During the latter half of May, an unusually long-lasting, roughly six-week period of generally minor flooding commenced along the Platte River in South Central Nebraska, impacting local areas from Gothenburg downstream to near Grand Island. This event was spurred by a combination of heavy May rainfall over upstream portions of northeast Colorado and the southern Nebraska Panhandle, coincident with above normal Rocky Mountains snow melt. Although the initial flooding within South Central Nebraska was largely tied to these upstream factors, it then perpetuated through much of June thanks to heavy rain falling directly over the local Platte basin, especially between the Kearney and Grand Island areas. Although peak water levels and impacts during this May-June event closely resembled those which occurred during the Platte River flooding of late-September to early-October 2013, this event was considerably more prolonged. The vast majority of local flooding impacts were noted within Dawson, Buffalo and Hall counties, mainly affecting pastures and lowlands immediately adjacent to the river, with very little impact to infrastructure. That being said, a few locations did experience legitimate disruptions. One of these was the Blue Heron Campground near Gothenburg, and another being the area around the south side of the Interstate 80 exit 312/Highway 281 interchange area near Grand Island, where water occasionally encroached into the parking lots of businesses. Water levels and resultant flooding concerns decreased downstream from the Grand Island area, largely due to the widening of the main river channel.
Taking a closer look at the onset and timing of Platte River flooding within South Central Nebraska during May, the stage was set by heavy upstream rainfall coinciding with above normal snow melt. For the month of May as a whole, the vast majority of northeast Colorado and the southern Nebraska Panhandle received 5-10 of precipitation, or about 200-400 percent of normal. The Platte started creeping out of its banks in southwest Nebraska during the May 10-15 time frame. Within the local area, minor flooding got underway in the Dawson County area around May 16th, with the automated gauge near Cozad initially cresting around 6.7 feet (flood stage 6.5 feet) on the 20th. Downstream at the gauge near Kearney, flood stage of 6.0 feet was initially exceeded on the 18th, with a pair of crests around 7.0 feet occurring on the 22nd and again on the 31st. Farther east near Grand Island, the river initially crept above the 6.5 ft. flood stage between the 22nd-24th, then briefly dropped below flood for a few days before starting a more persistent rise above flood stage on the 31st. All three of these automated gauges either periodically reached, or consistently stayed above flood stage well into June (please refer to the June Storm Data entry for more specific information regarding the latter stages of this Platte River flooding).

Flood in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 15-MAY-15 06:00:00 to 31-MAY-15 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: GOTHENBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 3.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Flood in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 17-MAY-15 06:00:00 to 31-MAY-15 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELM CREEK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 3.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Flood in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 19-MAY-15 06:00:00 to 31-MAY-15 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOOD RIVER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 3.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager