Flash Flood in Douglas County, Nebraska

Heavy rainfall in the Omaha metropolitan area caused areas of flash flooding, especially near the Saddle Creek and Center Streets area, near the intersections of 96th and Q Streets, 17th and Ames Avenue and 108th and Q streets. It was near that last location where a 29-year-old male apparently drowned after his car became stalled in flood waters and he was swept away in a nearby drainage ditch as he was walking for help. His body was found more than 20 miles downstream in the Missouri River after it was surmised that his body traveled from the ditch into the Big Papillion Creek and then eventually into the Missouri River. Other flooding occurred when a pool of water 6 feet high developed near the Saddle Creek location carrying off a few vehicles and flooding at least one apartment complex. Several businesses were flooded and sewers backed up into properties. Eppley Airfield reported 2.66 inches of rain from the storm in just a several hour period, while some locations in midtown Omaha received almost 3.5 inches of rain.

Shortly after 4:30 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm moved into the Omaha metro from the west bringing with it gusty winds, small hail and heavy rain. This slow moving thunderstorm remained over the Omaha metro for over an hour before weakening and slowly moving east into Iowa. Light rain behind this storm continued until around 6:15 PM CDT. There were public reports of stalled cars in flooded roadways south of Dodge Street and west of Interstate 480. There was also a report from amateur radio of flooding making Farnam Street south of Turner Boulevard impassible.

Following several rounds of thunderstorms and heavy rain which resulted in flash flooding across the Omaha metro, flood waters continued to linger through the morning of the 21st. Broadcast Media reported multiple stalled vehicles at Center and 67th Street.