Storm packing high winds downs trees, causes power outages

Strong storms brought high winds to eastern Nebraska late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, causing tree damage and leading to power outages.

The National Weather Service had numerous reports of wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph in Lincoln, Omaha, Columbus and Fremont. There was significant tree damage reported around the Lincoln area and in Omaha.

Thousands of people also experienced power outages at some point in the Lincoln and Omaha areas Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. As of 10:30 a.m., a few hundred people were still without power.

Farther west, the storms brought ping pong ball-sized hail to the Kearney area, as well as heavy rains.

The National Weather Service Office in Hastings reported that a narrow band of heavy rain dropped between 2 and 3 inches on southern Hamilton and York counties, as well as northern Fillmore county.

The storms that rolled across the state brought with them much cooler temperatures.

Temperatures in most of the state were forecast to only reach the upper 60s and low 70s Wednesday, which is about 20 degrees below average. Only southeast Nebraska is forecast to see temperatures above 80 degrees.