on highway 21C crossing the Middle Loup River just west of Comstock have been compromised.
Roads 877 and 876 are closed due to water over the roadway. Flooding also reported at the Golf Course.
Flooding reported along the Niobrara River south of Norden.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Boyd | 2019-03-15 | Male | Unknown | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, March 2019
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: 813044, 813045, 813050, 813053, 813054, 813032, 813034, 813035, 813037, 813038, 813039, 813030, 813196, 813051, 813202, 813047, 813024, 813022, 813055, 813207, 813040, 813204, 813205, 813026, 813046, 813208, 813056, 813018, 813041, 813042, 813206, 813043, 813052, 813048.