High Wind in Howard, Nebraska

A wind gust of 61 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles southwest of St. Libory.

The Central Plains were under the influence of northwesterly flow in the upper levels on this Thursday, with a shortwave disturbance sliding southeast out of the Northern Rockies, crossing the Dakotas before moving into the Great Lakes/Midwest regions. Precipitation remained north of the local area, with the main impact from this system coming in the form of gusty winds behind a passing surface cold front. This cold front pushed through the area during the early-mid morning hours, ushering in a switch to northwesterly winds. Aided by cold air advection and increased mixing potential with clearing skies, gusts exceeding 40 MPH were common through the afternoon hours, especially across areas along and north of Interstate 80 as well as areas along and east of Highway 281. In these areas, several gusts exceeded 50 MPH, with a handful of gusts peaking in the 59-64 MPH range. The highest gusts included 64 MPH, measured by the Grand Island Central Nebraska Regional Airport ASOS, and 63 MPH, measured by the Ord Airport ASOS.