Prolonged, Intense Heat Wave; Excessive Rainfall in the Southern Rockies; Severe Weather in the Central US

Extremely dangerous heat will persist from the Midwest to the East Coast into late this week. Monsoonal moisture may produce excessive rain and considerable flash flooding and debris flows, especially near recent burn scar areas in New Mexico and west Texas. Severe storms are possible this evening from the southern/central Plains into the Great Lakes, and the northern/central Plains Tuesday. Read More >

Significant rain fell across northeastern Colorado between September 9-16, 2013 (image to left shows totals). This rain fell over the headwaters of the South Platte River Basin near Boulder, Colorado. As a result, record flooding occurred in Colorado and western Nebraska along the South Platte and Platte river. Between September 21-28, 2013, minor flooding worked eastward into roughly the western half of the NWS Hastings coverage area, and even lingered into early October in a few places.

The following link from NWS Boulder, CO describes in more detail the event that
resulted in this record rainfall in Colorado:

September 2013 Floods

Below is more information about the basin that feeds into South Platte River, which meets up with the North Platte River just east of North Platte, Nebraska, then becoming the Platte River through the remainder of Nebraska.

Then follows information about each of the river gages along the Platte that affect South Central Nebraska, located near Cozad and Overton in Dawson County, Kearney in Buffalo County and Grand Island in Hall County. A hydrograph showing the rise and fall of each gage as the water passed is shown, as well as "before and after" photos.

South Platte River Basin

Platte River Gage @ Cozad


Minor flood stage is 6.5 ft. (orange line on hydrograph)


Before: near Cozad - 9/20/13: North Channel looking west	After: near Cozad - 9/24/13: North Channel looking west

Before: Near Cozad - 9/20/13: South Channel looking west	After: Near Cozad - 9/23/13: South Channel looking west


Before: Near Gothenburg - 9/20/13	After: Near Gothenburg -9/23/13 Photo courtesy of Julia Berg.

Platte River Gage @ Overton

Minor flood stage is 7.0 ft. (orange line on hydrograph)


Before: Near Overton - 9/22/13 Photo courtesy of Lisa Baker.	After: Near Overton - 9/24/13

Platte River Gage @ Kearney

Minor flood stage is 6.0 ft. (orange line on hydrograph)


Before: Near Kearney - 9/20/13	After: Near Kearney - 9/26/13

Platte River Gage @ Grand Island(Nebraska)

Minor flood stage is 6.5 ft. (orange line on hydrograph)


Before: Near Grand Island - 9/20/13	After: Near Alda - 9/30/13 Photo courtesy of Hall County Emergency Management.

For more information see the NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service Homepage

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Prolonged, Intense Heat Wave; Excessive Rainfall in the Southern Rockies; Severe Weather in the Central US

Late September-Early October 2013 Platte River Flooding