Video Shows Car Stuck in Floodwaters After City ‘Smashed’ Rainfall Record

A series of powerful thunderstorms swept through Omaha, Nebraska, on Thursday, bringing torrential rain that overwhelmed drainage systems, flooded streets and left vehicles stranded.

A video shared by AccuWeather on X, formerly Twitter, captured the dramatic moment a car became stuck in deep floodwaters after the city shattered its daily rainfall record by .8 inches.

Why It Matters

The rainfall marked a pivotal change for Omaha, which had been nearly 2.5 inches below its average annual precipitation prior to the storm, according to local news station WOWT. The city recorded about 2.54 inches of rain on April 24 alone, pushing yearly totals back to normal. However, the rapid accumulation strained stormwater systems, with flash flooding reported in multiple neighborhoods, including Saddle Creek and the intersections of 50th and Center streets.

The floods disrupted traffic and stranded vehicles. Other parts of eastern Nebraska, such as Bellevue and Lincoln, received far less rain and remain below average for the year, highlighting the uneven impact of the storms.

What To Know

The video shared on X by AccuWeather shows flooded Omaha streets. On one street, a car was submerged in floodwaters up to its taillights. Despite this, a truck attempts to drive down the flooded street.

“Omaha smashed its daily rainfall record yesterday with 2.54 inches, drenching the previous 2007 record of 1.72 inches,” AccuWeather posted with the video.

A daily rainfall record occurs when an area records the most rainfall experienced on a particular date.

Thursday’s storms brought not just rainfall but also severe hail to some Omaha neighborhoods, local news station KETV reported.

National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Katie Gross, who works at the Omaha office, told Newsweek that Omaha isn’t expecting any more heavy rain on Friday. Some light showers could move through the area on Saturday.

Any flooding caused by Thursday’s heavy rain has receded, Gross said.

A Hazardous Weather Outlook issued by other NWS offices warned that some parts of Nebraska remain at risk of further heavy rain and isolated flooding through the weekend.

What People Are Saying

Speaking about the heavy rain, NWS meteorologist Katie Gross told Newsweek: “It’s not completely unheard of. We do get some heavy downpours, especially with thunderstorms like we had yesterday, but it was quite a bit of rain in a little bit of time. But it’s not totally out of the ordinary for this time of year.”

NWS office in North Platte, Nebraska, in a hazardous weather outlook: “Scattered showers and a few embedded thunderstorms are possible across western Nebraska this afternoon into the evening. While any showers or thunderstorms will be capable of producing gusty and erratic winds, severe weather is not expected.”

What Happens Next?

The NWS continues to caution residents about the potential for further rain in the coming days, although more torrential rain isn’t expected for Omaha. Communities like Lincoln and Bellevue, which received less rain, are expected to continue facing drought risks unless further precipitation arrives.