As severe storm/flooding events go, some are definitely better-anticipated than others (forecast-wise). Unfortunately, what transpired on this Thursday evening the 22nd into early Friday morning the 23rd fell into the low-predictability category, as an apparent mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) sparked isolated-but-intense thunderstorms that not only dumped flooding rains on parts of Sherman/Buffalo/Howard/Hall/Adams counties, but also brought a damaging combination of winds and hail to parts of Hall/Adams counties. Going into more detail, and starting with the severe weather aspect, around 1:30 a.m. CDT a severe thunderstorm rapidly blossomed over southern Hall County. It started drifting slowly south-southeast, reaching Hastings around 3 a.m. CDT and eventually weakening/dissipating over southern Clay County between 4-5 a.m. CDT. Along the way, this storm produced winds measured as high as 76 MPH at Hastings airport, along  with copious amounts of hail up to half dollar size. In Hall County, at least one semi truck was blown over on Interstate 80. However, Hastings was the hardest hit local community, specifically the west side of town and adjacent rural areas, where the wind/hail combo shredded trees and gardens, damaged house siding and ravaged maturing crops. Some hail drifts in/near west Hastings were still visible well into the daytime hours (side note: this was at least the third time in 2019 that severe storms impacted Hastings). Flooding was certainly an issue within Hall/Adams counties as well, particularly in the Amick Acres neighborhood west of Doniphan where a CoCoRaHS observer measured 4.54 of rain. This prompted extensive flooding of basements and overflowed a series of small lakes (at least minor flooding would continue at Amick Acres for several more days). Flooding was less-severe in the Hastings area, but there was still short-term flooding of fields and rural roads (including the brief closure of Showboat Road just east of town).
Although the weather impacts in Hall/Adams counties dominated the local news headlines, significant-but-localized flooding also occurred in more rural areas of southern Sherman, northeastern Buffalo and southeastern Howard counties earlier in the night. Focusing on the more significant event in Sherman/Buffalo counties, a slow-moving series of re-generating storms dumped 2-5+ inches of rain along a narrow corridor from south of Loup City to south of Ravenna, with the majority falling between 7 p.m. and midnight CDT. There were a few unofficial public reports of totals as high as 7-7.50, along with some ground-truth reports of flooding/flash flooding, including water running over portions of Highways 10 and 68. As mentioned at the top, the development and intensity of these evening and overnight storms was not well-anticipated in official forecasts, as numerical models failed to latch onto the apparent influence of a pesky, slow-moving MCV that drifted eastward into South Central Nebraska during the day on the 22nd and stuck around through the night. The larger scale mid-upper air pattern over Nebraska was not very notable, featuring only subtle/low amplitude disturbances ejecting eastward from a trough centered over the Northern Rockies. Adding to the surprising intensity of this convection, mesoscale analysis depicted only weak deep-layer wind shear of no more than 25-30 knots, along with only around 1000 J/kg most-unstable CAPE.

Flood in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 23-AUG-19 13:00:00 to 31-AUG-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: DONIPHAN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several homes experienced flooded basements and flooding from overflowing small lakes at the Amick Acres neighborhood west of Doniphan. With additional bouts of heavy rain, flooding persisted for over a week there. A CoCoRaHS observer near Doniphan measured an incredible 11.91 of rain between Aug. 21-26, and 16.76 for the entire month.

Thunderstorm Wind in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 23-AUG-19 02:30:00 to 23-AUG-19 02:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: PAULINE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Wind gusts estimated to be between 60 and 65 MPH lasted for approximately 20 minutes.

Hail in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 23-AUG-19 02:15:00 to 23-AUG-19 02:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: (HSI)HASTINGS ARPT
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 1.25M
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: NWS Employee

Copious amounts of hail up to half dollar size was reported near the Hastings Airport. Accompanied by wind gusts near 70 to 75 MPH, this hail shredded area trees, crops and gardens, and damaged house siding, in and near the west side of Hastings. Hail drifts were still visible in/near west Hastings hours after the storm passed.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 23-AUG-19 00:30:00 to 23-AUG-19 00:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALDA
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Wind gusts estimated to be near 75 MPH caused semi trucks to be blown over on Interstate 80 near mile marker 305.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 23-AUG-19 01:12:00 to 23-AUG-19 01:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROSEDALE
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 125.00K
Crop damage: 3.00M
Reported by: NWS Employee

Wind gusts estimated to be near 75 MPH resulted in a large hardwood tree being snapped. Crop damage in the area was severe due to the combination of wind and hail of unknown size.

Thunderstorm Wind in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 23-AUG-19 01:59:00 to 23-AUG-19 02:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: JUNIATA
Magnitude: 66.00 MG
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: ASOS

A 76 MPH wind gust was measured by the Hastings Airport ASOS at 2:59 AM CDT. Wind gusts were estimated to be near 70 to 75 MPH along this path. A light helicopter was blown over at the Hastings Airport. Quarter to half dollar size hail was also reported near the airport, which combined with intense winds to shred trees, crops and gardens, and damage house siding, in and near the west side of Hastings.

Flash Flood in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 22-AUG-19 21:00:00 to 23-AUG-19 02:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCKVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The following highways were closed to flash flooding: Highway 10 about 6 miles south of Loup City on Wiggle Creek, Highway 10 about 5 miles east of Hazard, and Highway 68 about four miles north of Ravenna. A rainfall amount of 7 inches was reported about 6 miles south of Loup City, with water flooding a home basement and other outbuildings. A rainfall amount of 7.5 inches was reported about 6 miles north northwest of Ravenna, occurring on top of 4.5 inches of rain from two days ago. Several county roads were flooded in the area.

Flood in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 23-AUG-19 02:15:00 to 23-AUG-19 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCKVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 125.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Areal flooding continued after initial flash flooding. Portions of Highway 10 and Highway 68  were closed from areal flooding. Also South River Road was closed due to flooding.

Flood in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 23-AUG-19 05:00:00 to 23-AUG-19 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAVENNA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Mud Creek was out of its banks and flowing across Highway 68, on the south side of Ravenna.

Flash Flood in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 23-AUG-19 04:00:00 to 23-AUG-19 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: DONIPHAN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several homes experienced flooded basements and flooding from overflowing small lakes at the Amick Acres neighborhood west of Doniphan. With additional bouts of heavy rain, flooding persisted for over a week there. A CoCoRaHS observer near Doniphan measured an incredible 11.91 of rain between Aug. 21-26, and 16.76 for the entire month. Also, shorter-term, 24-hour rain totals from around Hall County on the 22nd (via CoCoRaHS) included 5.98 inches 4 miles south southwest of Alda, 4.54 inches 3 miles west of Doniphan, and 3.67 inches 6 miles west northwest of Hansen.

Flood in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 23-AUG-19 10:00:00 to 23-AUG-19 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HASTINGS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 125.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

The West Fork of the Big Blue River flooded, causing Showboat Road to be closed for a brief period of time. A 24-hour rainfall total of 4.02 inches was reported from 5 miles north-northeast of Juniata.