A weak cold front touched off thunderstorms in northeast Nebraska during the early afternoon hours of July 17th.  The storms produced a few large hail and strong wind reports as they moved southeast.  The storms worked ahead of the front from late afternoon into the early evening hours as they encountered an even more moist environment.  The storms movement slowed down and tracked across the same area for several hours producing some reports of very heavy rain and flash flooding south of Lincoln.  In some areas the rain fell on already wet ground with rivers running high from heavy rain the previous day...thus some river flooding developed or was prolonged.  In addition...other storms redeveloped near the weak front in northeast Nebraska by early evening producing a few additional reports of damaging winds.

Thunderstorm Wind in THURSTON, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 18:08:00 to 17-JUL-08 18:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: PENDER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A tree was downed in the Pender area by thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.

Heavy Rain in GAGE, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 20:15:00 to 17-JUL-08 20:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEATRICE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Around 4.5 inches of rain was reported in a few hours time south of Beatrice.

Thunderstorm Wind in SAUNDERS, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 15:32:00 to 17-JUL-08 15:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: CERESCO
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The emergency manager of Saunders county was nearly blown off the road by thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 mph.  Two wheels of his vehicle were briefly lifted off the road.

Thunderstorm Wind in THURSTON, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 18:05:00 to 17-JUL-08 18:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: THURSTON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Tree limbs and corn were blown down by thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in THURSTON, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 18:40:00 to 17-JUL-08 18:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: WALTHILL
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were downed by thunderstorm winds estimated at least at 60 mph in the Walthill area.  The storm was accompanied by very heavy rain.

Heavy Rain in RICHARDSON, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 21:15:00 to 17-JUL-08 21:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: STELLA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A spotter reported 2.8 inches of rain in Stella.

Hail in SAUNDERS, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 15:27:00 to 17-JUL-08 15:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: MEAD
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy Rain in JOHNSON, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 20:45:00 to 17-JUL-08 20:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: TECUMSEH
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A spotter reported nearly 3 inches of rain in a few hours time.

Heavy Rain in PAWNEE, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 19:09:00 to 17-JUL-08 19:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: TABLE ROCK
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer reported 1.90 inches of rain fell in 35 minutes.

Thunderstorm Wind in SAUNDERS, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 15:05:00 to 17-JUL-08 15:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: WESTON
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer just northwest of Weston measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 61 mph with weather equipment.  The thunderstorm was accompanied by pea-size hail and an inch of rain that fell in 1 hour.

Hail in PLATTE, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 12:25:00 to 17-JUL-08 12:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROSENBURG
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Flash Flood in GAGE, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 21:15:00 to 18-JUL-08 00:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLATONIA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Between 2.5 and 5 inches of rain was reported over much of Gage county centered on Beatrice.  The heavy rain caused flash flooding across numerous county roads prompting their closure.

Flash Flood in JEFFERSON, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 19:10:00 to 18-JUL-08 00:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: REYNOLDS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Emergency management reported that 4 inches of rain fell in the Fairbury area with reports of 4 to 6 inches south of town.  The heavy rain caused flash flooding which closed numerous roads in Fairbury and caused 2 collapses to the city's sewer system.  In addition, many county roads south of town, especially along Rose Creek, were flooded.  The flooding washed out culverts and caused road damage...mainly south of Fairbury.  Flooding continued along Rose Creek well into Saturday July 19th.

Flood in GAGE, NEBRASKA
From 17-JUL-08 19:45:00 to 19-JUL-08 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: (BIE)BEATRICE ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Heavy rain on Wednesday July 16th brought a significant increase in Big Blue River flows in Gage county into Thursday July 17th.  Additional heavy rain, with some reports of over 4 inches, that fell during the evening hours of July 17th caused the Big Blue River to flood. The stage at Beatrice climbed to nearly 18.3 feet around 130am CDT on July 18th, flood stage is 16 feet.  The flooding closed several county roads, including the Holmesville blacktop and Odell blacktop.  Highway 77 from Beatrice to Maple Road was closed for about an hour Thursday night because of water over the road.  Several gravel roads were washed out and a few streets in the Beatrice area were flooded and campers were evacuated out of a city park Thursday night. The flooding also affected agricultural lowlands.

Flood in JEFFERSON, NEBRASKA
From 18-JUL-08 00:10:00 to 19-JUL-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FAIRBURY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Flooding continued mainly south of the Fairbury area for a few days after heavy rain fell during the evening of July 17th.  The flooding was most pronounced along Rose Creek where culverts were washed out and county roads were damaged.  However, additional flooding was noted on Highway 8 west of Reynolds.  Three county road bridges were under water across the county, but little damage was noted.  However, several roads were closed for days because road tubes under them were washed out.