Southeast Nebraska could see several rounds of heavy rain through Wednesday night, raising the risk of flash flooding and river flooding. “We’re pretty confident in a wide area of two to four inches of rain with pockets of five to six inches plus,” Dave Pearson of the National Weather Service in Omaha said during a briefing Tuesday.
Pearson said the heaviest rain is expected Tuesday night and again Wednesday night. Rain that has fallen over the past few weeks has left the area wet, increasing concern about flooding. Heavy downpours could quickly flood streets, as a storm did in Columbus on Tuesday morning, he said.
The greatest risk of heavy rain has shifted south toward southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Pearson said some rivers in southeast Nebraska could approach or reach flood stage, including parts of the Big Blue and Little Blue rivers. The shift south has reduced the flood threat along much of the Platte and Elkhorn rivers, though water levels there could still rise.
The forecast could change as the storms develop. Pearson said the rain is expected to move out by Thursday evening, followed by cooler, drier weather for the weekend.