Metro storm knocks out power

Winds downed power lines and rain provided some relief to thirsty landscapes as a strong storms blew through Omaha this morning.

The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of 58 mph to 63 mph as the first storm rolled in about 1 a.m.

Rainfall amounts ranged from about a half inch to two inches across the metro area.

The rain prompted city officials to keep all of westbound Dodge Street temporarily closed in front of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where road construction is taking place.

Both eastbound and westbound Dodge had been closed overnight, and officials had intended to open one lane in each direction for the morning commute.

But only the eastbound lane was open in time for rush hour. A single westbound lane reopened about 9 a.m.

The overnight thunderstorms slowed construction work a bit, but hasn't thrown it off schedule, authorities said. More rain, however, could cause problems. The next significant chance for thunderstorms is Thursday, particularly toward the evening commute. The street is being rebuilt because of damage caused by a broken water main this winter.

By 3:30 p.m., the Omaha Public Power District said power had been restored to all its customers.

Reports of outages began about 1:30 a.m. as heavy rain moved through. At the storm's peak, OPPD had reports of 7,300 homes and businesses without power. Many of those outages were concentrated in the Rockbrook and Dundee areas.

Mary Anna Anderson, a horticulturist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Douglas-Sarpy County Extension said the widespread rain was needed. "We've had spotty rain, and with the heat we've had in the last few days, the plants have been using a lot of water," she said.

Rick Chermok, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley, said the metro area is caught between a warm and cool front, so as the rain and clouds move out, temperatures are expected to heat up quickly.

The forecast is for another chance of storms this evening, Thursday and Friday. Skies are expected to be generally clear and temperatures relatively mild over the weekend, Chermok said. Next week, though, the forecast is calling for a return to hot weather.

World-Herald staff writers Judith Nygren, Joel Fulton and Aaron Sanderford contributed to this report.

« Metro/Region

Share