Rain clouds over Nebraska brought an unrelenting downpour on Saturday, positioning several cities to potentially surpass historical rainfall records.
On Saturday, meteorologists forecasted that certain areas might experience rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour. In response, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flood watch for regions in south-central and southeastern Nebraska, effective through Sunday morning. Simultaneously, a severe thunderstorm watch was placed over a dozen counties in south-central Nebraska, impacting cities like Grand Island, Hastings, and Fairbury.
The NWS highlighted in its flood watch forecast, “24-hour rainfall totals by sunrise Sunday will likely reach 1 to 3 inches, but small portions of the area could end up with at least 3 to 6 inches of total rainfall, including rain that already fell during the day Saturday.”
Such intense rainfall raised concerns among meteorologists about potential flooding or flash flooding from Saturday night into Sunday morning. The NWS advised motorists to remain cautious of rising water levels and to avoid driving through standing water.
In a statement shared Saturday evening, the National Weather Service office in Valley indicated that several areas might challenge or break rainfall records that have stood for decades.
