Five years since historic floods in central and eastern Nebraska

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - March 13, 2024 marks five years since the beginning of a storm system that caused catastrophic flooding across central and eastern Nebraska.

A number of separate factors leading up to the event would set the stage for some of the most significant flooding ever experience for parts of the state.

Much of February and early March was marked by unusually cold temperatures. The period between February 15th and March 15th was recorded as the 2nd or 3rd coldest on record for the Tri-Cities and coldest since the 1960s. This kept the ground frost levels much deeper than what is typically observed for mid-March. The National Weather Service in Hastings measured a frost depth of 25 inches on March 11.

The record cold also kept thick ice on local rivers and streams much further into March than what typically occurs. This led to serious ice jamming once the ice broke up.

A series of snow events through February and early March kept a snow depth of as much as 8 to 18 inches in place for several weeks leading up to the event. This snow contained the equivalent of 1 to 4 inches of water.

A powerful low pressure system moving out of the southwest U.S. would move across the region between March 12 and March 14, bringing rain, snow, and very strong winds. During the early part of the storm, showers and thunderstorms would bring rain on the night of the 12th. Some of that rain would continue into the morning of the 13th. Most of that afternoon was dry. But by the night of the 13th and into the morning of the 14th, more rain and a change to snow would move through the area. As much as 2 to 4 inches of rain fell and 1 to 3 inches of snow. This combined with rapid snow melt due to the much warmer temperatures observed as the storm system approached.

Because of the still frozen ground, much of the rain and snow melt would run off into many of our local streams and rivers. The warmer temperatures and water run-off would contribute to the breaking up of the thick ice in place on the streams and rivers. The rapid rising rivers would begin to overflow on Wednesday the 13th and this would continue into Wednesday night and Thursday.

Rivers and creeks, along with their tributaries began to rise on Wednesday the 13th and would continue into Thursday the 14th. This included the Wood River in Buffalo and Hall County, the entire Loup River basin in central Nebraska, the Cedar River, the Niobrara River, the Elkhorn River, and the Platte River in eastern Nebraska. All low-lying areas were essentially covered in water.

Dozens of roads and bridges were washed out across the region, isolating some communities. Several water rescues and evacuations would occur. Much of this happened in the midst of blizzard conditions as the rain changed to snow Wednesday night into Thursday. Winds would gusts to near 70 mph.

Communities such as Pleasanton, Gibbon, Wood River, Alda, and Dannebrog experienced significant flooding. Dozens of other communities such as Genoa, Belgrade, and North Loup were at least partially evacuated. Large chunks of ice the size of automobiles were left on bridges and land in many locations. In some cases, rivers were completely reshaped due to the flood waters.

The Spencer Dam in north central Nebraska was completely breeched. Large chunks of ice and debris floating on raging flood waters would rush downstream, causing devastation to those in the path. Kenny Angel, who’s home was just below the dam, was washed away. His body was never found.

Impacts to agriculture were tremendous. As flood waters receded, pasture land and fields next to rivers and creeks were covered in inches of sand and silt. This flooding occurred in the middle of calving season. Hundreds of calves perished. Some reported livestock carcasses floating away. In some locations, cattle were isolated on islands. This combined with numerous damaged or flooded roads made travel to and around some farms impossible.

Flooding continued until Saturday, March 23. Water levels gradually fell between the 15th and 23rd, with flooded areas decreasing. The most widespread flooding occurred from the 14th to the 18th.

Damage estimates of property, buildings, roads, bridges, loss of livestock, and stored crops across the entire state of Nebraska was more than $1 billion.

If you want a full recap of the event in south central Nebraska, you can visit the page set up by the National Weather Service Office in Hastings.

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