Date: Wed, 27 May 2015 13:47:30 EDT
Summary: Widespread heavy rains in May have caused Category II Flooding in southeast Nebraska in several Basins (Salt Creek, Big Blue River, Little Blue River), and Category I flooding in western Nebraska (South Platte River, North Platte River and Platte River).
During the month of May (starting around May 6), precipitation totals of 5-15 inches in southeast Nebraska and 4-10 inches in western Nebraska along with similar amounts of precipitation in eastern Wyoming and northern Kansas and Colorado have caused streamgages within several Nebraska river basins to exceed flood stages, with several exceeding peak of record gage heights and discharges. Preliminary estimates place several streamgages within the Salt Creek Basin and the Little Blue River Basin in the 1-2% AEP, and several within the 5-10% AEP. Most of the effected streamgages have 20-100 years of record.
Currently, several streamgages remain near or above flood stage in the South Platte River, North Platte River, and upper Platte River Basins. Two field crews (4 technicians) are currently deployed today (May 27) in the South, North, and upper Platte River Basins, and two crews (4 technicians) are deployed to continue measuring recessions in the Salt and Blue River Basins. The same effort is anticipated for May 28 and 29.
To date (May 7-27), 42 measurements have been made in the Salt, Little Blue, Big Blue, and lower Platte River Basins; and 18 measurements have been made in the North Platte, South Platte, and upper Platte River Basins.
Thus far, six ratings extensions and two indirect measurements of discharge were performed. At the request of the City of North Platte, Nebraska, a rapid deployment gage (RDG-3) was installed just upstream of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources streamgage on the South Platte River at North Platte.
Personnel from the ND WSC assisted with inputting data into NWS Chat and with Project Alerts during the first week of this event.
Information has been communicated via phone, emails, meetings, and NWS Chat to the USACE, NWS, Nebraska DNR, Nebraska Emergency Response, and the Nebraska Natural Resources Districts.