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Excessive Rainfall in the Southern Plains; Extreme Heat Coming to the Southwest U.S.

Heavy to severe thunderstorms may bring areas of excessive rainfall and flooding over parts of the southern Plains through Friday. A Slight Risk of excessive rainfall has been issued. Dangerously hot temperatures are forecast across parts of southern Arizona and far southeastern California Saturday through Monday. An Extreme Heat Watch has been issued. Read More >

Effective August 28, 2019, the National Weather Service (NWS) in North Platte, NE will change the flood category stages for the North Platte River at Lewellen (LEWN1).

All NWS flood warnings, flood statements, flood advisories, flood watches, probability outlooks, and NWS hydrographs on the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) will reference the new category levels. This change is part of a recent evaluation of the levels based on high water, flood events, and impacts over the past 10 years.

The new flood categories will be as follows (all values at level above gage zero datum) at the North Platte River at Lewellen:

New Flood Categories   Previous Flood Categories    
 Action Stage: 7.0 ft  Action Stage: 6.5 ft
 Flood Stage: 8.0 ft  Flood Stage: 7.5 ft
 Moderate Flood Stage: 9.0 ft      Moderate Flood Stage: 8.5 ft
 Major Flood Stage: 10.0 ft  Major Flood Stage: 9.5 ft
Gage zero datum: 3286.992 ft above MSL NAVD88

North Platte River at Lewellen Flood Categories Comparison

North Platte River at Lewellen

The National Weather Service welcomes public feedback. If you have any questions or comments on this change, please contact:

Kenneth Roberg
Lead Forecaster/Hydrology Focal Point
(308) 532-4936
kenneth.roberg@noaa.gov

National Weather Service
5250 East Lee Bird Dr
North Platte, NE 69101