The vast majority of South Central Nebraska experienced very little (if any) notable weather on this Friday. However, there were a couple of significant exceptions, as heavy rains caused extensive flooding in parts of Valley County and a lone severe storm with damaging winds and large hail brushed far western portions of Dawson and Furnas counties. Going into more detail, and starting with the Valley County situation, a small-but-persistent cluster of heavy showers/non-severe storms dumped a roughly 5-10 mile wide swath of heavy rain on northwestern and south central portions of the county, mainly between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. CDT. These areas received a widespread 2-4 with isolated pockets as high as 5-7, including an unofficial public report of 6.25 nine miles west-southwest of Elyria. Within a few hours after the onset of heavy rain, several rural roads were flooded/washed out, and small creeks such as Turtle Creek spilled out of their banks. An NeRAIN observer southwest of Elyria commented that Turtle Creek flooding was worse than what occurred during the historic March 2019 floods. By the evening and overnight hours, flooding also ramped up on Mira Creek south of Ord, including a bridge washout on a paved county road. During the pre-dawn hours of the 3rd, Mira Creek flooding reached the town of North Loup, prompting mainly minor water issues on the north side of town. Turning to the severe storm aspect of the day (and completely separate from the Valley County flooding), an isolated severe storm tracked almost due south over the western fringes of Dawson and Furnas counties between 6:30-9:30 p.m. CDT, affecting the Gothenburg and Cambridge areas. Near Gothenburg, a mesonet clocked a 66 MPH gust and a flag pole was bent over. A bit later, trained spotters just west of Cambridge reported hail up to golf ball size and a measured wind gust of 71 MPH, with a few power poles downed on Highway 6/34.
In the big picture of the mid-upper levels, forcing was nebulous over the Central Plains as subtle waves passed through northwesterly flow, directed around the edge of an expansive ridge centered over New Mexico. Most notably for the Valley County flooding, precipitable water values averaged nearly 2, fostering impressive rainfall rates in low-topped cells. For the evening severe storm in Dawson/Furnas counties, mesoscale parameters featured around 1500 J/kg mixed-layer CAPE and 35 knots of deep-layer wind shear. At the surface, a nondescript pattern existed over South Central Nebraska, with light southerly-to-easterly breezes and dewpoints in the upper 60s to around 70 F.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 02-AUG-19 18:09:00 to 02-AUG-19 18:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: GOTHENBURG
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 66 MPH wind gust was measured by a mesonet station located 2 miles north-northwest of Gothenburg at 7:14 PM CDT, and a 65 MPH wind gust was measured at 7:09 PM CDT. These winds damaged a flag pole at the mesonet location, and also caused tree damage on the north side of Gothenburg.

Hail in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 02-AUG-19 19:45:00 to 02-AUG-19 19:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAMBRIDGE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 125.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Golf ball size hail was accompanied by wind gusts near 70 MPH, with a 71 MPH wind gust measured by a mesonet station.

Thunderstorm Wind in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 02-AUG-19 19:45:00 to 02-AUG-19 19:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAMBRIDGE
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 125.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A 71 MPH wind gust was measured by a mesonet station located 1 mile west-northwest of Cambridge. These winds were accompanied by quarter to golf ball size hail. Three power poles were snapped on Highway 34 west of Cambridge, and tree damage and downed power poles occurred in Cambridge, including at the Cambridge cemetery.

Thunderstorm Wind in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 02-AUG-19 19:45:00 to 02-AUG-19 19:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAMBRIDGE
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 58 MPH wind gust was measured by a mesonet station located 2 miles north-northeast of Cambridge.

Flash Flood in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 02-AUG-19 13:00:00 to 02-AUG-19 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ORD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Measurements and radar estimations showed rainfall totals as high as 5-7 inches within the area area, with the highest totals in northwestern and south central portions of the county, including a CoCoRaHS station with 5.87 six miles west of Elyria and an unofficial public total of 6.25 nine miles west-southwest of Elyria. Emergency management reported that several rural roads were under water, with at least one road southwest of Elyria completely washed out.

Flash Flood in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 02-AUG-19 15:00:00 to 02-AUG-19 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: ARCADIA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Radar estimation showed that rainfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches fell across the area. Emergency management reported some rural roads were covered with water. Approximately 6 miles south of Ord, a bridge crossing Mira Creek was washed out.