A strong cut-off and negatively tilted low pressure system brought widespread heavy rain and strong wind gusts to south central Nebraska on this day. An anomalously deep low pressure system slowly migrated from the Four Corners region on March 13 to the Central Rockies on March 14.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 GID wrote it up.
A strong cut-off and negatively tilted low pressure system brought widespread heavy rain and strong wind gusts to south central Nebraska on this day. An anomalously deep low pressure system slowly migrated from the Four Corners region on March 13 to the Central Rockies on March 14. Strong/deep southerly low to mid level flow brought copious amounts of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, leading to precipitable water values near the climatological max for mid March. The deep moisture advection, combined with slow moving nature of the upper trough led to the development of widespread showers and weak thunderstorms during the day of March 13 that persisted well into the daytime hours of March 14. Luckily the area had been warm and relatively dry after a very cold and snowy February, which had this not occurred prior to this event, there very well could've been a repeat of the historical March 2019 flooding. Also fortunate for the area was that instability remained weak throughout the 13th and 14th, which helped to limit the rainfall rates and avoid a more significant hydrological event despite the widespread 2 to 7 inches of rain! Both Grand Island and Hastings broke back to back daily rainfall records on the 13th and 14th, respectively. In addition to the daily records, Grand Island also broke records for most precipitation in a calendar day and for the overall March total! So needless to say, this was a very significant rainfall event for the area, let alone for mid-March. Despite the significant rainfall, overall hydrological impacts were limited, owing to the aforementioned limited rain rates.
Another aspect of this system was the strong winds. The depth of the surface low was not particularly deep, only around 1000 mb, but the pressure gradient was still impressive due to a strong area of surface high pressure in southern Canada. This resulted in a nearly 20 mb gradient from southwest to northeast across the state of Nebraska. Peak wind gusts from this event were near 60 mph, centered in the area between the KS/NE state line and Highway 92 and occurred from around sunrise through around noon. Thereafter, winds slowly subsided as the pressure gradient gradually relaxed. Impacts from the wind ranged from minor tree damage to a damaged car port.
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 Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 14, 5:52 AM CST, 8 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Hastings NE 652 AM CDT Sun Mar 14 2021 .DISCUSSION...(Today through Saturday) Issued at 405 AM CDT Sun Mar 14 2021 Widespread rainfall along with some isolated non-severe thunderstorms impacted the local area overnight. As of 4 AM, widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 4 inches have been observed...with isolated amounts exceeding 4 inches. For today...expect rainfall to taper off in both coverage and intensity as we transition through the daytime hours...and already we are seeing a few breaks in the more widespread heavy rainfall spreading north...although additional accumulations of 1 to 2 inches will be possible as we go through the day...which could lead to some minor flooding of low lying areas as well as some of the smaller local rivers and streams. As the responsible main low shifts east out of Colorado and into the southern plains later today...the is a marginal risk for severe storms that clips a few of our Kansas counties. As a result...did increase the mention of thunderstorms for today...primarily south of highway 6...although anticipate the best chance for any severe storms will be outside of our area...so will downplay this risk locally in the HWO. The other main concern today will be the very strong easterly winds/gusts across the local area. Have been advertising these winds for the past couple of days...and expect them to further strengthen from this mornings gusts of 30 to 40 mph...closer to 50 mph by late morning and continue through the afternoon hours. While this is below high wind warning criteria...it will be a very windy day and given guidance...would not be surprised to see some isolated winds gusts in excess of 50 mph later this morning. As the main low exits the region late Monday...continue to have the potential for some light precipitation...some of which could mix with light snow...during the early morning hours Tuesday...with the focus of this minor snowfall potential northwest of the tri-cities. The focus will then shift to the next system which is forecast to slide by to the south mid-week. This system has slowed and shifted just a bit further south from last night...and the focus of the heaviest precip should be mostly south of interstate 80...with some very light snowfall accumulations again possible mainly northwest of the tri-cities Wednesday morning. Thereafter...the upper level pattern begins to shift...with ridging and above normal temperatures expected for the end of the week and into next weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 12Z Monday) Issued at 637 AM CDT Sun Mar 14 2021 Generally poor conditions will prevail through the period with MVFR VSBYS and periods of +SHRA or +TSRA through the midday hours...gusty easterly winds and LIFR/near LIFR CIGS. Winds will gradually diminish during the afternoon hours...but remain strong...as the responsible area of low pressure transitions across southern Kansas. CIGS will likely not improve much during the day...but VSBYS should eventually become VFR as precipitation becomes more scattered late in the day...generally after 15/00Z...with some patchy fog late tonight possibly bringing down VSBYS towards daybreak again Monday morning. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 405 AM CDT Sun Mar 14 2021 Rainfall totals have exceeded expectations across the local area over the past 24 hours...and an additional 1 to 2 inches of precipitation is expected before all is said and done Monday morning. While so far the soils and rivers have been able to handle this largely beneficial rainfall...minor flooding of low lying areas and a few more flashy small rivers and streams will be possible through Monday morning. Widespread flooding is not anticipated. && .CLIMATE... Issued at 435 AM CST Sat Mar 13 2021 Record precipitation was recorded across the local area March 13th. While rainfall rates and coverage will be tapering off through the day, another day of record rainfall is expected across the local area. For March 14th, the record precipitation for both Hastings and Grand Island is 1.51 inches, set in 1896 and 1913, respectively. Two day totals will also likely be shattered, with the record 2 day total for the month of March being 3.33 (1979) in Grand Island, and 3.12 (1987) in Hastings. Monthly records for the month of March appear safe at this point, as 7.76 inches of precipitation accumulated in Hastings in March of 1987, and 6.63 inches accumulated in Grand Island the same March. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. KS...NONE. && DISCUSSION...Rossi AVIATION...Rossi HYDROLOGY...Rossi CLIMATE...Rossi
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Hastings NE 549 AM CDT Sun Mar 14 2021 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 151100- Phillips-Smith-Jewell-Rooks-Osborne-Mitchell-Valley-Greeley-Nance- Sherman-Howard-Merrick-Polk-Dawson-Buffalo-Hall-Hamilton-York- Gosper-Phelps-Kearney-Adams-Clay-Fillmore-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin- Webster-Nuckolls-Thayer- 549 AM CDT Sun Mar 14 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and portions of north central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Isolated non-severe thunderstorms are possible today, primarily south of Highway 6. A few of these storms could be on the stronger side across north central Kansas. In addition...widespread rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches will be possible today...which on top of already saturated soils, could lead to minor flooding of low lying areas as well as small streams and creeks across the area. Finally, non-thunderstorm easterly wind gusts to near 50 mph will be possible today. This could make travel difficult for high profile vehicles on north/south oriented roads and highways. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight. However...any reports of rainfall totals in excess of 4 inches or of moving water across area roadways would be appreciated. && More information may be obtained at the following web page: https://www.weather.gov/hastings Rossi
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
622 AM CDT SUN MAR 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0614 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 S DONIPHAN 40.74N 98.37W
03/14/2021 M4.85 INCH HALL NE MESONET
MESONET STATION FW2894 DONIPHAN. STORM TOTAL
SO FAR.
&&
MANGELSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
623 AM CDT SUN MAR 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0556 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 ENE KEARNEY 40.72N 99.00W
03/14/2021 M3.92 INCH BUFFALO NE AWOS
AWOS STATION KEAR KEARNEY AIRPORT. STORM
TOTAL SO FAR.
&&
MANGELSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
624 AM CDT SUN MAR 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0617 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 NE GRAND ISLAND 40.97N 98.32W
03/14/2021 M3.78 INCH HALL NE ASOS
ASOS STATION KGRI GRAND ISLAND AIRPORT.
&&
MANGELSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
625 AM CDT SUN MAR 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0615 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 N AURORA 40.88N 98.00W
03/14/2021 M3.86 INCH HAMILTON NE AWOS
AWOS STATION KAUH AURORA AIRPORT. STORM
TOTAL SO FAR.
&&
MANGELSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
626 AM CDT SUN MAR 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0615 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 ENE HOLDREGE 40.45N 99.32W
03/14/2021 M3.06 INCH PHELPS NE AWOS
AWOS STATION KHDE HOLDREGE AIRPORT. STORM
TOTAL SO FAR.
&&
MANGELSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
629 AM CDT SUN MAR 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0601 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 WSW BLUE HILL 40.33N 98.46W
03/14/2021 M5.10 INCH WEBSTER NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0614 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 S DONIPHAN 40.74N 98.37W
03/14/2021 M4.85 INCH HALL NE MESONET
MESONET STATION FW2894 DONIPHAN. STORM TOTAL
SO FAR.
0602 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 NE AYR 40.48N 98.40W
03/14/2021 M4.69 INCH ADAMS NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0615 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 WSW AGRA 39.74N 99.22W
03/14/2021 M4.65 INCH PHILLIPS KS MESONET
MESONET STATION FW4369 PHILLIPSBURG 6 E.
STORM TOTAL SO FAR.
0557 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 WNW RIVERTON 40.10N 98.84W
03/14/2021 M4.58 INCH FRANKLIN NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0400 AM HEAVY RAIN HEARTWELL 40.57N 98.79W
03/14/2021 E4.50 INCH KEARNEY NE PUBLIC
REPORTED VIA FACEBOOK.
0616 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 NNE SUTTON 40.64N 97.84W
03/14/2021 M4.33 INCH CLAY NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0613 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 SE HARVARD 40.60N 98.07W
03/14/2021 E4.26 INCH CLAY NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0603 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 WNW GLENVIL 40.53N 98.32W
03/14/2021 M4.14 INCH ADAMS NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0606 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 ESE HASTINGS 40.58N 98.32W
03/14/2021 M4.14 INCH ADAMS NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0556 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 ENE KEARNEY 40.72N 99.00W
03/14/2021 M3.92 INCH BUFFALO NE AWOS
AWOS STATION KEAR KEARNEY AIRPORT. STORM
TOTAL SO FAR.
0615 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 N AURORA 40.88N 98.00W
03/14/2021 M3.86 INCH HAMILTON NE AWOS
AWOS STATION KAUH AURORA AIRPORT. STORM
TOTAL SO FAR.
0617 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 NE GRAND ISLAND 40.97N 98.32W
03/14/2021 M3.78 INCH HALL NE ASOS
ASOS STATION KGRI GRAND ISLAND AIRPORT.
1237 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 WSW PHILLIPSBURG 39.74N 99.35W
03/14/2021 M3.77 INCH PHILLIPS KS MESONET
KANSAS MESONET STATION. LIGHT RAIN STILL
ONGOING.
0601 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 SSE AYR 40.39N 98.42W
03/14/2021 M3.76 INCH ADAMS NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0604 AM HEAVY RAIN CAMPBELL 40.30N 98.73W
03/14/2021 M3.72 INCH FRANKLIN NE LAW ENFORCEMENT
0608 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 N HASTINGS 40.61N 98.39W
03/14/2021 M3.72 INCH ADAMS NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0612 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 W TRUMBULL 40.68N 98.30W
03/14/2021 M3.71 INCH ADAMS NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0607 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 ESE JUNIATA 40.57N 98.46W
03/14/2021 M3.64 INCH ADAMS NE PUBLIC
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0608 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 W HASTINGS 40.59N 98.42W
03/14/2021 M3.54 INCH ADAMS NE MESONET
CORRECTS PREVIOUS HEAVY RAIN REPORT FROM 2 W
HASTINGS. DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM
TOTAL SO FAR.
0610 AM HEAVY RAIN PROSSER 40.69N 98.58W
03/14/2021 M3.52 INCH ADAMS NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0554 AM HEAVY RAIN 8 SSE GLADE 39.57N 99.27W
03/14/2021 M3.46 INCH PHILLIPS KS MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0559 AM HEAVY RAIN 6 NNE INAVALE 40.18N 98.61W
03/14/2021 M3.39 INCH WEBSTER NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0552 AM HEAVY RAIN PHILLIPSBURG 39.76N 99.33W
03/14/2021 M3.37 INCH PHILLIPS KS MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0610 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 E PROSSER 40.70N 98.47W
03/14/2021 M3.25 INCH HALL NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0604 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 NNE NORMAN 40.50N 98.78W
03/14/2021 E3.24 INCH KEARNEY NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0556 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 NNW ATHOL 39.80N 98.94W
03/14/2021 M3.16 INCH SMITH KS MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0550 AM HEAVY RAIN 12 E WOODRUFF 39.97N 99.21W
03/14/2021 M3.15 INCH PHILLIPS KS MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0558 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 WSW INAVALE 40.09N 98.67W
03/14/2021 M3.12 INCH WEBSTER NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
0615 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 ENE HOLDREGE 40.45N 99.32W
03/14/2021 M3.06 INCH PHELPS NE AWOS
AWOS STATION KHDE HOLDREGE AIRPORT. STORM
TOTAL SO FAR.
0600 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 WNW COWLES 40.19N 98.48W
03/14/2021 M3.01 INCH WEBSTER NE MESONET
DAVIS WEATHERLINK STATION. STORM TOTAL SO
FAR.
1201 AM HEAVY RAIN DAVENPORT 40.31N 97.81W
03/14/2021 M3.01 INCH THAYER NE MESONET
MESONET STATION FW9346 DAVENPORT. TOTAL AS
OF MIDNIGHT. STILL RAINING.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located 1 mile north of Oxford.
A wind gust of 61 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located 1 mile north of Oxford.
Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH resulted in roof damage to a local business.
A wind gust of 61 MPH was measured by the Ord Airport ASOS. Elsewhere in the county, a garage port was overturned in North Loup due to the strong wind gusts.
A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located 3 miles south-southeast of Bradshaw.
A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by the Grand Island Central Nebraska Regional Airport ASOS. There was also a report of a large tree downed 2 miles west of Grand Island.
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, March 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: 941186, 941187, 941189, 941190, 941188, 941191.