Storms bring flooding to Omaha, hail & damaging winds to sw IA
June 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson
Strong storms that moved from Nebraska into western and southwest Iowa Friday night resulted in street flooding in Omaha, reports of dime-to quarter-sized hail, potentially damaging winds, and the postponement of a College World Series game. A Flash Flood Warning that was issued just after midnight for northwestern Mills and south central Pottawattamie County, was allowed to expire at 6:30-a.m. Officials say the heavy rain which prompted the warning has ended, and flooding in those areas is no longer expected to pose a threat.
Here in Atlantic, we received just over one-inch of rain at the KJAN studios on the north side of town. A little further into town, 1.2-inches was reported. The storms moved into Harrison and Shelby Counties a little at around 6-p.m., Friday, dumping quarter-sized hail and winds of up to 45 miles per hour near Little Sioux. Less than an hour later, those winds had increased to over 55-miles per hour.
At around 8-p.m., dime-sized hail was reported near Mondamin, in Harrison County. A few minutes later, dime-to-quarter size hail was reported by a spotter in Missouri Valley. At about that same time, spotters at the Persia Fire station recorded a 60-mile per hour gust of wind. And, at around 8:15-p.m., the Harlan Airport’s automated weather observation system recorded a wind gust of up to 58-miles per hour.
There were no immediate reports of damage associated with the wind and hail events. Today’s forecast calls for the possibility of additional thunderstorm activity later this afternoon and tonight. The storms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall, damaging winds and large hail. Additional periods of thunderstorms are possible Sunday through next Friday, severe weather and heavy rain are possible as well. Information with regard to the timing and location of these storms will unfold as the week progresses.