Thunderstorm Wind in Franklin County, Nebraska

Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH resulted in minor tree damage in town.

An upper trough centered over Canada extended southward over the Midwest and northern and central Plains. Temperatures were in the 80s across south central Nebraska. The atmosphere became uncapped. MLCAPE values were up to 3000 J/kg and effective wind shear was 40 knots. Mid-level lapse rates were fairly modest with values between 6 and 7 degrees C/km. Tornado development was limited by unfavorable low-level wind shear. A cold front was across northern Nebraska.

Storms developed across south central Nebraska during the afternoon hours and became severe. The storms produced strong, damaging wind gusts in Harlan and Franklin Counties between 3:30 and 4:30 PM CDT then moved southward into northern Kansas. Additional storms developed to the northwest of the area along the cold front and moved into south central Nebraska during the evening hours. One storm moved into Dawson County and began by producing an estimated 60 mph wind gust at 7:45 PM CDT. This storm continued moving south southeast and produced more strong, damaging winds in Dawson, Buffalo, and Phelps Counties. The strongest wind gust was estimated to be near 75 mph in Phelps County. This storm also produced quarter to golf ball sized hail in Dawson and Phelps Counties. There was also a home in Buffalo County that got struck by lightning and was destroyed. The storm reports ended just before 9 PM CDT.