Thunderstorm Wind in Shelby County, Iowa

KHNR AWOS measured thunderstorm wind gust of 68 mph.

On July 10, 2025, a shortwave trough pushing into Nebraska spurred the development of a surface low, which tracked eastward across the state. This system fueled a rapid increase in atmospheric instability during the afternoon as improved forcing for ascent moved in, triggering thunderstorms across east-central Nebraska. Initially, a few semi-discrete supercells formed in the northeast Nebraska, bringing large hail and damaging winds. Notable reports included hail estimated at 1.75 inches in diameter northeast of Neligh and 1.25-inch hail northwest of Monroe. Wind gusts within these initial storms were also measured between 58 and 63 mph.

In the evening, these storms merged and grew into a large, relatively disorganized cluster of thunderstorms that pushed eastward across eastern Nebraska and into southwestern Iowa. After crossing the Missouri River, one portion of the line intensified, producing a measured wind gust of 68 mph south of Harlan, Iowa. The thunderstorm complex also brought localized heavy rainfall, with rates of 1.5 to 2.5 inches per hour. This contributed to rainfall totals of 2 to 3 inches in northeast Nebraska, which exacerbated already saturated conditions from the previous week. The thunderstorms gradually weakened overnight as they progressed into central Iowa, with precipitation slowly clearing behind the main line of storms.