Ending a stretch of 2.5 weeks of bone-dry weather, and also ending a streak of nearly six weeks with no severe thunderstorms in the 24-county area, this Friday afternoon and evening featured a concentrated corridor of strong to severe storms and heavy rainfall mainly across western portions of South Central Nebraska. These storms forced delays or cancellations to a number of high school football games during what turned into a fairly prolonged event, with wind and hail-producing storms first flaring up around 230 PM CDT, and finally diminishing in intensity around 1 AM. The majority of severe storms and heavy rainfall regenerated for several hours within a narrow southwest-northeast oriented corridor only about 30 miles wide at most, primarily impacting counties such as Furnas, Harlan, Phelps, Buffalo, Howard, Hall and northwest Adams. The storm mode was a mixed bag of quasi-discrete, fast moving supercells and small multicell bowing segments. Storm reports included several instances of damaging wind gusts and hail up to the size of golf balls. A few of the more notable reports were from Atlanta in Phelps County, including golf ball size hail and significant wind damage to the roof of a grain storage building. At the Holdrege airport, two separate storms produced measured gusts to around 60 MPH, several hours apart from one another. Although a few storms exhibited low-level rotation, no tornadoes occurred.
Heavy rainfall-wise, parts of primarily eastern Furnas, northwest Harlan, Phelps, Buffalo and southeast Sherman Counties measured 3-6 inches of rain during this event, including 5.94 inches northwest of Oxford and 5.33 inches in Loomis. Kearney Regional Airport established a record for the date with 2.29 inches. Although the heaviest rain associated with this low pressure system fell during these storms on the afternoon and evening of the 7th, additional rain throughout the weekend boosted 3-day totals into the 6-7 inch range for some areas, highlighted by 7.13 inches at Loomis. Fortunately, due to the very dry conditions leading up to this event, widespread flooding impacts were held to a minimum.
On the synoptic scale, the primary trigger for severe weather was the approach of a highly amplified mid-level trough across the western United States, anchored by a closed low swinging through the Four Corners region. Downstream from this low, a corridor of strong, nearly unidirectional south-southwest winds was in place in the mid and upper levels. At the surface, storm development focused along a quasi-stationary front, which at mid-afternoon stretched from eastern South Dakota to southwest Kansas. Given that winds aloft were largely parallel to this southwest-northeast oriented surface front, convection was able to focus within the aforementioned narrow corridor, with individual storms within the corridor racing northeast. Mesoscale parameters at early evening revealed only modest instability, with mixed-layer CAPE values only around 1000 J/kg, but in the presence of very strong deep-layer vertical wind shear of 50-60 knots. Although low-level shear ramped up as the evening progressed, with 0-1 kilometer shear values increasing to 30-40 knots, the combination of increasing low level convective inhibition and multiple storm mergers likely helped mitigate a potential tornadic threat.

Hail in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 14:25:00 to 07-OCT-11 14:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: PROSSER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 14:55:00 to 07-OCT-11 14:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAND IS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 15:40:00 to 07-OCT-11 15:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATLANTA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A grain storage building on the south side of Atlanta lost half of its roof.

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 16:35:00 to 07-OCT-11 16:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Quarter size hail was reported on the northwest side of Kearney.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 16:43:00 to 07-OCT-11 16:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: (EAR)KEARNEY ARPT
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 16:50:00 to 07-OCT-11 16:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: GIBBON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 17:13:00 to 07-OCT-11 17:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAIRO
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 18:00:00 to 07-OCT-11 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: DANNEBROG
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 18:30:00 to 07-OCT-11 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATLANTA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 18:45:00 to 07-OCT-11 18:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: BREWSTER ARPT
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 20:50:00 to 07-OCT-11 20:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAVENNA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Wind gusts were estimated at 60 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 23:15:00 to 07-OCT-11 23:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: BREWSTER ARPT
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Heavy Rain in HARLAN, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ORLEANS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 3.70 inches was reported.

Heavy Rain in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAVENNA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 3.55 inches was reported.

Heavy Rain in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: OXFORD
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 5.94 inches was reported.

Heavy Rain in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: OXFORD
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 5.76 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOOMIS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 5.33 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEAVER CITY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 4.72 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEAVER CITY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 4.37 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FUNK
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 3.76 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAVENNA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 3.08 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HILDRETH
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 3.02 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELM CREEK
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 3.00 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAVENNA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 4.07 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in HARLAN, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ORLEANS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 3.81 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCKVILLE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 3.45 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: OXFORD
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 5.50 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 3.60 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEAVER CITY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 4.57 inches was reported.

Heavy Rain in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BERTRAND
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 5.28 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLDREGE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 3.82 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: EDISON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 3.73 inches was reported.

Heavy Rain in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FUNK
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 5.26 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.

Heavy Rain in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 07-OCT-11 06:00:00 to 08-OCT-11 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Total rainfall over the past 24 hours of 4.14 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network observer.