Lincoln, Nebraska, Shatters All-Time Daily Rainfall Record Set in 1910

A long and persistent plume of moisture flowing up from the tropical Pacific has fueled heavy rain and flash flooding across the Plains this week, breaking records and prompting water rescues. Here is the latest on the developing situation.

Flash Flooding Unfolds Across Central U.S. Due to Plume of Tropical Moisture

The remnants of hurricanes Polo and Odalys made it as far as the central U.S. this week, triggering several flash flooding events. The leftover moisture of these two tropical systems combined with a separate storm system with origins in the western U.S. to create the deluge of rain.

The flooding forced road closures and necessitated water rescues in many areas of the Plains. The heaviest bands of rain dumped 2 to 3 inches of rain per hour during the peak of the activity.

Omaha, Nebraska, was hit particularly hard by this volatile weather maker. First responders assisted in 80 rescue calls between late Wednesday and early Thursday. According to the Omaha Fire Department, approximately 50 people and several pets had to be rescued near the area of 62nd and J streets. Floodwaters surged to 6 to 8 feet deep in this part of the city.

There was a close call on Wednesday when a semi-truck slid across a highway and just barely avoided hitting another vehicle. A dashcam captured video of the incident. The driver who recorded the video said that heavy rain had resulted in limited visibility.