For western and southern portions of South Central Nebraska, the time frame from the early morning hours of Tuesday the 24th through the day on Wednesday the 25th ended up being the overall rainiest 36-hour period of the spring.  This event unfolded in two distinct waves, with the heaviest accumulations focused from the evening of the 24th into the early morning hours on the 25th. For the 24-hour period ending on the morning of the 25th, widespread rainfall amounts of 2.5 to over 5 inches were reported in several counties, but especially targeting a corridor including Phelps, Buffalo, Gosper, Furnas and Harlan Counties. The highest known gauge reading of 6.36 inches originated from Loomis in western Phelps County. Other impressive 24-hour totals included 5.06 inches northwest of Oxford and 4.29 inches at Gibbon. Daily rainfall records for May 25th were set at Grand Island (1.82 inches) and Kearney (3.17 inches).  Not surprisingly, both areal and river flooding became an issue for parts of the area. Several county roads in Phelps and Harlan Counties were reported under water. River flooding included the Republican, where the gauge near Guide Rock crested nearly 2 feet above flood stage on the morning of the 25th.
Despite occurring during the peak time of year for severe thunderstorms, no damaging winds, hail or tornadoes were reported within the local area. It was a somewhat close call however, as a significant severe weather outbreak pounded a corridor from central Kansas to northern Texas, including several damaging tornadoes. The primary reason that severe weather focused farther south involved the track of the parent mid level low pressure system, which moved from west to east across the central third of Kansas. This kept the primary east-west oriented surface warm front, and thus substantial low-level instability, shunted well south of South Central Nebraska.

Heavy Rain in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total rainfall of 3.17 inches reported over last 24 hours.  This total broke the previous 24 hour record for this day of 1.38 inches, which was set in 1982.

Heavy Rain in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Storm total rainfall of 4.23 inches reported over last 24 hours by a NeRAIN observer.

Heavy Rain in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FUNK
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Storm total rainfall of 5.15 inches reported over last 24 hours by a NeRAIN observer.

Heavy Rain in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: RED CLOUD
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Storm total rainfall of 3.62 inches reported over last 24 hours by a NeRAIN observer.

Heavy Rain in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: OXFORD
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total rainfall of 5.06 inches reported over last 24 hours.

Heavy Rain in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOOMIS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Storm total rainfall of 6.36 inches reported over last 24 hours by a NeRAIN observer.

Heavy Rain in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: GIBBON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Storm total rainfall of 4.29 inches reported over last 24 hours by a NeRAIN observer.

Heavy Rain in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: RIVERTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Storm total rainfall of 3.05 inches reported over last 24 hours by a NeRAIN observer.

Heavy Rain in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: EDISON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total rainfall of 3.51 inches reported over last 24 hours.

Heavy Rain in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SMITHFIELD
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Storm total rainfall of 3.41 inches reported over last 24 hours by a NeRAIN observer.

Heavy Rain in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: RED CLOUD
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total rainfall of 3.82 inches reported over last 24 hours.

Heavy Rain in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Storm total rainfall of 3.20 inches reported over last 24 hours by a NeRAIN observer.

Heavy Rain in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEAVER CITY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Storm total rainfall of 3.20 inches reported over last 24 hours by a NeRAIN observer.

Flood in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 24-MAY-11 19:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATLANTA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total rainfall totals reaching as high as 3 to 6 inches resulted in flooding across portions of the county.  Street flooding was reported in Holdrege, and a number of county roads in central and northern portions of the county were covered with water. Some road closures lasted well into the day on May 25th.

Flood in HARLAN, NEBRASKA
From 24-MAY-11 19:00:00 to 25-MAY-11 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: OXFORD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total rainfall totals reaching as high as 3 to 6 inches resulted in flooding across northwestern portions of the county.  A few county roads were covered with water, and some road closures lasted well into the day on May 25th.