Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2016 17:09:54 EDT
Summary: Heavy precipitation overnight on August 23-24 caused flash flooding in and around Omaha, Nebraska.
Rainfalls of 1-3 inches during the evening of August 23-24, with one area recording 7.5 inches in and around Omaha, Nebraska caused flash flooding and minor flooding in the Papillion River Basin. Due to the extremely flashy nature of this river basin, three USGS crews were dispersed at 10 pm on August 23, and they worked through 8 am on August 24 when the river returned to below flood stage. They collected 13 measurements of discharge at 7 streamgages. A separate crew was sent out later on the morning of the 24th to make one indirect measurement of discharge at an eighth streamgage location at the headwaters of the basin. The Omaha World Herald newspaper noted strong winds, tornado sightings, and lost power to thousands in Omaha (http://www.omaha.com/weather/omahans-cleaning-up-after-storm-knocks-down-trees-takes-out/article_f56d6434-69a8-11e6-87ee-3fad45b90602.html). One measurement was made at the Platte River at Louisville streamgage at the request of the USACE, also due to the heavy rains in the area. Around 2 am, heavy debris at one streamgage caused the loss of a RiverRay ADCP. Efforts to retrieve the ADCP failed.
All measurements of discharge were made with ADCP. All streamgages worked well, with no missing record.
Information has been communicated via phone and emails to the USACE, NWS, Nebraska Emergency Response, and the Nebraska Natural Resources Districts.