A few thunderstorms produced a strong winds and sub-severe hail reports.
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 few thunderstorms produced a strong winds and sub-severe hail reports.
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 Apr 4, 6:16 PM CST, 3 hours 40 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 716 PM CDT Sun Apr 4 2021 ...Updated Mesoscale Forecast Discussion... .MESOSCALE DISCUSSION... Issued at 715 PM CDT Sun Apr 4 2021 A small cluster of thunderstorms which initiated over northwest KS earlier this afternoon have since developed a small MCV while tracking through a hot, deeply mixed boundary layer over south- central NE. Surface observations indicate that the storms are based around 12,000 ft AGL with considerable dry air in the sub- cloud layer enhancing downdraft potential as evidenced by a number of 45-55 mph wind gusts over south-central NE this evening. Current thinking is that the ongoing convection should tend to decrease in coverage and intensity over the next hour or two as the boundary layer gradually cools and stabilizes. However, there is a chance that some of the activity could make it into our western counties between 8 PM and 9 PM where local wind gusts up to 40-45 mph would be possible. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 308 PM CDT Sun Apr 4 2021 It has been a very warm Easter with highs reaching the lower to mid 80s today. While there has been return of moisture across most of the forecast area, surface relative humidity was still as low 12-15% across northeast NE at 2 pm, but winds have remained light. And humidity was down into the lower 20% range across south central NE near the KS border, and while winds have been gusty 25-30 mph, probably just short of red flag conditions there. For tonight, there is a weak subtle upper level wave moving out of the central Rockies. This was beginning to produce spotty thundershowers across southwest NE/northwest KS, and this will be the concern across our area through the evening and overnight. Chances overnight will only be about 20% within a confined corridor along the nose of the low level jet. Bulk shear is minimal so severe storms are not expected. There may be lingering sprinkles in southeast NE/southwest IA Monday morning, but the remainder of the day will be another warm day with breezy southerly winds continuing. This will again help to boost temps into the lower 80s for most areas. There is another weak wave moving out of the Rockies Monday night. This brings another chance of showers and storms to the area, but mostly to northeast NE, and then along an advancing cold front moving into the area. Southeast NE and southwest could very well remain dry Monday night. We'll see rain chances increase through the day Tuesday as we begin to experience increased forcing for ascent due to the diffluent flow aloft associated with the closed upper low across the Rockies. At the same time, the previously mentioned frontal boundary will stall across the northern forecast area which may provide an additional focus for precipitation. SPC has indicated at least a marginal risk of severe storms will be possible Tuesday afternoon/evening along the KS/MO border, which will be closer to a potential surface low providing an enhanced area of dynamics for a severe storm risk. The rain chances continue into Wednesday into early Thursday as we transition to blustery northwesterly flow on the backside of the low pressure system moving to the east. Highs Wednesday/Thursday will be much cooler, but still just either side of normal. Friday through the upcoming weekend looks with pleasant Spring temperatures. For those that may be wondering if snow is over for the season, it's certainly possible. We're now at or past the average last snow for most locations in our forecast area, but we've had snow well into May in some years. 10 day forecasts suggest the threat for snow is pretty low across our area. However, we will begin taking a much closer look at activating frost and freeze headlines within the next 10 days, especially along and south of Interstate 80, where spring growth is starting to emerge. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Monday evening) Issued at 555 PM CDT Sun Apr 4 2021 VFR conditions will prevail through the forecast period with increasing mid/high-level clouds tonight. A surface trough extending along a line from near KHNR to KFET to south of KOLU will wash out or gradually lift north this evening. Gusty southwest winds to the south of that boundary (at KOMA and KLNK) will decrease slightly while switching to more of a southerly direction tonight. A cluster of high-based thunderstorms ongoing over south-central NE as of 5:30 PM will likely dissipate before reaching the area as a capping inversion strengthens. Winds will become gusty from the south on Monday. && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. IA...None. && MESOSCALE...Mead DISCUSSION...DeWald AVIATION...Mead
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 1203 PM CDT Sun Apr 4 2021 IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034- 042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-050715- 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- 1203 PM CDT Sun Apr 4 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest Iowa...west central Iowa...east central Nebraska...northeast Nebraska and southeast Nebraska. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Very high fire danger will remain this afternoon. Outdoor burning is discouraged today. There is a small chance for a few non severe thunderstorms tonight into early Monday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday There is a chance of thunderstorms from Monday night through Wednesday. The best chance for severe storms appears to Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska 821 PM CDT Sun Apr 4 2021 NEZ050-065-050200- Seward NE-Butler NE- 821 PM CDT Sun Apr 4 2021 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN SEWARD AND SOUTHERN BUTLER COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM CDT... At 820 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6 miles east of Stromsburg, or 16 miles north of York, moving east at 35 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Seward, David City, Utica, Rising City, Brainard, Staplehurst, Dwight, Bee, Ulysses, Garrison, Surprise and Tamora. LAT...LON 4129 9701 4089 9699 4090 9737 4129 9737 TIME...MOT...LOC 0120Z 268DEG 31KT 4110 9747 Mead
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
1044 PM CDT Sun Apr 4 2021
NEZ030-042-043-050-050415-
Platte NE-Butler NE-Boone NE-Colfax NE-
1044 PM CDT Sun Apr 4 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL COLFAX...SOUTHERN
PLATTE...NORTHWESTERN BUTLER AND SOUTHERN BOONE COUNTIES UNTIL 1115
PM CDT...
At 1042 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking an area of showers and
thunderstorms moving through southern portions of Boone and Platte
counties. Movement was east at 40 mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with these showers and
storms.
Locations impacted include...
Columbus, St. Edward, Cedar Rapids, Duncan, Platte Center, Monroe,
Richland, Primrose, College View Trailer Park, Camp Pawnee, Shell
Creek Elementary School, Lake North Babcock Campground, Central
Community College, The Highway 14 And 56 Junction, Lake Ocaonee,
Circle H Trailer Park and Camp Luther.
LAT...LON 4165 9829 4155 9715 4122 9735 4123 9737
4140 9737 4133 9759 4139 9760 4140 9770
4152 9770 4153 9774 4151 9804 4148 9810
4148 9828
TIME...MOT...LOC 0342Z 284DEG 35KT 4150 9792 4135 9734
MeadThe Omaha radar (KOAX), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:55 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
AWOS station at Columbus Airport measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, April 2021
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: 950647.