Nebraska

Powerful bow echo slams Omaha with hurricane-force winds

Published

18 hours ago

August 1, 2024

Powerful bow echo slams Omaha with hurricane-force winds

PowerOutage.us reported more than 250,000 electrical outages during the height of bow echo in eastern Nebraska.

OMAHA, Neb. – Severe thunderstorms rocked eastern Nebraska and southwestern Iowa on Wednesday, causing widespread power outages in the Omaha metro area.

The FOX Forecast Center described the storm system as a bow echo as it moved across the Cornhusker State’s largest city, resulting in extensive wind damage.

Tree damage after storms rolled through Omaha, Nebraska on July 31, 2024

(Douglas County Sheriff (Nebraska) / FOX Weather)

Wind gusts around Omaha’s Eppley Airfield, the region’s busiest airport, reached 90 mph.

Immediately following the storm, the airport was closed for several hours so that crews could conduct what was described as a damage assessment. The airport has since resumed operations.

Severe weather reports from Wednesday 7/31/2024

(FOX Weather)

Elsewhere in Nebraska, damage to awnings and trees was widespread, with PowerOutage.US reporting more than a quarter of a million outages during the peak of the storm.

The Omaha Public Power District, the region’s largest utility provider, said the severe weather event was the largest restoration effort in recent memory and encouraged customers to be patient while its crews began the cleanup process.

Power poles snapped during storm in Nebraska on July 31, 2024.

(Omaha Public Power District / FOX Weather)

“The windstorm that struck the OPPD service territory caused power outages to 220,545 customers,” OPPD stated Wednesday night. “There have been reports of wind gusts up to 100 mph in some areas. There is heavy tree damage and reports of downed wires across the area. Our crews are assessing the damage and are in the early stages of what is one of our largest restoration efforts as of late.”

Current Power Outages
(FOX Weather)

WHAT IS A DERECHO?

City officials in Lincoln, a town also hit hard by severe winds, reported power outages to the town’s wells temporarily disrupted water supplies and were urging residents to conserve water.

The National Weather Service office for the region indicated that most of the damage reports were from straight-line winds, but meteorologists would need to determine in the coming days if there were any embedded tornadoes in the storms.

“Clearly, the damage is extensive and intense over a huge area, almost exclusively due to straight-line winds. We have some reports of “gustnado” type of circulations, and some that will need to be evaluated for whether there are tornado damage tracks embedded within the straight-line wind region,” Brian Barjenbruch, a meteorologist at the NWS office, stated.

Despite the flurry of severe weather, local authorities did not report any deaths associated with the event.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium also reported extensive tree damage, but staff said all employees and animals were accounted for.

SEE IT: FUNNEL CLOUD PHOTOBOMBS NEBRASKA

Wednesday’s severe storms generated dozens of damage reports across the Plains and the Midwest.

Mammatus clouds grace the skies at sunset after severe weather passed through Hays, Kan. on July 31, 2024.

(Trooper Tod Kansas HP (@TrooperTodKHP / X))

The majority of the issues involved downed trees and power lines, as well as damage to roofs and windows, according to initial reports received by the Storm Prediction Center.

The region is expected to clear out from additional severe weather chances as a frontal boundary that has been slow to move finally begins its eastward advancement.

Source link

Nebraska

Gov. Pillen declares state of emergency in central and eastern Nebraska

Published

4 hours ago

August 1, 2024

Press Room

Gov. Pillen declares state of emergency in central and eastern Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen declared on Thursday a state of emergency following the strong storms that passed through central and eastern Nebraska on Wednesday.

Damage to public and private properties occurred in Cass, Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington counties.

The proclamation gives authority to Nebraska’s Adjutant General to activate resources necessary for managing damage from the storms.

It also allows for use of the Governor’s Emergency Fund to help cover the costs of recovery efforts.

Affected counties reported significant damage to buildings, trees and power lines, which resulted in outages.

Source link

Nebraska

Nebraska’s Isaac Gifford named to Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

Published

11 hours ago

August 1, 2024

Press Room

Nebraska’s Isaac Gifford named to Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

LINCOLN, Neb. (Huskers.com) – Nebraska defensive back Isaac Gifford was named to the 2024 to Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List on Thursday. The Wuerffel Trophy highlights athletic and community service accomplishments.

Gifford has been active in the Huskers’ Life Skills program, including volunteering extensively at the Lincoln Food Bank, speaking at schools and helping with hospital visits and the Huskers’ annual road race to race money for the fight against pediatric brain cancer. For his efforts, he received the Sam Foltz 27 Hero Leadership Award last spring. He was also named to the Tom Osborne and Brook Berringer Citizenship Teams for his work in the community.

On the field, Gifford is a two-year starter who has anchored the Huskers’ defensive backfield. An All-Big Ten performer in 2023, he led Nebraska with 86 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss. Gifford was also second on the Blackshirts with eight pass breakups. He played a major role in Nebraska ranking in the top-20 nationally in both total defense and scoring defense.

This season, the 11 semifinalists for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy will be honored as part of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

The 2024 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy finalists and recipient will be selected by an illustrious national voting committee, including a fan vote component, and announced on ESPN’s Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 12th. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Presentation Gala will take place February 1, 2025, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.

Source link

Nebraska

‘My lil cuzzo’: Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola’s camp arrival reminiscent of Mahomes

Published

1 day ago

July 31, 2024

Press Room

‘My lil cuzzo’: Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola’s camp arrival reminiscent of Mahomes

Anthony Gharib, ESPNJul 31, 2024, 09:36 PM ET

Nebraska Cornhuskers five-star class of 2024 QB Dylan Raiola will surely turn heads on the field with his play.

But on Wednesday, he caught the attention of fans with his arrival to Nebraska camp, sporting a look reminiscent of three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Raiola wore ski glasses with a haircut similar to that of the Kansas City Chiefs star.

Mahomes’ former teammate and current Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was among many that took notice of Raiola’s look.

Hill posted “boy ain’t no way” on X, prompting a response from Mahomes.

That’s my lil cuzzo https://t.co/JERaDk44ix
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) July 31, 2024

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule said that Raiola, who also wears Mahomes’ No. 15, “patterns a lot of his game” after the two-time MVP.

Raiola originally committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes in May 2022 then to the Georgia Bulldogs in May 2023. However, he flipped to Nebraska last December, the school where his father was an All-American offensive lineman.

He finished as the No. 11 overall recruit in the 2024 ESPN 300.

Source link