Nebraska was hammered by historic rainfall overnight on September 30. Omaha recorded 4.74 inches (about 120 mm), a new single-day record — and the state capital Lincoln did far more: 6.15 inches (about 156 mm), shattering a 116-year-old record of 5.45 inches set on August 29, 1910, making it the wettest day on record there. The Associated Press reported "numerous water rescues" in Omaha; a late-night National Weather Service warning also noted water rescues were underway in parts of Lincoln. Mudslides forced several road closures.
The deluge was driven by tropical moisture from Pacific systems. Fox Weather reported that moisture from Hurricane Rachel — which has strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane — and the remnants of Hurricane Polo combined with an inland weather system to wring extraordinary rainfall out of the central Plains. Weather.com, citing National Weather Service analysis, noted that if all of Lincoln's rainfall is attributed to Polo's remnants, it would likely be the highest tropical-cyclone rainfall total ever recorded for the state of Nebraska — forecasters called heavy rain from tropical remnants over western Kansas "very rare" this late in September. The system's reach is enormous: more than 80 million Americans from San Antonio to Chicago face dangerous flooding fueled by the Pacific tropical systems.
Omaha fire and emergency crews worked through the night, conducting water rescues near 168th Street and Harrison, while Lincoln deployed rescue boats. The state transportation department reported many state and local roads closed early Thursday: Highway 370 in Sarpy County shut between 31st Street and the JFK Freeway, and Interstate 80 through Omaha was disrupted when a semitruck jackknifed — dashcam video showed a driver slamming the brakes to avoid the trailer sweeping across the highway, which Fox Weather credited with "saving him from being clipped." Flooding also hit Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Millard, Elkhorn and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mudslides blocked several key corridors.
The rain is winding down, but the danger isn't. The National Weather Service office in Omaha issued a flood warning at 9:37 p.m. on September 30, effective through midday October 1: rivers, creeks and low-lying areas across Saunders, Cass, Gage, Lancaster, Saline and Seward counties face flooding "imminent or occurring." Salt Creek at Greenwood is forecast to crest near its flood of record tonight, Salt Creek near Ashland could threaten local levees, and the Platte River near Louisville has risen above flood stage. The warning also covers Interstate 80 between mile markers 392 and 412. Forecasters repeated the mantra: turn around, don't drown — most flood deaths happen in vehicles. A cold front will push through Friday, bringing sunshine and much cooler air — lows dipping into the low to mid 40s — finally closing the book on this record-breaking rain event.