Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Nebraska, August 9, 2025

A strong line of severe thunderstorms swept across Saline County, Nebraska, on the morning of August 9th, 2025, producing a swath of damaging straight-line winds, particularly impactful across the northern portion of the county. The damage swath extended from the area around Friend eastward toward Dorchester and then southeast to Crete.

The most intense winds were reported in Friend, where an emergency manager documented widespread damage including trees down, power outages, roof damage to businesses, and estimated winds gusting between 80 to 90 mph. A separate measured report from an emergency manager in Friend measured a wind gust of 84 mph. Further impressive damage was reported east of Friend, near Dorchester, where emergency management noted wooden power poles snapped for approximately 10 miles, with winds estimated at 90 mph in this area.

Moving southeast, the damaging winds continued to affect the Crete area, where a measured gust of 64 mph was recorded by a public weather station 6 miles south-southwest of Friend. Other public reports from Crete included a large tree down around the intersection of 8th or 9th Street and Grove Avenue, as well as large tree branches falling onto a house. Winds in the Crete area were estimated to be between 70 to 80 mph. A less damaging, measured gust of 58 mph was also reported south-southeast of Dorchester.

The collective property damage to public infrastructure from this damaging wind swath is estimated to be $16,129,296.00. This figure reflects only the costs associated with repairing public assets and does not account for the extensive damage sustained by private and commercial properties throughout Saline County.

A damaging wind event tracked across Seward County, Nebraska, on the morning of August 9th, 2025, impacting areas from the southwest to the eastern portion of the county. The storm produced a number of strong, measured wind gusts, with the highest recorded being 82 miles per hour from a public weather station 3 miles south-southwest of Seward. Other measured gusts were consistently severe, including 80 miles per hour 2 miles south of Milford, and 76 miles per hour 2 miles southeast of Seward, indicating a widespread high-wind event across the county.

The measured gusts translated into significant damage, with numerous reports estimating winds in the 70 to 80 miles per hour range. Structural damage was reported by an NWS employee 4 miles south-southwest of Garland, where a roof was torn off a shed and large trees were downed. Elsewhere, public reports detailed large trees down on a house and vehicle 3 miles east of Cordova, and a large tree impacting a roof in Seward. These widespread tree and minor structural damage incidents contributed to a final damage cost estimate for public infrastructure of $1,411,213.00. This estimate covers only public assets and infrastructure and does not reflect the total damage sustained by private homes and businesses.

A severe thunderstorm moved through the northwest portion of Lancaster County, Nebraska, generating a swath of very strong winds on the morning of August 9th, 2025. The most intense wind report was an estimated gust of 100 mph from an emergency manager in Malcolm at 03:58 CST, which was associated with significant damage in the area, including snapped telephone poles holding the football field lights.

Widespread damaging wind gusts were observed or measured by multiple public and Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) stations, with several reporting wind speeds exceeding 80 mph. These included an 82 mph measured gust at the Lincoln Airport ASOS station 5 miles west-northwest of Lincoln, an 81 mph measured gust near Valparaiso, and an 84 mph measured gust east-southeast of Raymond.

The damaging winds resulted in noteworthy property damage across the impact area. Near Malcolm, an overturned camper led to five injuries, with two people transported for treatment. Substantial structural damage was also reported, including a law enforcement report of substantial roof damage to two buildings south-southwest of Lincoln, with winds estimated in the 80-90 mph range. Large trees were downed in multiple locations, including one over a foot in diameter falling on a parked vehicle north-northwest of Lincoln. Numerous other trees were snapped off near the ground southwest of Lincoln and south of Malcolm.

The total damage to public infrastructure in Lancaster County from this severe wind event is estimated to be $3,409,322.00. This figure reflects only the costs associated with repairing public assets and does not account for the extensive damage sustained by private and commercial properties throughout Saline County.

Personal weather station measured wind gust of 73 mph.

Public report relayed via social media images of large trees down, one impacting a roof. Time estimated from radar. Winds gusted to an estimated 70-80 mph.

Personal weather station measured wind gust of 76 mph.

A severe thunderstorm moved across the southeast portion of Saunders County, Nebraska, generating a swath of damaging straight-line winds on the morning of August 9th, 2025. The strongest reported wind was an estimated gust of 95 mph from an emergency manager in Ithaca at 04:40 CST, associated with the destruction of a barn.

Widespread extensive damage was concentrated in the eastern parts of the county, particularly in and around Yutan, Mead, and near Leshara. In Yutan, public reports indicated damaging winds, estimated as high as 90 to 100 mph, causing widespread tree and powerline damage and tilting power poles into the road. Near Leshara, estimated 90 mph winds caused structural damage including broken home windows and extensive tree damage. In Mead, emergency management confirmed a porch roof was torn off by an estimated 90 mph wind. Earlier in the event, winds estimated around 70-80 mph uprooted a large tree and caused shed roof damage in Memphis.

Additional, lesser wind gusts were measured by public weather stations across the area, ranging from 60 mph to 67 mph. The estimated property damage to public infrastructure from this event is $1,221,581.00. This figure reflects only the costs associated with repairing public assets and does not account for the extensive damage sustained by private and commercial properties throughout Saline County.

A highly damaging swath of severe thunderstorm winds moved across Douglas County, Nebraska, predominantly impacting the western and northern parts of the county, including the Omaha metropolitan area on the morning on August 9th, 2025.

The storm produced damaging wind gusts, with the highest being an estimated 100 mph reported by broadcast media southwest of Washington at 04:52 CST. Multiple locations experienced estimated and measured gusts of 90 mph or higher. An estimated 95 mph gust was reported in Bennington, also responsible for destroying a shed. An estimated 95 mph gust and snapped power poles south of Valley. An estimated 95 mph gust and snapped trees with large diameters north-northeast of Elkhorn. Measured gusts by NWS employees up to 90 mph near Valley.

Tragically, significant impacts occurred east-southeast of Yutan at 04:55 CST when an estimated 90 mph gust uprooted a very large tree (approximately two feet in diameter) that fell onto a vehicle, resulting in one fatality and one injury. Widespread structural and tree damage impacted parts of the area. In Bennington, damage reports included the destruction of a shed and large snapped tree branches. Near Elkhorn, a large tree fell onto a truck and minivan. North-northeast of Valley, there was damage to a roof, resulting in insulation blown across the road, and an overturned semi-truck. The severe winds also downed power lines southwest of Washington and destroyed a boat canopy southeast of Washington.

The property damage to public infrastructure across Douglas County from these severe winds is estimated to be $3,810,332.00. This figure reflects only the costs associated with repairing public assets and does not account for the extensive damage sustained by private and commercial properties throughout Saline County.

A damaging wind event swept across Washington County, Nebraska, during the morning hours of August 9th, 2025, with a path of damage extending from the southwest to the eastern portion of the county. Measured wind reports indicated damaging wind speeds, with a maximum measured gust of 86 miles per hour reported by a public station 1 mile south-southeast of Blair. Widespread measured gusts throughout the county ranged from 58 miles per hour (recorded at the Blair Municipal AWOS) to 70 miles per hour.

However, the severity of the damage suggested straight-line winds were considerably higher, with the peak estimated wind speed reaching 110 miles per hour 1 mile south-southeast of Blair, where a building roof collapse was reported. Near Blair, the destruction was particularly acute; estimated 95 miles per hour gusts snapped large tree trunks, and estimated 90 miles per hour winds resulted in a very large tree fell onto a camper 4 miles northeast of Blair. Other reports of estimated 90 mph gusts included siding ripped off a garage and large trees (2-3 feet in diameter) downed near 2 SSE Kennard. Given the wide-scale damage to infrastructure, the estimated cost for public infrastructure repairs alone reached $2,699,403.00. This figure does not reflect the total economic damage, which includes the extensive losses sustained by private and commercial properties.

Personal weather station measured wind gust of 64 mph.

Personal weather station measured wind gust of 68 mph near 192nd and Harrison Street.

KTQE ASOS recorded a measured wind gust of 69 mph.

On the morning of August 9, 2025, flash flooding struck the Blair, Nebraska area, particularly Southern Washington County, following a storm that delivered 3 to 4 inches of rain. Rainfall rates peaked at 2.5 to 3 inches per hour. Public reports confirmed significant impacts, including 6 to 10 inches of fast-moving water flowing through an apartment complex parking lot, and striking photos of residential backyards inundated with 3 to 5 feet of standing water. Minor flooding was also observed along Cauble Creek.