For roughly seven hours on this Monday night and early Tuesday morning, the first widespread severe thunderstorm event of 2013 impacted mainly the northwest two-thirds of the 24-county area, largely focused northwest of a line from Alma-Hastings-Osceola along a very strong cold front advancing southeast through the region. Between 9 PM and 4 AM CDT, several rounds of multicell storms along with a few embedded supercell structures tracked north to northeast across the area, resulting in multiple reports of severe-criteria hail ranging from quarter to golf ball size and damaging winds of at least 60-70 MPH. Some of the most extensive damage occurred in Kearney around 1 AM CDT, due to measured wind gusts up to 76 MPH and hail up to golf ball size. In addition to considerable tree damage within the city, a mobile home was destroyed and several buildings on the University of Nebraska-Kearney campus sustained damage. This included the university library where a portion of the roof was ripped off, resulting in water damage to over 6,000 books. There were also several reports of severe winds and damage in and near Holdrege between 12-1 AM CDT, including a measured 74 MPH gust at the airport, a semi truck blown over on Highway 6/34 a few miles southwest of town and a large metal outbuilding destroyed a few miles northeast of town. Other severe weather reports during the night included quarter size hail at the Hastings NWS office and golf ball size hail in Phillips. In addition to hail and wind, widespread rainfall of 1-3 inches resulted from multiple storms training over the same general southwest-to-northeast corridor, with most 2+ inch amounts concentrated within 15 miles either side of a line extending from near Holdrege-Cairo-Fullerton. A few observers reported totals in excess of 3 inches, including 3.61 near Rockville and 3.41 near Scotia. Although flooding issues were held to a minimum, water was reported over a road near St. Libory.
The first storms of the evening developed near and north of the Interstate 80 corridor between 9 PM and midnight CDT. Some of these initial storms exhibited low-level rotation on radar, and were likely near-surface based in an environment featuring temperatures in the low-60s and dewpoints in the upper-50s, although no tornadoes were reported. After midnight CDT, storms gradually tended to become more elongated and elevated as they were undercut by the surging cold front, although interactions with this front likely enhanced the damaging winds in the Holdrege and Kearney areas. Around 4 AM CDT, the last severe-warned storm exited the local area eastward out of Polk County, and thereafter only a few weak storms lingered through sunrise. As evidence of the strength of the cold front, 4 AM CDT temperatures across South Central Nebraska ranged from 33 degrees at Ord, to 44 at Hastings, to 66 at Hebron. On the mesoscale, the primary trigger for this long-lasting severe weather episode was pronounced low-to-mid level warm air advection and resultant upglide over the top of the surging surface cold front, which effectively bisected Nebraska from southwest-to-northeast at sunset. After dark, an 850 millibar low level jet ramped up to around 40 knots, resulting in a rapid uptick in convection. Around midnight, most unstable CAPE values averaged around 1000 J/kg in the presence of very strong 0-6 kilometer vertical wind shear of 60-70 knots. On the synoptic scale, this event occurred downstream from an expansive, highly-amplified mid level trough centered near the Four Corners, and in the presence of low-amplitude shortwave troughs ejecting northeast from the parent system into the Central Plains on strengthening southwesterly flow.

Hail in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 00:51:00 to 09-APR-13 00:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: (HSI)HASTINGS ARPT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Nickel size hail was mixed in with a few quarter size hail stones.

Hail in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 00:53:00 to 09-APR-13 00:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: (HSI)HASTINGS ARPT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

This hail was observed at NWS Hastings, NE.

Hail in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 01:30:00 to 09-APR-13 01:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CENTRAL CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 01:38:00 to 09-APR-13 01:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARQUETTE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Hail in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 02:57:00 to 09-APR-13 02:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: OSCEOLA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 23:35:00 to 08-APR-13 23:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLDREGE ARPT
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 00:02:00 to 09-APR-13 00:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Power was lost in part of the city.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 23:54:00 to 08-APR-13 23:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Magnitude: 66.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

This gust was measured from a home weather station.

Thunderstorm Wind in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 01:12:00 to 09-APR-13 01:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORMAN
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 01:30:00 to 09-APR-13 01:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALDA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The electrical power was out in town.

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 23:40:00 to 08-APR-13 23:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLDREGE ARPT
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A large metal outbuilding was destroyed near the intersection of 733 and Q roads. The time of the event was estimated from radar data.

Hail in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 23:20:00 to 08-APR-13 23:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: ARAPAHOE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Rain in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 06:00:00 to 09-APR-13 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCKVILLE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A total of 3.61 inches of rain fell. This was a 24-hour rainfall amount as of 7 am CDT. This report was relayed through the Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network.

Heavy Rain in GREELEY, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 06:00:00 to 09-APR-13 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SCOTIA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A total of 3.41 inches of rain fell. This was a 24-hour rainfall amount as of 7 am CDT. This report was relayed through the Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information network.

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 23:20:00 to 08-APR-13 23:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLDREGE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A semi tractor trailer was blown over by a severe wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 23:30:00 to 08-APR-13 23:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLDREGE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A window was blown out and a garage door was removed due to severe wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 23:40:00 to 08-APR-13 23:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: FUNK
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Power poles and wires were down along a county road.

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 00:19:00 to 09-APR-13 00:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 01:09:00 to 09-APR-13 01:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: GILTNER
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Hail in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 01:20:00 to 09-APR-13 01:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: PHILLIPS
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 01:49:00 to 09-APR-13 01:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALDA
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail covered the ground and lasted for about 5 minutes.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 23:56:00 to 08-APR-13 23:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Considerable tree damage was reported, including trees blocking roadways. Winds destroyed a mobile home, damaged residence halls on the University of Nebraska-Kearney campus, and also blew part of the roof off the UNK library.

Hail in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 01:20:00 to 09-APR-13 01:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHAPMAN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Quarter size hail covered the ground.

Flood in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 00:45:00 to 09-APR-13 03:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST LIBORY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Water was covering St. Paul Road.

Hail in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 20:21:00 to 08-APR-13 20:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: SMITHFIELD
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 21:26:00 to 08-APR-13 21:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: GOTHENBURG
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 21:48:00 to 08-APR-13 21:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: FULLERTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 22:06:00 to 08-APR-13 22:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: SUMNER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

No funnels were visible to the spotter.

Hail in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 23:58:00 to 08-APR-13 23:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILCOX
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

This report was relayed from the Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network.

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 08-APR-13 21:50:00 to 08-APR-13 21:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: EDDYVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 00:20:00 to 09-APR-13 00:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 00:40:00 to 09-APR-13 00:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 09-APR-13 00:47:00 to 09-APR-13 00:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: PROSSER
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail was ongoing at the time of the report.