BEATRICE – Thunderstorms across southeast Nebraska….some reaching severe levels, caused some wind damage and intense downpours, July 4th evening.

Thunderstorm wind gusts of over 60-miles-per-hour were reported in several Nebraska and Kansas locations.  The strongest in Nebraska reportedly was a 79-mile-per-hour gust was recorded south of Elmwood. 

Communities near that area reported thunderstorm wind damage.  That included damage to sections of the grandstand at Eagle Raceway….and damage to trees in communities east of Lincoln.  A semi was overturned in strong wind gusts along Interstate 80, two miles east of Greenwood.

A thunderstorm wind gust was estimated at 68 miles-per-hour at Lewiston, measured on a personal weather station.

Earlier in the evening, hail as large as tennis balls was reported by observers four miles northwest of Carleton, in Thayer County.  A similar report was received from near Campbell….farther west in Franklin County.  Ping-pong to golf ball sized hail was reported near Waco.  Flash flooding affecting roads and low-lying areas occurred at Utica.

In northeast Kansas, thunderstorms winds from 65-miles-per-hour up to 73-miles-per-hour were recorded around Axtell, Frankfort and Corning.  One personal weather station north of Denison measured a gust to 88-miles-per-hour. An 86-mile-per-hour gust was reported near Belvue, Kansas….east of Manhattan.