Platte storm history

Dense fog reduced visibility to near 0 across portions of Platte County. The Platte County Sheriff's Office and Nebraska State Patrol reported fog was present at a vehicle vs. pedestrian accident along Highway 81 west of Columbus at approximately 6:30 AM CST on December 24th. A n…

This is for flooding along the Shell Creek. The river gage near Columbus, operated by the USGS, peaked at 22.21 feet at 7:30 am on March 14th. Major flood stage is 22 feet. Preliminary data shows that this peak is the 2nd highest on record. US Highway 81 was flooded over from hig…

This is for flooding along the Loup River. The river gage at Columbus, operated by the Nebraska DNR, peaked at 19.39 feet at 5 am on March 15th. Major flood stage is 20 feet. Preliminary this peak is the 2nd highest on record. This flooding caused substantial damage to the area, …

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days. Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional per…

Freezing rain accumulated between 1/4 inch and 1 inch in some locations on trees, power lines, vehicles and other untreated objects. The areas most hard hit in Platte county were to the west through north of Columbus. The weight of the ice, and a mix of light sleet that fell for …

Numerous hailstones 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches with some as large as 2 3/4 inches did damage to over 1500 cars as well as to many roofs and gutters.

Personal weather station measured wind gust of 61 mph near Monroe, NE.

Personal weather station measured wind gust of 58 mph near Cornlea, NE.

Personal weather station measured wind gust of 62 mph near Monroe, NE. Personal weather station measured wind gust of 61 mph near Humphrey, NE.

Public report of hail estimated up to 0.75 inches in diameter. Report received via mPING.

Public report of hail estimated up to penny sized.

KOLU AWOS measured heat index up to 111 degrees with a minimum heat index of 70 degrees through the period. Personal weather station measured heat index of 113, 116 and 118 degrees.

Public report received via social media of wind gusts estimated at 60 mph on the northwest side of Columbus, NE.

Report of hail estimated up to 1.50 in. in diameter. Report received via mPING.

Report of hail estimated up to 1.25 in. in diameter. Report received via mPING.

Trained spotter of hail estimated up to 0.88 in. in diameter.

Report of hail estimated up to 1 in. in diameter. Report received via mPING.

During the evening of July 7th, heavy rainfall moved through northwest Platte county with rainfall rates of 1.5-3 inches per hour at times with an estimated 3-4 inches of total rainfall. This led to flash flooding with emergency management reporting water over the roadway 1.5 mil…

During the afternoon of June 25th into the morning of June 26th, several rounds of moderate to heavy rain moved through Platte County with rainfall rates of at least 1 inch per hour at times. This led to flooding in southwestern portions of the county, with emergency management r…

During the afternoon of June 25th into the morning of June 26th, several rounds of moderate to heavy rain moved through Platte County with rainfall rates of at least 1 inch per hour at times. This led to flooding in southwestern portions of the county, with emergency management r…

KOLU AWOS measured heat index up to 104 degrees with a minimum heat index of 78 degrees through the period. Personal weather station measured heat index of 110 and 114 degrees.

Trained spotter report of hail measured up to 1.75 inches in diameter.

D2 (severe) drought conditions at the beginning of the month saw significant improvement, with conditions improving to D0 (abnormally dry) by the end of the month. The observer at Columbus 3 NE recorded 6.95 inches of precipitation for the month, which was 2.26 inches above avera…

Emergency management report of a semi truck blow over east of Tarnov.

Public report of hail estimated up to 1 in diameter.

Public report of hail measured up to 1.25 in diameter.

Public report of hail measured up to 3 in diameter.

Public report of hail estimated up to 1.75 in diameter.

Public report of hail measured up to 1 in diameter.

Personal weather station wind gust measured at 58 mph.

Personal weather station measured gust of 70 mph 2 S Columbus. Personal weather station measured gust of 62 mph 3 WSW Richland. Personal weather station measured gust of 59 mph 5 NNE Saint Edward.

D2 (severe) drought conditions persisted across the western half of the county through the month. The cooperative observer at Columbus 3 NE recorded 4.51 inches of precipitation for the month. This value was 0.06 inches above average.

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across the northwestern corner of Platte county in April. The cooperative observer at Columbus 3NE recorded 1.82 inches of precipitation for the month. This was 1.11 inches below average.

AWOS hit true blizzard criteria, Highway 91 closed across Platte and Colfax Counties due to blizzard conditions. Snowfall amounts generally in the 3 to 8 range with wind gusts measured up to 52 mph.

KOLU AWOS measured sustained wind speeds of over 40 mph from 0956Z to 1108Z.

Public of dime to quarter size hail falling for 5 minutes with 40 to 50 mph wind gusts.

Personal weather station measured 59 mph wind gust.

Generally 1 of snow across the county. Wind gusts up to 60 mph brought blizzard-like condition, with KOLU AWOS reporting 1/4 mile visibility from 16:56 CST to 18:56 CST.

KOLU measured wind gust of 56 mph, in addition to sustained wind speeds of 40+ mph for over an hour.

Wind chill got as low as -40 in the county.

Wind chill got as low as -32 in the county.

Several hours of high winds were observed during the afternoon hours. The strongest observed wind gust in the county was 61 miles per hour, observed by a personal weather station at 4:37 pm CDT. The Columbus AWOS station also measured a 58 miles per hour wind gust at 2:41 pm CDT.

Temperatures in the upper 90s with dew points in the low 80s resulted in excessive heat across much of Platte County for two consecutive afternoons. The afternoon of the 25th, the Columbus AWOS measured a peak heat index of 119 degrees. The following afternoon, a 111 degree heat …

The office received a public report of hail ranging from nickel to golf ball sized. It was also reported that crops were shredded from the hail in this area.

The office received a report of a measured 60 miles per hour wind gust from the public.

The office received a report from a trained spotter of quarter sized hail.

An off-duty NWS employee reported half-dollar sized hail. There as also an additional public report of quarter sized hail during this time frame.

A max heat index of 114 was observed at the Columbus AWOS.