Between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. CDT on this Tuesday evening into early Wednesday morning, a strong-to-severe, linear mesoscale convective system (MCS) tracked west-to-east through most of South Central Nebraska, but with its most intense elements primarily impacting areas near and north of Interstate 80. Sporadic wind damage was the main issue, as although not all places observed severe-criteria winds (many sites only peaked in the 45-55 MPH range), some locations saw stronger gusts measured or estimated to at least 60-70 MPH. However, no community was harder hit than Genoa on the extreme eastern edge of the local area. Shortly after 11:30 p.m. CDT, a microburst with estimated 70-90 MPH winds slammed into town, causing considerable wind damage over several city blocks. This included many downed trees and large branches, along with structural damage to both residences and businesses. A lumberyard lost a portion of the front of its building and a section of roof was lifted off the post office. One home had twigs embedded into its siding. While Genoa sustained the overall-worst damage in South Central Nebraska, a sampling of other wind reports included: trees downed in and near Boelus and measured gusts of 70 MPH at Grand Island airport, 62 MPH near Ravenna and 61 MPH at Lexington airport.
Severe storms initially fired up in western Nebraska during the late afternoon and early evening hours and started tracking east. Between 9-10 p.m. CDT, the leading edge of the maturing, strong-to-severe squall line entered the local area into Dawson County. Over the following few hours, this storm complex accelerated eastward while assuming a generally north-northeast to south-southwest orientation. By 1 a.m. CDT, the severe threat had waned as the squall line departed to the east/weakened, although non-severe activity lingered a few more hours within South Central Nebraska before completely ending for the night.
This was a fairly well-anticipated event, as the Storm Prediction Center upgraded the Day 1 severe threat category to Enhanced Risk (level 3-of-5) during the morning hours. In the mid-upper levels, the pattern was very favorable/typical for summer severe weather, featuring quasi-zonal flow and a respectable, small-scale shortwave trough tracking east across Nebraska over the course of the afternoon and evening. At the surface, low pressure centered over the Dakotas deepened to around 998 millibars by early evening. As a result, southerly breezes across South Central Nebraska averaged 15-25 MPH during the day with higher gusts, allowing a warm front to surge north. By early evening, dewpoints had increased into the mid-60s to low-70s F range ahead of a north-south oriented cold front slowly approaching from the west. As the MCS peaked in intensity over South Central Nebraska, the environment featured mixed-layer CAPE of 2000-3000 J/kg and effective deep layer wind shear around 40 knots, with a strong low level jet of 50-60 knots feeding in from the south.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 27-JUN-17 20:55:00 to 27-JUN-17 20:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEXINGTON ARPT
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 27-JUN-17 21:23:00 to 27-JUN-17 21:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLEASANTON
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorm Wind in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 27-JUN-17 21:40:00 to 27-JUN-17 21:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: BOELUS
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 65 MPH. There was tree damage reported on the east side of town.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 27-JUN-17 21:45:00 to 27-JUN-17 21:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: ODESSA
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 27-JUN-17 21:45:00 to 27-JUN-17 21:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAVENNA
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 27-JUN-17 22:51:00 to 27-JUN-17 22:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: INLAND
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 27-JUN-17 21:41:00 to 27-JUN-17 21:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 27-JUN-17 22:22:00 to 27-JUN-17 22:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: (GRI)GRAND IS RGNL A
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Peak wind gusts included 63 MPH at 11:22 p.m. CDT and 70 MPH at 11:25 p.m. CDT.

Thunderstorm Wind in NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 27-JUN-17 22:37:00 to 27-JUN-17 22:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: GENOA
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A several block wide stretch of wind damage occurred in Genoa, including several trees down and homes, buildings and vehicles damaged. Local businesses lost power into the following day, and a lumberyard lost a portion of the front of its building, which also sustained electrical damage. The storm also lifted off a section of the post office roof and destroyed a window.

Thunderstorm Wind in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 28-JUN-17 00:05:00 to 28-JUN-17 00:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: FAIRMONT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Tree limbs up to 6 inches in diameter were downed.