Intense low pressure system brings prolonged period of strong to severe wind gusts to south central Nebraska from the early morning hours on the 14th, though the afternoon on the 15th. The initial surge of strong wind gusts of 50-60mph occurred along and behind of a strong cold front that was associated with an intense (sub-990 mb) surface low pressure near the North Dakota/Canada border. This initial surge of northwesterly wind gusts arrived during the early morning hours of January 13th, between midnight and 2am. Wind gusts weakened for a period early Thursday morning before increasing once again during the mid to late morning as the primary surface low dropped southeast from northern MN into northeast IA. The strong winds were the result of steep low level lapse rates and efficient mixing into an intense low level jet. The deep mixing also resulted in low relative humidity values near 20 percent, which when combined with the intense winds, produced dangerous fire weather conditions across south central Nebraska during the afternoon of the 14th. A Red Flag Warning was in effect when a large wildfire started in Webster County. This wildfire spread rapidly in the strong winds and travelled nearly 9 miles before being contained in western Nuckolls County. The main impacts were the burning of around 7000 acres and a few residential evacuations, however, no major structures were impacted and no injuries were reported.
Wind gusts up to 65mph are not terribly unusual for this area, but what set this system apart from many others was the long duration of strong winds - around 24 to 36 hours! In fact, despite many areas reaching High Wind Warning criteria on Thursday, March 14, the majority of south central Nebraska actually experienced their peak wind gusts from this event during the morning hours of the 15th, in which 65 to 70 mph gusts were measured. Damage and impacts from the high wind were fairly typical, generally ranging from tree and power line damage to some roof damage. There were no known widespread or long-lasting power outages from this event at the time of this writing.

High Wind in HARLAN, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region.

Wildfire in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 13:30:00 to 14-JAN-21 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A wildfire tracked roughly 9 miles southeast through crop and pasture land, burning upwards of 7000 acres. This fire started approximately 5 miles north of Guide Rock in Webster County around 1:30 PM CST and was eventually contained approximately 2 miles west of Bostwick in Nuckolls County by 9 PM CST. This fire crossed Highway 78 north of Guide Rock and Highway 136 near the Webster/Nuckolls County line. A total of 20 fire departments from 6 counties assisted. A few farmsteads were threatened along the path, and while fire got with a few feet of buildings, only 1 dilapidated building was burned. Residents were evacuated and no injuries were reported.

Wildfire in NUCKOLLS, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 13:30:00 to 14-JAN-21 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A wildfire tracked roughly 9 miles southeast through crop and pasture land, burning upwards of 7000 acres. This fire started approximately 5 miles north of Guide Rock in Webster County around 1:30 PM CST and was eventually contained approximately 2 miles west of Bostwick in Nuckolls County by 9 PM CST. This fire crossed Highway 78 north of Guide Rock and Highway 136 near the Webster/Nuckolls County line. A total of 20 fire departments from 6 counties assisted. A few farmsteads were threatened along the path, and while fire got with a few feet of buildings, only 1 dilapidated building was burned. Residents were evacuated and no injuries were reported.

High Wind in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region.

High Wind in YORK, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 69 MPH, recorded at 10:34 AM CST on January 15th by a mesonet located near Waco.

High Wind in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 60 MPH, recorded at 7:28 AM CST on January 15th by a mesonet located 4 N of Shickley.

High Wind in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 59 MPH, recorded at 3:59 AM CST on January 15th by a mesonet located 2 SSE of Davenport.

High Wind in NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region.

High Wind in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region.

High Wind in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 58 MPH, recorded at 6:55 AM CST on January 15th by the Aurora Airport AWOS.

High Wind in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region.

High Wind in NUCKOLLS, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 64 MPH, recorded at 1:19 AM CST on January 14th by a mesonet located 2 NNE of Superior.

High Wind in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 70 MPH, recorded at 2:53 AM CST on January 15th by the Ord Airport ASOS.

High Wind in GREELEY, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region.

High Wind in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 60 MPH, recorded at 3:35 AM CST on January 15th by a mesonet located 7 NNE of Sherman Reservoir.

High Wind in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region.

High Wind in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 69 MPH, recorded at 9:53 AM CST on January 15th by the ASOS at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island.

High Wind in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 62 MPH, recorded at 11:26 AM CST on January 15th by the Hastings Airport ASOS.

High Wind in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region.

High Wind in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 64 MPH, recorded at 10:05 AM CST on January 15th by a mesonet located 4 ENE of Odessa.

High Wind in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 65 MPH, recorded at 12:31 AM CST on January 14th by a mesonet located 8 S of Kearney.

High Wind in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 58 MPH, recorded at 12:33 AM CST on January 14th by a mesonet located 8 W of Macon.

High Wind in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 64 MPH, recorded at 8:20 PM CST on January 14th by a mesonet located 2 NNW of Gothenburg.

High Wind in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region. The peak measured gust in the county was 62 MPH, recorded at 1:09 AM CST on January 15th by a mesonet located 5 NNW of Oxford.

High Wind in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region.

High Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 14-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Frequent gusts of 55 to 65 MPH were reported across the region.