Historical flooding occurred in north central Nebraska as rivers, creeks and other streams rose due to the combination of snow, rain, and rapid snow melt on top of frozen ground. The greatest flooding occurred along the Niobrara, Keya Paha, Elkhorn and Loup Rivers; Ponca, Long Pine, Victoria and Cedar creeks; and one fatality occurred from the failure of Spencer Dam that is located on the Niobrara River. In addition to the Spencer Dam failure, several privately owned dams failed. The failure of these private dams contributed to additional overland flooding and most likely exacerbated the flooding in localized areas that led to community evacuations. The combination of weather elements on ice in the rivers led to increased runoff and rapid breakup of ice. Large ice chucks on several rivers destroyed or damaged river bridges, to include state, county and private owned bridges in several counties.

Flood in KEYA PAHA, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAR-19 19:45:00 to 16-MAR-19 19:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORDEN
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Flooding reported along the Niobrara River south of Norden.

Flood in KEYA PAHA, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 11:42:00 to 13-MAR-19 11:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: SPRINGVIEW
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Heavy rainfall combined with snow melt and frost in the ground for ice jams that produced blocked roadways from large ice blocks and flood waters on Highway 7 in Keya Paha County along the Keya Paha and Niobrara rivers.

Flood in BROWN, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 16:30:00 to 13-MAR-19 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: LONG PINE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Flooding reported at the Hidden Paradise Resort along the Long Pine Creek.

Flood in HOLT, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 05:24:00 to 13-MAR-19 05:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: EWING
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Highway 45B near Ewing crossing the Elkhorn River is closed due to water over the road.

Flood in HOLT, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 11:15:00 to 13-MAR-19 11:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: (ONL)O NEILL ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Water reported over several streets in O'Neill.

Flood in HOLT, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAR-19 15:16:00 to 16-MAR-19 15:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATKINSON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Roads 877 and 876 are closed due to water over the roadway. Flooding also reported at the Golf Course.

Flood in LOGAN, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 06:29:00 to 13-MAR-19 06:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: STAPLETON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Numerous roads reported washed out in Logan County.

Flood in LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 06:54:00 to 13-MAR-19 06:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: (LBF)BIRD FLD NORTH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Flooding reported on the Garfield Table road.

Flood in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 16:23:00 to 13-MAR-19 16:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: ANSELMO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Custer county EM reports widespread flooding in Anselmo.

Flood in LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 12:00:00 to 13-MAR-19 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRADY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous roads in eastern Lincoln County near Maxwell and Brady are flooded.

Flood in WHEELER, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 11:39:00 to 14-MAR-19 11:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: ERICSON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Wheeler County EM reported extensive roadway flooding throughout the entire county.  Nebraska Department of Roads reports roadway flooding from Ericson to the Junction of U.S. Highway 281 and Highway 91.

Flood in LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 22:30:00 to 13-MAR-19 22:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: (LBF)BIRD FLD NORTH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Ehler road completely washed out.

Flood in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 16:23:00 to 13-MAR-19 16:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: SARGENT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Custer county emergency management reports extensive flooding in Sargent.

Flood in ROCK, NEBRASKA
From 14-MAR-19 12:15:00 to 14-MAR-19 12:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: BASSETT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Public reports flooding along Highway 20 or about 4 miles west of Bassett.

Flood in ROCK, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 12:00:00 to 15-MAR-19 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEWPORT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Widespread flooding reported in Newport.

Flood in BOYD, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 22:00:00 to 14-MAR-19 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BUTTE
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The Highway 11 bridge across the Niobrara River about 5 miles south of Butte is closed due to flooding. An ice jam produced large ice blocks that remained at the time of NWS storm survey.

Flood in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 08:32:00 to 15-MAR-19 08:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: CALLAWAY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Water reported over the road on Highway 40 from the junction of highway's 40 and 47 south of Arnold, to Arnold. Ditches are full with several secondary roads washed out in the Callaway area.

Flood in BOYD, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 11:59:00 to 15-MAR-19 11:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: LYNCH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Heavy rainfall led to high flows on Ponca Creek that produced extensive flooding and evacuations in Lynch.  Homes and business along Ponca Creek sustained four feet or more of flood water damage, while several privately own bridges along Ponca Creek were destroyed. The flood waters eroded streets along and south of Highway 12.

Flood in BOYD, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 16:30:00 to 15-MAR-19 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: NAPER
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

County road bridge 8 miles south of Naper along the Niobrara River reported destroyed by heavy rain and snow melt that led to ice jams that broke up and moved downstream.

Flood in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 10:56:00 to 13-MAR-19 10:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: OCONTO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Street flooding reported in Oconto.

Flood in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 10:59:00 to 13-MAR-19 10:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: BERWYN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Road flooded 1 mile west of Berwyn.

Flood in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 14-MAR-19 10:25:00 to 14-MAR-19 10:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: SARGENT
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Historical bridge 1 mile south of Sargent destroyed by Ice flows along the Middle Loup River.

Flood in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAR-19 08:43:00 to 16-MAR-19 08:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: COMSTOCK
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Bridge approaches on highway 21C  crossing the Middle Loup River just west of Comstock have been compromised.

Flood in GARFIELD, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 05:24:00 to 13-MAR-19 05:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: BURWELL
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Flooding with water reported over the road on Highway 96 northwest of Burwell.

Flood in GARFIELD, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 05:24:00 to 13-MAR-19 05:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: BURWELL
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Flooding with water reported over the road on Highway 96 northwest of Burwell.

Flood in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 14-MAR-19 11:22:00 to 14-MAR-19 11:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: OCONTO
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Bridge abutment crossing the South Loup River on Highway 21 northeast of Oconto destroyed.

Flash Flood in BOYD, NEBRASKA
From 14-MAR-19 06:47:00 to 14-MAR-19 12:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONOWI
Flood cause: Dam / Levee Break
Property damage: 12.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Heavy rain on top of frozen ground, rivers and streams led to historical runoff on the Niobrara River downstream of the Norden river crossing. At 6:46 AM CDT Holt County Dispatch reported the failure of Spencer Dam. A series of ice jams that developed upstream broke loose that led to a wall of water, large blocks of ice and debris that moved downstream to destroy the dam structure with flood waters to destroy the south bridge abutment on U.S. Highway 281 and the campground, bar and home immediately downstream of the dam. The flood caused one fatality.

Flood in ROCK, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 11:05:00 to 13-MAR-19 11:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: BASSETT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The NDOR web site reported water over Highway 183 in several places between Bassett and the Junction of Highway 96 and Highway 183 south of Rose.

Flood in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 08:32:00 to 13-MAR-19 08:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: ARNOLD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The NDOR web site reported flooding on Highway 92, 10 miles east of Arnold.

Flood in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 08:32:00 to 13-MAR-19 08:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: MERNA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The NDOR web site reported flooding on Highway 92 or about 8 miles west of Merna.

Flood in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 12:20:00 to 13-MAR-19 12:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: WESTERVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Highway 70 east of Westerville to the Custer and Sherman county line was closed due to flooding.

Flood in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 10:54:00 to 13-MAR-19 10:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: ANSELMO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The NDOR reported flooding  along several stretches between Anselmo and the end of Highway 21A, 6 miles east of Anselmo.

Flood in BLAINE, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 11:03:00 to 15-MAR-19 11:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: BREWSTER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The NDOR web site reported flooding on Highway 91 between county road L5B and east Milburn Road with water over the roadway.

Flood in BOYD, NEBRASKA
From 13-MAR-19 11:48:00 to 15-MAR-19 11:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: BUTTE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The NDOR web site reported street flooding in Butte as well as along Highway 12 from 3 miles south of Butte.