Although expectations were not high for significant severe weather in South Central Nebraska on this late Sunday afternoon and early evening, a small but intense cluster of severe storms morphed into a bow echo, producing a narrow, concentrated zone of wind damage across several southeast counties. The most intense corridor of winds estimated in the 60-70 MPH range first developed just south of Hastings around 520 PM CDT. During the next 90 minutes, damaging winds accelerated southeast through several communities including Fairfield, Deweese, Deshler, Hebron and Gilead, before exiting the area into southeast Nebraska and northeast Kansas by 730 PM CDT. Most of the multiple reports of damage involved trees and power lines, including a large tree that crushed the front end of a sport utility vehicle at Fairfield in Clay County. In addition to the widespread wind damage, this storm complex dumped torrential rainfall of at least 1-2 inches in a short time. The highest-known gauge readings of 3.18 to 3.50 inches occurred just southwest of Hastings, during the early, slower-moving stages of the complex.
This severe-storm complex gradually evolved from a cluster of fairly disorganized multicellular storms that blossomed during the early to mid-afternoon hours near the Interstate 80 corridor between Dawson and Hamilton Counties. With time, these storms started propagating southeast along a common outflow, merging with vigorous new storm development over Adams County between 4 and 5 PM CDT. Once this occurred, a well-established cold pool took shape, and the storm cluster accelerated southeast, assuming the shape of a small bow echo in Thayer County. These severe storms were primarily ignited by the presence of a very moist and unstable airmass, characterized by surface dewpoints in the low-mid 70s and surface-based CAPE values of 4000-5000 J/kg. Synoptic-scale forcing was very minimal, with only a subtle disturbance passing through the region in quasi-zonal flow aloft. Deep-layer vertical wind shear was quite weak, only 20-30 knots at best, due to the upper air pattern featuring ridging across the southern two-thirds of the nation. The high levels of low-level moisture were focused by light easterly surface flow to the north of a somewhat diffuse surface front stretched across northern Kansas into northwest Missouri.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 24-JUL-11 16:25:00 to 24-JUL-11 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: DEWEESE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Wind gusts were estimated at 70 MPH.  Tree limbs up to 6 inches in diameter were knocked down, as well as 3 power poles in Deweese.

Thunderstorm Wind in NUCKOLLS, NEBRASKA
From 24-JUL-11 16:50:00 to 24-JUL-11 16:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: OAK
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 THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 24-JUL-11 17:16:00 to 24-JUL-11 17:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: DESHLER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts were estimated at 60 MPH, with tree damage reported in Deshler.

Thunderstorm Wind in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 24-JUL-11 17:15:00 to 24-JUL-11 17:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: STRANG
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Wind gusts were estimated at 65 MPH, with tree limbs as large as 1 foot in diameter knocked down.

Thunderstorm Wind in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 24-JUL-11 17:36:00 to 24-JUL-11 17:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHESTER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Wind gusts estimated at 60 MPH lasted approximately 10 minutes.

Heavy Rain in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 24-JUL-11 07:00:00 to 25-JUL-11 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HASTINGS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Storm total rainfall over past 24 hours of 3.5 inches was reported at Southern Hills Golf Course.

Heavy Rain in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 24-JUL-11 07:00:00 to 25-JUL-11 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HASTINGS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Storm total rainfall over past 24 hours of 3.18 inches was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 24-JUL-11 17:50:00 to 24-JUL-11 17:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: GILEAD
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts were estimated at 70 MPH, knocking down tree limbs, including one 2.5 feet in diameter.

Thunderstorm Wind in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 24-JUL-11 16:21:00 to 24-JUL-11 16:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: PAULINE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts were estimated at 65 MPH.  Tree limbs up to 8 to 10 inches in diameter were knocked down.

Thunderstorm Wind in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 24-JUL-11 17:19:00 to 24-JUL-11 17:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: CARLETON
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Wind gusts were estimated between 65 and 70 MPH, resulting in tree damage and power outages in Carlton.

Thunderstorm Wind in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 24-JUL-11 17:20:00 to 24-JUL-11 17:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRUNING
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts were estimated at 70 MPH, causing tree damage in Bruning. Several tree limbs of 6 to 8 inches were knocked down, along with a tree which was snapped at the base and landed on a house.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 24-JUL-11 16:30:00 to 24-JUL-11 16:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: FAIRFIELD
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts were estimated at 70 MPH, with power outages reported across the area.  Numerous reports of tree damage in Fairfield, including a large tree which was uprooted and fell onto a vehicle, crushing the front end.  A tree branch approximately 4 to 6 inches in diameter fell onto a house, putting a hole into the roof.