A large swath of severe crop damage occurred on this Wednesday evening. Isolated thunderstorms occurred through the afternoon over the Sandhills, generally dissipating as they moved southeast into South Central Nebraska. However, by late afternoon thunderstorms intensified with supercells and high-end multicells becoming dominant. The most intense storm of this event produced a prolific swath of significant severe weather. This storm formed over Loup County around 4 p.m. CDT and subsequently tracked south-southeastward through Valley, Sherman, eastern Buffalo, Adams and Webster counties. By 9 p.m. CDT, the storm finally reached the Nebraska-Kansas border. It was responsible for producing hail up to the size of golf balls and winds of 60 to 90 MPH. Hail turned the ground white from Loup City to Ravenna to Gibbon. Combined with the severe winds, tremendous damage occurred to many homes with vinyl siding in these areas. Windows were even broken. The hail and wind caused severe crop damage as well, stripping the corn of its leaves and leaving little but shredded stalks. The scar from damaged crops remained visible, in even relatively low-resolution GOES satellite imagery, the rest of the summer. A semi-tractor trailer was blown on its side on Interstate 80, just southeast of Kearney. Winds were measured as high as 85 MPH in the town of Norman. Other storms became severe over the Sandhills and affected other portions of Valley, Greeley, Howard and Sherman counties during the early to mid-evening hours. These storms also produce hail up to the size of golf balls. Scattered thunderstorms continued to develop into the late evening and even the overnight hours from Broken Bow southward to Beaver City. Winds were estimated between 60 and 70 MPH with some of these storms, along with hail up to the size of ping pong balls.
These storms all developed in an upslope flow regime, north of a quasi-stationary front, with high pressure over the Midwest. The front extended from northwest to southeast across Nebraska and bisected South Central Nebraska, separating temperatures in the 80s to near 90 from rain cooled air in the 60s and 70s, during the late afternoon hours. Aloft, subtropical high pressure was over New Mexico with a low amplitude ridge over the Rockies and a trough over the eastern United States. These storms formed on the eastern fringe of the instability gradient. Poor mid-level lapse rates and cool surface temperatures, resulting in innocuous MLCAPE of 500 to 1500 J/kg. Deep layer shear was between 40 and 50 knots.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 17:45:00 to 09-JUL-14 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: GIBBON
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Wind gusts were estimated to be at least 70 MPH, with a gust of 68 MPH measured 3 miles south of Gibbon.  Accompanied by hail up to the size of golf balls, the combination caused significant crop and tree damage in the area, with many fields reduced to stubble with crops determined to be complete losses.  Damage to campers was also reported at the Windmill State Recreation Area near Interstate 80.

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 17:50:00 to 09-JUL-14 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: GIBBON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail up to the size of golf balls accompanied wind gusts of at least 70 MPH through the area.  This combination led to significant tree and crop damage, with many fields reduced to stubble and crops were complete losses.  Damage to campers was also reported at the Windmill State Recreation Area near Interstate 80.

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 18:04:00 to 09-JUL-14 18:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHELTON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Golf ball size hail was reported at the Shelton exit of Interstate 80.

Hail in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 18:05:00 to 09-JUL-14 18:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: ORD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: Public

Hail in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 18:12:00 to 09-JUL-14 18:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORTH LOUP
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail up to the size of ping pong balls caused extensive crop damage in the area.

Hail in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 18:10:00 to 09-JUL-14 18:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: HEARTWELL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail covered the ground in a number of spots, but was discovered a time after it had fallen, so it was likely larger when it fell. There was extensive crop damage in the area.

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-14 00:12:00 to 10-JUL-14 00:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEXINGTON
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 10.00M
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail ranging in size from quarters to half dollars was reported and accompanied wind gusts of 60 to 70 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 18:25:00 to 09-JUL-14 18:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORMAN
Magnitude: 74.00 MG
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: Mesonet

Hail in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 18:20:00 to 09-JUL-14 18:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: KENESAW
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 10.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Quarter size hail was accompanied by wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 18:20:00 to 09-JUL-14 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLSTEIN
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts were estimated to be at least 70 MPH.  Area crops were shredded by the combination of these winds and small hail. A large tree limb of 10 inches in diameter was downed west of Roseland.

Hail in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 18:55:00 to 09-JUL-14 19:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLADEN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: Public

Hail ranging in size from quarters to golf balls was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 19:00:00 to 09-JUL-14 19:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: COWLES
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Wind gusts were estimated to be between 60 and 70 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 19:18:00 to 09-JUL-14 19:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: GUIDE ROCK
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 18:45:00 to 09-JUL-14 18:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLUE HILL
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Wind gusts were estimated to be between 60 and 70 MPH. Irrigation pivots were reported downed just west of Blue Hill and bean fields were damaged due to the combination of the wind and hail of unknown size.

Hail in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 19:29:00 to 09-JUL-14 19:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: BOELUS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-14 00:12:00 to 10-JUL-14 00:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEXINGTON
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 4.00M
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts near and in Lexington were estimated to be between 60 and 70 MPH.  These winds accompanied hail ranging in size from quarters to half dollars.

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-14 00:40:00 to 10-JUL-14 00:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: GOTHENBURG
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 3.50M
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Ping pong ball size hail accompanied wind gusts of 60 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-14 00:40:00 to 10-JUL-14 00:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: GOTHENBURG
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 3.50M
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts estimated at 60 MPH accompanied ping pong ball size hail.

Hail in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-14 00:47:00 to 10-JUL-14 00:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELWOOD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 2.00M
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter size hail accompanied wind gusts of 60 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 10-JUL-14 00:47:00 to 10-JUL-14 00:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELWOOD
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 2.00M
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts estimated at 60 MPH accompanied quarter size hail.

Heavy Rain in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 06:00:00 to 10-JUL-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLUE HILL
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The storm total rainfall amount was 3.34 inches.

Hail in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 16:20:00 to 09-JUL-14 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ARCADIA
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: Public

Hail ranged in size from quarters to ping pong balls. Crop damage was reported in the area.

Hail in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 16:30:00 to 09-JUL-14 16:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOUP CITY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: Public

Hail ranged in size from quarters to golf balls and was covering the ground in some locations.

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 17:15:00 to 09-JUL-14 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAVENNA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: Public

Hail ranged in size from quarters to golf balls. Extensive damage to crops was reported in the area as well as house siding and window damage in Ravenna.

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 17:40:00 to 09-JUL-14 17:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: GIBBON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 17:40:00 to 09-JUL-14 17:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: ORD
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: Public

Hail ranged in size from quarters to golf balls.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 17:50:00 to 09-JUL-14 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: (EAR)KEARNEY ARPT
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 10.00M
Reported by: Public

Strong outflow from the parent thunderstorm located to the east of this path produced wind gusts estimated to be near 70 MPH. There were numerous reports of tree damage in the area, including a large tree limb estimated to be 12 inches in diameter downed and a tree estimated to be 30 inches in diameter snapped at the base and then fell onto a home.  The elderly resident of this home suffered injuries when shards of glass entered the home from the combination of wind and hail. The top of a grain bin was blown off and vinyl siding was partially torn off one side of a home.  On Interstate 80, near exit 279 southeast of Kearney, a semi truck was blown onto its side.

Hail in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 19:50:00 to 09-JUL-14 19:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: LITCHFIELD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Thunderstorm Wind in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 09-JUL-14 18:15:00 to 09-JUL-14 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: KENESAW
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 10.00M
Reported by: NWS Employee

Wind gusts were estimated to be at least 60 MPH.