Through much of the day on this Wednesday, strong to severe thunderstorms primarily producing marginally severe hail affected southern portions of South Central Nebraska between Interstate 80 and the Kansas border. More specifically, the majority of strong to severe storms focused within a northwest-to-southeast corridor extending from Dawson, Phelps and Buffalo Counties in the west, to Nuckolls and Thayer Counties in the east. In addition to many reports of penny to quarter size hail, a few instances of golf ball size hail were noted near Cozad and in Bertrand. Although severe-criteria wind gusts were not a major issue, there were a few estimated 60 MPH gusts in Dawson County. Rainfall amounts within the primary storm corridor were typically between 0.50-1.50 inches, with one of the highest known amounts of 1.93 inches measured 8 miles north-northeast of Holdrege.
Things got underway fairly early in the day as several, mainly elevated severe storms flared up in the Dawson, Gosper and Phelps Counties area between 930-1100 AM CDT. Then for several more hours between 11 AM-530 PM CDT, strong to severe storms expanded in coverage across the aforementioned corridor, taking on a mixed mode of brief supercell structures and multicell lines while gradually ending from northwest to southeast and pushing south into Kansas. Between 5-7 PM CDT, a new batch of strong to severe storms in southwest Nebraska tried pushing into Dawson, Gosper and Furnas Counties along an advancing cold front, but these storms weakened considerably as they entered the local area. In the mid and upper levels, the primary forcing mechanism for this prolonged event was a vigorous shortwave trough migrating east-southeast from the Northern High Plains across southern South Dakota. At the surface, a generally east-west quasi-stationary front stretched across northern Kansas during most of the day, with South Central Nebraska in a seasonably cool and stable low level airmass with temperatures only in the 60s-low 70s F. In advance of the approaching shortwave, mid-level flow gradually strengthened and low-level warm advection evident at 850 millibars increased into southern Nebraska, sparking the development of severe storms despite the cool surface conditions. During the early-mid afternoon hours, the mesoscale environment featured steep mid-level lapse rates with 1000 J/kg mixed-layer CAPE and 40-50 knots of 0-6 kilometer vertical wind shear.

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 09:12:00 to 30-MAY-12 09:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: COZAD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 09:17:00 to 30-MAY-12 09:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: JOHNSON RES
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorm Wind in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 09:32:00 to 30-MAY-12 09:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: DARR
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 30-MAY-12 09:39:00 to 30-MAY-12 09:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: GOTHENBURG
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 09:45:00 to 30-MAY-12 09:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: GOTHENBURG
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 09:49:00 to 30-MAY-12 09:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: COZAD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 10:43:00 to 30-MAY-12 10:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: COZAD
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 250.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 09:53:00 to 30-MAY-12 09:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: JOHNSON RES
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 09:54:00 to 30-MAY-12 09:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: COZAD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 09:54:00 to 30-MAY-12 09:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILLOW IS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 09:58:00 to 30-MAY-12 09:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: COZAD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 10:24:00 to 30-MAY-12 10:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEXINGTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Thunderstorm Wind in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 10:25:00 to 30-MAY-12 10:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEXINGTON
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 30-MAY-12 10:39:00 to 30-MAY-12 10:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: COZAD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 10:44:00 to 30-MAY-12 10:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: COZAD
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 11:08:00 to 30-MAY-12 11:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEXINGTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 11:27:00 to 30-MAY-12 11:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: JOHNSON RES
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 11:34:00 to 30-MAY-12 11:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: JOHNSON RES
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 11:38:00 to 30-MAY-12 11:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEXINGTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 11:50:00 to 30-MAY-12 11:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELM CREEK
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 11:50:00 to 30-MAY-12 11:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAMPBELL
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 12:20:00 to 30-MAY-12 12:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOOMIS
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 12:24:00 to 30-MAY-12 12:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 12:30:00 to 30-MAY-12 12:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLUE HILL
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 12:35:00 to 30-MAY-12 12:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLDREGE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 12:45:00 to 30-MAY-12 12:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: MILLER
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 13:21:00 to 30-MAY-12 13:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELM CREEK
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 13:23:00 to 30-MAY-12 13:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELM CREEK
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 13:23:00 to 30-MAY-12 13:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOOMIS
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 13:24:00 to 30-MAY-12 13:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: BERTRAND
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 13:30:00 to 30-MAY-12 13:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: DAVENPORT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 13:52:00 to 30-MAY-12 13:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLDREGE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 14:26:00 to 30-MAY-12 14:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: FUNK
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 14:27:00 to 30-MAY-12 14:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: HASTINGS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 10:41:00 to 30-MAY-12 10:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: COZAD
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 250.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 13:26:00 to 30-MAY-12 13:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: BERTRAND
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 250.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 30-MAY-12 14:26:00 to 30-MAY-12 14:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLDREGE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager