An upper level ridge was centered from the Four Corners Region to Arkansas. South central and central Nebraska were on the northern edge of this ridge. A weak upper trough extended over much of the Midwest. Temperatures were generally in the 70s during the early morning hours of July 29th across central and south central Nebraska. Dewpoint temperatures were generally in the mid 60s to lower 70s. Most unstable CAPE values were over 3,000 J/kg and the effective shear was around 40 knots. Surface winds were out of the north to northeast and winds at 500 millibars were out of the northwest.
A complex of thunderstorms developed and strengthened over the Nebraska Sandhills during the early morning hours of July 29th and moved southeast. These storms began impacting the area just after 4:30 AM CDT in Valley County with wind gusts of 66 to 81 mph which caused tree damage. This complex of storms continued to move southeast across central and south central Nebraska and impacted Dawson, Phelps, Howard, Hall, Adams, Hamilton, Clay, and Fillmore Counties with severe wind gusts. These wind gusts ranged from 58 mph to 72 mph and resulted in tree and power pole damage. The final report of severe winds was at 7:30 AM CDT in Fillmore County. The most significant event was a brief tornado that had developed within the line/complex of storms in Clay County just before 7 AM CDT. The tornado moved from northwest to southeast across the town of Sutton. This tornado resulted in damage to trees, small outbuildings, homes, buildings, garages, a golf course, and a corn field. The tornado was rated as an EF-1 with winds up to 110 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 05:30:00 to 29-JUL-23 05:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PAULINE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 05:57:00 to 29-JUL-23 05:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: SUTTON
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust of 62 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located one mile west-northwest of Sutton.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 06:05:00 to 29-JUL-23 06:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLAY CENTER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH downed a few tree branches of 3 to 4 inches in diameter.

Thunderstorm Wind in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 06:30:00 to 29-JUL-23 06:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: OHIOWA
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 70 MPH by emergency management in Milligan. A 66 MPH wind gust was measured by a mesonet station located four miles north-northwest of Ohiowa and a wind gust of 65 MPH was measured by a mesonet state located four miles west of Milligan.

Thunderstorm Wind in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 03:35:00 to 29-JUL-23 03:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: (ODX)SHARP FLD ORD
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Wind gusts of 66 MPH and 81 MPH were measured by the Ord Airport ASOS. These wind gusts caused widespread tree damage across Ord. Large trees were damaged, some snapped in half, and large tree branches were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 04:00:00 to 29-JUL-23 04:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: COZAD
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust of 62 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located one mile north-northeast of Cozad. A trained spotter reported minor tree damage in the area, with a few limbs strewn across Highway 30 between Cozad and Lexington.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 04:50:00 to 29-JUL-23 04:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST PAUL
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Wind gusts estimated to be between 60 and 70 MPH resulted in numerous downed tree branches in St. Paul.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 05:15:00 to 29-JUL-23 05:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: (GRI)GRAND IS RGNL A
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by the Grand Island Central Nebraska Regional Airport ASOS. Some tree damage was reported in town, including a downed tree branch approximately 10 to 12 feet long.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 03:55:00 to 29-JUL-23 03:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: SUMNER
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles north-northwest of Sumner.

Thunderstorm Wind in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 05:42:00 to 29-JUL-23 05:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARQUETTE
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Wind gusts estimated to be near 65 MPH resulted in some minor tree damage in the area. A street light was damaged in Marquette and a power pole was damaged near the Aurora Airport.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 04:23:00 to 29-JUL-23 04:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: OVERTON
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles east of Overton.

Tornado in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 05:53:00 to 29-JUL-23 05:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: SUTTON
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 750.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A brief tornado developed within a long-lived line of thunderstorms just prior to 7 AM CDT on July 29th. This tornado moved from northwest to southeast across the town of Sutton. The first visible damage occurred as the tornado developed on the northwest edge of Sutton. Tree damage was the most obvious damage in this area, with several large branches snapped. Some small outbuildings were also overturned and damaged, along with minor damage to homes, including windows, doors and siding. Roofing damage was limited in the early portions of the path. Most notable damage occurred in the downtown area of Sutton, where a steel roof was peeled off of a downtown building and lofted about one block to the south. There was also damage to brickwork on buildings, presumably as this roof was dragged across the top of adjacent buildings. This is where the estimated peak wind speeds of 110 MPH occurred. The tornado then continued southeast, snapping several trees across the southeast half of town. An old garage was also swept off of its foundation and blown into a nearby home and garage, causing significant damage to those buildings. Finally the tornado passed onto the golf course on the southeast edge of town. A maintenance building was severely damaged and several healthy trees were snapped. From here, the tornado passed into a corn field, producing a small path of crop damage. The tornado appeared to have lifted less than one-half mile southeast of Sutton.

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 04:40:00 to 29-JUL-23 04:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLDREGE ARPT
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

A wind gust of 72 MPH was measured by the Holdrege Airport AWOS.

Thunderstorm Wind in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 06:12:00 to 29-JUL-23 06:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: GENEVA
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust of 60 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles north-northwest of Geneva and a wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located five miles west of Geneva. Tree damage was reported in Geneva, and one power pole was damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 29-JUL-23 05:20:00 to 29-JUL-23 05:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: (HSI)HASTINGS ARPT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH at the NWS Hastings office located four miles north of Hastings.