High Wind — Otoe, Nebraska

2002-04-18 · Otoe, Nebraska

Wider weather episode

A strong low level jet was aided by weakening and dissipating showers and thunderstorms and produced a large area of strong and occasionally damaging gradient winds. The strong winds first made it into southeast Nebraska at 148 am cdt when the Falls City Asos measured wind speeds of 72 mph. These strong winds blew a mobile home over and destroyed a barn and lawn care equipment north of Falls City. In addition, there was widespread roof and tree damage in and out of Falls City and an insurance agency estimated that claims for damage alone in Falls City came to around $100,000. In Johnson and Pawnee counties the winds were estimated at around 70 mph by Emergency Management, and both counties reported extensive tree damage. Considerable damage was reported around Cook to barns, sheds and other outbuildings in addition to several windows blown out. Several outbuildings were unroofed or sustained heavy damage 2 miles west of Tecumseh. Both of those towns are in Johnson county. Trees were severely damaged or uprooted in Otoe county from around Lorton to Nebraska City at around 215 am cdt with winds estimated at between 60 and 70 mph. The winds were also responsible for a five-vehicle pileup, because of blinding dust, which killed a 54-year-old man. Three cars had stopped along highway 2 outside of Nebraska City because of zero visibility in blowing dust. The cars had thought they had stopped on the shoulder of the highway, but due to the time of the night and poor visibility they had actually stopped in the left lane. Two semi-tractor trailer trucks hit the cars, the first one caused minor damage, but the driver of the second truck was killed when he smashed into the first truck. The strong winds began weakening as they made it north into Cass and Sarpy counties, but not before downing a few trees and power lines in Plattsmouth in Cass county, and giving an estimated wind gust of around 60 mph at Offutt Airforce Base around 315 am cdt.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5292030. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.