Cold front brings slow moving thunderstorms and heavy rain to extreme southern portions of south central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening of July 26. Thunderstorms developed between 3pm and 4pm CDT from southwest to northeast, generally along a line from Rooks County in north central Kansas, to Thayer County in south central Nebraska. Once thunderstorms developed, heavy rain quickly became the main concern, though a few non-severe wind gusts around 50 to 55 mph were reported across north central Kansas early on in the event, as well as an estimated wind gust near 60mph in Thayer County. The heavy rain threat was driven by several factors, including: weak mid and upper level winds which resulted in slow storm motion, training of thunderstorms over the same areas for several hours, and unusually high atmospheric moisture levels. In fact, precipitable water values were near 2��� on this evening, which is near 3 standard deviations above normal and in the upper 90th percentile of climatology. Heavy rain rates of 1-2��� per hour, or higher, were common under the strongest thunderstorm cores, especially between the hours of 4pm and 9pm CDT. Thunderstorms gradually decreased in intensity during the late evening as the persistent convection over the same areas and loss of daytime heating led to decreasing instability. The majority of the lingering light rain ended by midnight.
For south central Nebraska, the heavy rain was limited to primarily eastern Nuckolls County and all of Thayer County. Storm total rain amounts by the morning of July 27th of 3-4��� inches were common, with an isolated maximum of 4-5��� plus reported in the Hebron area. The highest reported rain amount was 5.50��� measured at the fire station in Hebron and relayed by emergency management. The primary impacts from the heavy rain were flooded roads across Thayer County. This included numerous county roads along with Highway 5 north of Deshler and Highway 81 (which is a major four lane highway) between Belvidere and the Nebraska/Kansas state line. The flooding on Highway 81 may have contributed to a semi tractor trailer to lose control and drive into a ditch.

Heavy Rain in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 26-JUL-20 06:00:00 to 27-JUL-20 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HEBRON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A 24-hour total rainfall amount of 5.15 inches was recorded by a CoCoRaHS Observer located 1 mile east-northeast of Hebron.

Heavy Rain in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 26-JUL-20 06:00:00 to 27-JUL-20 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: DESHLER
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A 24-hour total rainfall amount of 5.21 inches was recorded by a CoCoRaHS Observer located 4 miles east-northeast of Deshler.

Flash Flood in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 26-JUL-20 20:30:00 to 27-JUL-20 01:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: DAVENPORT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Storm total rainfall amounts ranged from 4 to 7 inches across the area. Numerous county roads were affected. The Department of Transportation reported water over Highway 5 north of Deshler and Highway 81 was closed between Belvidere and the state line due to water over the road.

Thunderstorm Wind in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 26-JUL-20 15:30:00 to 26-JUL-20 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: DESHLER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH.

Heavy Rain in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 26-JUL-20 06:00:00 to 27-JUL-20 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HEBRON ARPT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

A 24-hour rainfall total of 4.13 inches was recorded by the Hebron Airport AWOS.

Heavy Rain in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 26-JUL-20 06:00:00 to 27-JUL-20 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HEBRON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A 24-hour total rainfall amount of 4.98 inches was recorded by the NWS Cooperative Observer in Hebron.