Rains continue in and around Omaha, Nebraska, coming within 18 inches of forcing the shutdown of the Cooper Nuclear Plant

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Missouri River rose to within 18 inches of forcing the shutdown of a nuclear power plant in southeast Nebraska, but stopped and ebbed slightly. The river has to hit 902 feet above sea level at Brownville before officials will shut down the Cooper Nuclear Plant. Nebraska Public Power District spokesman Mark Becker says the river rose to 900.56 feet on Sunday, then dropped to 900.4 feet later in the day and remained at that level Monday morning. Becker says the plant is operating at full capacity.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The forecast for rain in eastern Nebraska is worrisome for officials who are already concerned about flooding along the swollen Missouri River. Storms are expected to develop Monday afternoon and again in the evening, and the National Weather Service says there is a moderate risk of severe weather. Weather Service forecaster Van DeWald says the first round of storms in the afternoon shouldn’t significantly worsen flooding along the Missouri River because the storm will move across the region. DeWald says the places most likely to have flooding problems Monday are the places that received heavy rain Sunday, such as Fremont.

UNDATED– A series of severe thunderstorms caused damage to numerous Nebraska communities early Monday.  Law enforcement officials reported power lines were blown down near Clarks, causing power to be disrupted to the town. Winds as high as 60 miles an hour scattered debris and blew down an old elevator along Highway 30 between Clarks and Silver Creek. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall was reported in Colfax County. Two-and-a-half inches reportedly fell in Schuyler early Monday morning.

http://www.us92.com/local/us92-news-june-20-2011/

FLASH FLOOD WATCH
in effect until Tuesday, Jun 21, 4:00 AM

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF IOWA AND NEBRASKA... INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN IOWA...FREMONT...HARRISON... MILLS...MONONA...MONTGOMERY...PAGE...POTTAWATTAMIE AND SHELBY. IN NEBRASKA...BURT...BUTLER...CASS...COLFAX...CUMING... DODGE... DOUGLAS...NEMAHA...OTOE...PLATTE...SARPY...SAUNDERS... THURSTON AND WASHINGTON.

* THROUGH LATE TONIGHT

* HEAVY RAINS OCCURRED ACROSS SOME OF THE AREA LAST NIGHT...MAINLY FROM COLUMBUS EASTWARD TO HARLAN IOWA...AND ALSO IN ANOTHER AREA FROM LINCOLN EASTWARD THROUGH CLARINDA IOWA. HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OVER THESE SAME AREAS TONIGHT COULD CREATE SOME FLASH FLOODING TONIGHT.

* IN ADDITION...DUE TO MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER....HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL POSE AN ADDITIONAL FLASH FLOOD HAZARD IN THIS AREA AS WELL.

* THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE AT LEAST AN INCH OF RAIN OR MORE TONIGHT...WHICH MAY BE ENOUGH TO CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE WATCH AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.