Thunderstorms produced damaging winds and some low-end severe hail over several counties in south central Nebraska on this Tuesday evening and night. Scattered single cell thunderstorms began developing around 3 PM CST from central Kansas northeast into southern Nebraska. The formation of numerous cells quickly resulted in a transition to a multicell convective mode by 4 PM CST. This nearly continuous line of storms lifted north, crossing much of south central Nebraska between 5 and 8 PM CST. As this occurred, another cluster of multicells over north central Kansas merged and moved northeast, eventually taking on the shape of a bow echo. This line of storms affected areas from Nelson and Hebron up to York between 630 and 730 PM CST. More storms over southwest Nebraska and northwest Kansas eventually consolidated and crossed south central Nebraska as a small scale bow echo between 10 PM and 130 AM CST. The initial line lifting north produced a fairly large area of severe winds from the state line north to Holdrege and Grand Island. A grain bin was removed from its foundation and deposited on Highway 74 near the town of Roseland, in Adams County. A tractor-trailer was blown over on Interstate 80 as well, just south of Grand Island. The highest gust measured was 67 mph at the Holdrege airport. A brief EF-0 landspout tornado was photographed near the town of Exeter. The eastern portion of this line produced the most hail, with a few reports of 1 inch hail over Fillmore, Nuckolls, and Thayer Counties. The bow echo taking shape from Nelson to York snapped a few power poles in eastern Thayer County. The last line of storms to cross the area produced mostly sub-severe winds of 50 to 55 mph. However, severe winds did occur in a couple locations. The highest measured gust was 64 mph in the town of Norman, in eastern Kearney County. A brief EF-1 tornado also occurred in Clay County, just north of the town of Edgar. It was on the ground for approximately 2 miles, damaging outbuildings, trees, and overturning irrigation pivots. This tornado occurred just after midnight CST. Repeated thunderstorm activity resulted in 1 to 2 inches of rain over much of south central Nebraska. There were even a couple reports in excess of 3 inches. Ditches were full of water, and even some minor flooding of low-lying areas occurred near Highway 136 just west of the town of Inavale, and also near the intersections of Highways 81 and 92 west of Osceola.
Low pressure was over South Dakota, and its trailing weak cold front moved into south central Nebraska during the day. It became stationary as low pressure formed over southeast Colorado and deepened to near 990 mb. In the upper-levels, a longwave trough was over the Western U.S. with a ridge over the East. A strong shortwave trough lifted out of the Desert Southwest into the Southern Plains, while a closed low dropped into the Pacific Northwest. In the preconvective environment, an elevated mixed layer had overspread a moist boundary layer. Mid-level lapse rates were between 8 and 9 C/km. MUCAPE was between 3000 and 4500 J/kg. With strong dynamic forcing, deep layer shear was very strong, between 40 and 60 kt.

Tornado in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 15:43:00 to 16-MAY-17 15:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: EXETER
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A brief landspout tornado touched down northeast of Exeter. Damage was minimal along its short path, with some tin taken off a roof and an auger turned over. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be 70 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 17:47:00 to 16-MAY-17 17:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROSELAND
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Emergency management reported a grain bin on the road near the intersection of Highway 74 and Bladen Road. A nearby power pole was also snapped.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 18:20:00 to 16-MAY-17 18:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: DONIPHAN
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A semi truck was blown over on Interstate 80, blocking both lanes of traffic near mile marker 316.

Thunderstorm Wind in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 18:47:00 to 16-MAY-17 18:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: GILEAD
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Near the intersection of Highways 136 and 53 just east of Gilead, 3 power poles were snapped.

Thunderstorm Wind in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 23:31:00 to 16-MAY-17 23:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAMPBELL
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Wind gust were estimated to be between 65 and 70 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 23:58:00 to 17-MAY-17 00:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: HASTINGS
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH. There were a few tree limbs downed in town, and to the south-southeast of town an irrigation pivot was overturned.

Tornado in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 17-MAY-17 00:24:00 to 17-MAY-17 00:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: ONG
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A brief EF-1 tornado touched down northeast of Edgar. The tornado remained on the ground for approximately 2 miles, resulting in damage to 2 farmsteads. The damage was confined mainly to outbuildings and trees. A few center irrigation pivots were also damaged along its path. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be 90 MPH.

Hail in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 16:46:00 to 16-MAY-17 16:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: HEBRON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 17:07:00 to 16-MAY-17 17:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: OHIOWA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in NUCKOLLS, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 17:14:00 to 16-MAY-17 17:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: SUPERIOR
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Thunderstorm Wind in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 17:25:00 to 16-MAY-17 17:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: FRANKLIN
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 17:51:00 to 16-MAY-17 17:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOOMIS
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 17:53:00 to 16-MAY-17 17:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: FUNK
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 17:55:00 to 16-MAY-17 17:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLDREGE ARPT
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Thunderstorm Wind in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 17:58:00 to 16-MAY-17 17:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: JUNIATA
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorm Wind in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 18:35:00 to 16-MAY-17 18:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHAPMAN
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorm Wind in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 23:35:00 to 16-MAY-17 23:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORMAN
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Heavy Rain in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 14:00:00 to 17-MAY-17 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: STOCKHAM
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A total of 3.30 inches of rain had fallen over the past 24 hours.

Heavy Rain in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 17:00:00 to 17-MAY-17 09:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: INAVALE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A total of 4.25 inches of rain had fallen since 6 PM CDT.

Heavy Rain in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 17:00:00 to 17-MAY-17 09:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: INAVALE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A total of 4.25 inches of rain had fallen since 6 PM CDT.

Heavy Rain in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-17 06:00:00 to 17-MAY-17 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELWOOD
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A rainfall total of 3.28 inches over the past 24 hours was reported.