Upper-level troughing was noted over the northern Rockies via upper-air analysis the morning of the 30th. This disturbance slowly tracked east across the northern Plains.
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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 OAX wrote it up.
Upper-level troughing was noted over the northern Rockies via upper-air analysis the morning of the 30th. This disturbance slowly tracked east across the northern Plains. Associated with this upper-level disturbance, a weakening cold front dove southeast across the northern Plains, stalling out across eastern Nebraska and northwest Iowa by the morning of the 31st. Along and ahead of this front, scattered showers and thunderstorms developed across eastern Nebraska the afternoon of the 30th. While largely remaining below severe limits, a downburst did result in damage to a warehouse in Lincoln that afternoon. More widespread thunderstorms developed along the stalled frontal boundary the afternoon of the 31st, with numerous reports of funnel clouds across northeast Nebraska. Due to the heavy rain and slow-moving nature of these storms, there were a couple instances of flash flooding as well. These flash floods were north of US Highway 30 and west of US Highway 77.
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 May 30, 2:12 PM CST, 1 minute earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 312 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Scattered strong thunderstorms will be possible through the evening. Locally heavy rains are the main hazard, with a small 5-10% probability of damaging winds or large hail. - A chance of non severe thunderstorms Friday into Friday night. - Another round of thunderstorms Sunday into Sunday night, which could be strong. And yet another round of stronger storms Tuesday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 312 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024 A line of thunderstorms has developed along a line from Sioux City southward to Beatrice, moving slowly east. These are likely in response to what remains of a couple of MCVs combined with the upper trough remaining in region. 0-6km bulk shear remains on the lower side at 25 to 35 knots today, with MUCAPE 1000-2000 J/kg. This is all developing within a moist PW axis of 1 to 1.5 inches. It seems the primary concern will be localized flooding with these storms as they appear to be robust rain producers with a southwest to northeast storm train occurring. This cluster will continue to move slowly eastward through the evening and have fairly high 60-80% Pops as it pushes into southwest IA. Meanwhile, the frontal boundary to our west between Ainsworth and and Oneill with storms going up along it. Models time this into northeast NE by 6-7 pm, and continue a storm chance along the boundary mostly in northeast NE north of a line from Columbus to Onawa. And across southeast NE, behind this initial surge or rain, there may not be much behind it overnight. For Friday, We'll have a continue chance of showers and thunderstorms that lingers into Friday night. The severe weather threat seems low during this time with SPC keeping just general thunderstorms forecast. High temperatures Friday should only reach the lower 70s. Saturday during the day should be a beautiful day with highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s. Another quick moving wave could bring additional thunderstorms to the area Saturday night, which could linger into Sunday morning. Another short wave moving through the region could bring additional Thunderstorms Sunday night that lingers into early Monday morning. SPC has a 15% probability for severe storms to our north, but the CSU machine learning models would indicate a higher probability for severe weather into our area. High temperatures both Sunday and Monday in the lower to middle 80s. There is another pretty strong system coming into the area Tuesday which could bring more thunderstorms into the area, which could be on the strong side. Forecast confidence by Wednesday and Thursday next week is pretty low as the ECMWF has a strong closed low over the Mid Missouri Valley while the GFS has a ridge. NBM has a chance of rain on Wednesday but dry on Thursday. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1242 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024 Fairly busy TAF set with showers and storms early in the TAF period, then transitioning to MVFR and possibly IFR at KLNK/KOMA 10-14z. Initial push of showers seems to be moving past KOFK at TAF issuance, but becoming more widespread in the vicinity of KLNK. Thunderstorms will be possible at KLNK 19-22z, and KOMA 21-01z, and KOFK 01-03z. Beyond that, confidence just isn't there to put precipitation in the forecast this far out. && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. IA...None. && DISCUSSION...Darrah AVIATION...DeWald
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 1241 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024 IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034- 042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-310745- 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- 1241 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024 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 Scattered thunderstorms are expected across the area through tonight. A storm or two could be stronger with large hail and damaging winds, along with locally heavy rainfall through this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Scattered thunderstorms are expected primarily across southeast Nebraska and western Iowa on Friday afternoon and evening. Strong to potentially severe thunderstorms will be possible Sunday evening and night across the area, primarily north of Interstate 80. Another round of strong thunderstorms is possible Tuesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Storm spotter activation is not expedted.
The Omaha radar (KOAX), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:12 UTC.
6 funnel cloud, 4 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The office received a public report of damage to a warehouse building roof and sign.
Law enforcement reported water over several county roads within Antelope County.
Emergency management reported a funnel cloud northwest of Platte Center.
The office received a public report of a funnel cloud that had been observed for 5 minutes before dissipating.
A funnel cloud was reported by the Randolph Fire Chief.
The Stanton County Emergency Manager reported a couple of funnel clouds.
The office received a photo of a funnel cloud taken by the public.
The office received a report of a funnel cloud from the Cedar County 911 Call Center.
Emergency management reported water over Highway 15 1 miles south of Highway 32. The depth of the water was unknown at the time of this report. Later in the afternoon, water and debris were reported to be flowing over several roads in this area.
The office received a public report of water and debris flowing over Monastery Road in northeast Platte County. About an hour after this report, the office received another public report that a bridge near Monroe was closed due to water flowing over the top of it and over the hood of a full-sized pickup truck.
This is a continuation of the flash flood that occurred in Platte County. The office received a report from the public that county roads in far northwest Colfax County were impassable due to water. 6 inches of rain had already fallen with rain continuing at the time of the report.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, May 2024
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: 1181304, 1181305, 1181307, 1181308, 1181312, 1181313, 1181314, 1181315, 1181316, 1181323, 1181319.