Floodwater in Farwell in 2024, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
HOWARD CO. — After water inundated parts of central Howard County on Thursday, additional rainfall prompted a new Flash Flood Warning for the area during the afternoon of Friday, May 31.
According to the National Weather Service – Hastings, at 1:33 p.m., Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across southwestern Howard County.
Additional rainfall amounts up to one to two inches are possible and flash flooding is ongoing or expected shortly.
Locations that may experience flash flooding include Dannebrog, Elba, Howard City, Farwell and Boelus.
Alan Hickford, meteorologist with the National Weather Service – Hastings, said that on Thursday several slow-moving thunderstorms produced two to five inches of rain northwest of Grand Island and contributed to the flooding.
Flooding led to the closure of several rural and county roads within an area centered five miles either side of a line running from the Sherman Reservoir to St. Paul.
A gauge at Turkey Creek near Dannebrog showed 20.34 feet at 4:45 p.m., the record crest for this location was 20.7 on March 14, 2019, per NWS Hastings.
One of the communities directly impacted was Farwell, with flood waters closing down Lander Ave. Tractors were on site to remove waterlogged hail bales and an excavator worked to remove a trailer which was blocking drainage through a culvert.
Residents are advised to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown,” when encountering a flooded road, as most flood deaths occur within vehicles.
