LINCOLN, Neb. -- A powerful line of thunderstorms brought hurricane-force winds across a swath of eastern Nebraska early Saturday morning, leaving a trail of damage stretching from Lincoln into Omaha and reports of some injuries.
Lincoln reported multiple gusts over 70 mph as the thunderstorms moved through, with a peak gust of 91 mph and another gust of 82 mph. The town of Exter, Nebraska reached 86 mph while Friend, Nebraska clocked an 84 mph gust.
The storm didn't let up as it swept into the Omaha area, with gusts reaching 75-85 mph along areas just went and northwest of Downtown Omaha. Gusts reached 87 mph in Millard and 86 mph in Blair. National Weather Service spotters reported numerous trees down across the region.
"The neighborhoods in North Omaha where I am are heavily treed, so there's damage everywhere," Lori Meier told FOX Weather. "Damage is between Elkhorn and Bennington in the northwest side of Omaha, not too far from where those tornadoes hit last year."
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office reported some people had been injured at Two Rivers State Park, but didn't give any further details on the number or extent. Fire officials say there are many areas of high water on streets, trees down and power lines down.
"We are working with all our partners to clean things up, but please stay home and give us time and space to work," fire officials in Valley, Nebraska posted on Facebook.
Workers with Enfield's Tree Service said they were out at 4:30 a.m. and had been busy cleaning up tree damage around the Elkhorn neighborhood. One worker said he'd found garbage cans blown two or three blocks away from their homes.
Washington County officials also reported widespread damage in their county.
Videos posted on social media showed city officials sounding tornado sirens in the Omaha area to warn of the impending damaging wind threat.
Over 80,000 electricity customers lost power in Nebraska during the peak of the storm, according to findenergy.com. Douglas County Emergency Management reported four transmission lines were down in Blair and Ceresco, near Omaha.
Severe Thunderstorm Watches extend into noon for north-central Iowa as the thunderstorm cluster moves east.
Original article source: Sirens wail as 90+ mph winds blast Nebraska, leaving over 80,000 without power
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