Lightning hits weather service office
Posted: Thursday, June 12, 2008
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Multiple tornadoes were moving through eastern Nebraska Wednesday, but there were no immediate reports of damage.
A lightning strike knocked out radar at the National Weather Service's office in Valley, about 30 miles northwest of Omaha.
Barbara Mayes, a meteorologist at the office, said they heard a loud crack and a sizzle. No one was injured, and the service was relying on radar from surrounding offices.
One tornado was reported near Wahoo, and another about two miles west of Elkhorn, Mayes said.
Mayes said a tornado also hit western Iowa near Moorhead
A tornado warning was in effect for Saunders County and Burt County in Nebraska. Much of eastern Nebraska was under a tornado watch, which included warnings about possible hail to 3 inches in diameter and straight-line wind gusts to 80 mph.
Lowland flooding caused by previous storms continued at several spots in eastern Nebraska.
In Platte County, the Monroe blacktop highway remained closed because of flooding from Prairie Creek.
The Missouri River continued to swell up and over its banks in some places.
The river was three feet over flood stage of 18 feet at Nebraska City but, barring more heavy rains, was expected to fall below flood stage by Saturday.
Farther south, near Rulo, the river was nearly 7 feet over flood stage of 17 feet.
Flood warnings were canceled Wednesday for the Big Blue River in Butler and Seward counties.
Also Wednesday, the state released estimates of storm damage.
According to a news release from the office of Gov. Dave Heineman, nearly two-thirds of Nebraska's 93 counties have been affected by the severe weather since May 22.
The damage to public infrastructure, including utilities, bridges and roads, was pegged at more than $20 million and may rise.
No damage total for homes and businesses was available yet, but emergency management officials say at least three dozen homes have been destroyed and 95 have sustained major structural damage from the rain, winds, hail, lightning or tornadoes that have pounded the state.
On the Net:
National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/
A lightning strike knocked out radar at the National Weather Service's office in Valley, about 30 miles northwest of Omaha.
Barbara Mayes, a meteorologist at the office, said they heard a loud crack and a sizzle. No one was injured, and the service was relying on radar from surrounding offices.
One tornado was reported near Wahoo, and another about two miles west of Elkhorn, Mayes said.
Mayes said a tornado also hit western Iowa near Moorhead
A tornado warning was in effect for Saunders County and Burt County in Nebraska. Much of eastern Nebraska was under a tornado watch, which included warnings about possible hail to 3 inches in diameter and straight-line wind gusts to 80 mph.
Lowland flooding caused by previous storms continued at several spots in eastern Nebraska.
In Platte County, the Monroe blacktop highway remained closed because of flooding from Prairie Creek.
The Missouri River continued to swell up and over its banks in some places.
The river was three feet over flood stage of 18 feet at Nebraska City but, barring more heavy rains, was expected to fall below flood stage by Saturday.
Farther south, near Rulo, the river was nearly 7 feet over flood stage of 17 feet.
Flood warnings were canceled Wednesday for the Big Blue River in Butler and Seward counties.
Also Wednesday, the state released estimates of storm damage.
According to a news release from the office of Gov. Dave Heineman, nearly two-thirds of Nebraska's 93 counties have been affected by the severe weather since May 22.
The damage to public infrastructure, including utilities, bridges and roads, was pegged at more than $20 million and may rise.
No damage total for homes and businesses was available yet, but emergency management officials say at least three dozen homes have been destroyed and 95 have sustained major structural damage from the rain, winds, hail, lightning or tornadoes that have pounded the state.
On the Net:
National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/
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