The mid-to-late evening hours on this Sunday brought a rather widespread damaging wind event to the northwest half of South Central Nebraska, affecting locations mainly northwest of a line from Alma-Hastings-Osceola. The storm-mode featured a fast-moving, northeast-propagating linear mesoscale convective system (MCS) that first entered Furnas County in the far southwest corner of the area around 8 PM CDT, and eventually exited far northeast counties such as Nance and Greeley between 1130 PM and midnight CDT. Over the course of these four hours, there were multiple reports of damaging winds in the 60-80 MPH range, but only few reports of large hail, highlighted by ping pong ball size stones near Holdrege. Measured wind gusts at airport sites included 68 MPH at Kearney and 64 MPH at Grand Island. Extensive tree damage was reported in several communities, including Edison, Kearney, Grand Island, Loup City, North Loup, Scotia and Greeley, just to name a few. In Grand Island, a 50-60 foot cottonwood tree narrowly missed a home as it fell, while on the west edge of Holdrege, an empty trailer home was blown over. In addition to tree and power line damage, considerable crop damage resulted across the area, primarily from green snap of rapidly growing corn. Due to the fast-moving nature of the primary squall line, rainfall amounts in most areas were no more than 0.50 to 1.50 inches.
The initial clusters of storms that eventually congealed into the northward-propagating MCS developed during the late afternoon and early evening hours across central and northwest Kansas, near a subtle east-west front and within a zone of steep low-level lapse rates. A very unstable airmass was poised north of this surface front, with dewpoints well into the 70s across nearly all of South Central Nebraska. Storms evolved into prolific wind-producers thanks to efficient cold pool generation, aided by the development of a modest 25-30 knot low-level jet focused near the Nebraska-Kansas border.  Mesoscale parameters during the early stages of the event featured high MLCAPE of 3000-4000 J/kg, in the presence of at least 30 knots of deep-layer vertical wind shear. Aloft, the synoptic pattern featured an expansive mid-level ridge across the southern states, and a broad trough across the northwest United States, with the local area positioned on the southern periphery of the stronger west-southwest flow between these two features.

Hail in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 20:05:00 to 10-JUL-11 20:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: OXFORD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 20:28:00 to 10-JUL-11 20:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: FARNAM
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts were estimated at 70 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 20:42:00 to 10-JUL-11 20:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: GOTHENBURG
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Wind gusts were estimated at 60 MPH.

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 20:45:00 to 10-JUL-11 20:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEXINGTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 20:55:00 to 10-JUL-11 20:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY ARPT
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 21:20:00 to 10-JUL-11 21:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAND IS
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts were estimated at 60 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 21:43:00 to 10-JUL-11 21:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: (GRI)GRAND IS RGNL A
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Hail in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 22:00:00 to 10-JUL-11 22:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: AURORA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Thunderstorm Wind in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 22:03:00 to 10-JUL-11 22:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: PALMER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Wind gusts estimated at 60 MPH caused tree damage in Palmer.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 21:15:00 to 10-JUL-11 21:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHELTON
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Large tree limbs were blown down in Shelton, with one falling onto and damaging a vehicle.  Crop damage was also reported north of town.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 21:40:00 to 10-JUL-11 21:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOUP CITY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A large tree was uprooted in Loup City.

Hail in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 20:30:00 to 10-JUL-11 20:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLDREGE
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorm Wind in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 20:42:00 to 10-JUL-11 20:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: AXTELL
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Wind gusts were estimated at 60 MPH and were accompanied by dime size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 20:48:00 to 10-JUL-11 20:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Wind gusts were estimated at 70 MPH.  A large tree was uprooted and a power pole was knocked down in Kearney.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 21:20:00 to 10-JUL-11 21:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOOD RIVER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Newspaper

Tree damage was reported across Wood River, and crop damage was also reported north of town.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 21:29:00 to 10-JUL-11 21:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: OVINA
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 2.00M
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts estimated between 60 and 65 MPH were reported across Grand Island resulting in power outages, and was also accompanied by penny size hail.  On the northwest side of town, a garage and car were damaged when a tree was uprooted.  Another tree, reported to be between 50 and 60 feet tall and 4 feet in diameter, was uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind in GREELEY, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 21:50:00 to 10-JUL-11 21:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: SCOTIA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Wind gusts were estimated at 60 MPH.  A shed was damaged when its roof was blown off and one wall fell, and a picnic shelter roof at the park was destroyed.  Crop damage was also reported in the area.

Thunderstorm Wind in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 22:00:00 to 10-JUL-11 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORTH LOUP
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Wind gusts were estimated at 80 MPH, causing tree damage across town and crop damage around the area.  Two larger tree limbs were knocked down in town and fell onto vehicles.

Thunderstorm Wind in GREELEY, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 22:15:00 to 10-JUL-11 22:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREELEY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Newspaper

Tree limbs were blown down in Greeley, with one falling onto and damaging a vehicle. Crop damage was also reported in the area.

Thunderstorm Wind in NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 22:20:00 to 10-JUL-11 22:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: FULLERTON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Wind gusts were estimated between 50 and 60 MPH in the Fullerton area.  Tree damage was reported in Fullerton, with 1 vehicle damaged when tree limbs were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 19:45:00 to 10-JUL-11 19:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: EDISON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Tree damage was reported in and just west of Edison, including 2 to 3 large cottonwood trees that were knocked down. A tree limb approximately 8 to 10 inches in diameter was also blown down, falling on and damaging a porch roof.

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 20:25:00 to 10-JUL-11 20:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLDREGE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 45.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Wind gusts estimated between 60 and 70 MPH resulted in power outages in Holdrege, and was accompanied by nickel size hail.  On the west side of Holdrege, a trailer house was tipped onto its side, and tree limbs between 2 and 6 inches in diameter were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-11 21:10:00 to 10-JUL-11 21:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: GIBBON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Tree limbs up to 6 inches in diameter were blown down in Gibbon.