Live updates: Up to 7 inches of rain have fallen around Omaha, eastern Nebraska causing flooding (2024)

Severe storms including damaging winds with the possibility of tornadoes were moving through Omaha and eastern Nebraska on Tuesday morning.

The storms were flooding roadways and stalling cars, as well as creating warnings about tornados, hail and thunderstorms.

At least one Omaha-area school cancelled, offices, schools opening late

8:10 a.m.: Karen Western Elementary sent out a notice that school would be cancelled on Tuesday.

"This is due to the intense storms that rolled through our community this morning, the amount of standing water close to the school, and the high levels of the Papio Creek that runs close to the school," the school said.

Bennington Public Schools said it would have a two-hour late start, "due to flooding."

The Disaster Recovery Centers in Douglas and Washington County and the Douglas County Treasurers office each said they would open at 9 a.m., rather than 8 a.m.

Nearly 5 inches of rain fell in Omaha's Dundee

8:00 a.m.: A weather station in the Dundee area reported a total of 4.93 inches during the storm, with 3.62 inches of that total falling after midnight.

Late school starts

7:50 a.m.: Families around Omaha and Council Bluffs were reporting that schools were starting late to cope with the storm. Check with your local district on start times.

More than 12,000 without power

7:45 a.m.: The power company reported: "OPPD is responding to 12,511 outages in its service territory as a wave of storms rolls through eastern Nebraska."The largest cluster of outages appeared to be in an area along Interstate 680, east of Boys Town.

Traffic lights out, use caution

7:40 a.m.: The storm caused traffic lights at major intersections, including at 90th and Pacific streets and 120th Street and West Center Road in Omaha, to stop working or blink red. Omaha Police reminded drivers to treat such intersections as four-way stops. The police were reporting several accidents throughout the city.

Omaha police used using their vehicles to push abandoned flooded cars out of Saddle Creek Road near 50th Street.

Up to 7 inches of rain stormed down, flood warning

7:21 a.m.: The National Weather Service reported: "Trained weather spotters and public reported veryheavy rain in and around the Omaha and Council Bluffs metro.Between 3 and 7 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfallamounts up to 0.5 inches are possible in the warned area. Flashflooding is already occurring."

The weather service issued a flash flood warning for southwestern Pottawattamie, southeastern Dodge, Douglas, northeastern Sarpy and south central Washington counties until 9 a.m.

11,000 without power

7:01 a.m.:Omaha Public Power District reported Tuesday morning that more than 11,000 customers were without power. More than 9,000 of those were in Douglas County with most of the rest in Sarpy County.

Cars stalled, roadways flood

6:50 a.m.: Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

Omaha police were reporting several roadways with standing water.

Some reports were of areas with up to 3 feet of water with cars stalled. Shortly before 7 a.m., Douglas County 911 advised officers to avoid traveling through the area of 72nd and Dodge Streets because of flooding.

A severe thunderstorm watch was also in effect until 7 a.m. throughout most of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Storms could bring winds gusting up to 70 mph.

The National Weather Service also issued a flash flood watch until 9 a.m.

Tornado warning issued and expires

6:30 a.m.: The National Weather Service in Valley issued a tornado warning until 6:30 a.m. for Douglas County. Tornado warnings were also in effect for southeastern Dodge County, northeastern Saunders County and Washington County. Emergency sirens began sounding in Omaha about 5:55 a.m.

During a tornado warning, residents should move to a basem*nt or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter to protect from flying debris.

That warning expired but the weather danger persisted.

Check back for more live updates.