Located in the Great Plains and the Midwest, the Cornhusker State experiences distinct four seasons with cold winters and hot summers.
The western part of the state is drier, and the eastern half is typically more humid but temperatures are consistent throughout Nebraska, and all areas are prone to extreme weather events year round.
Although the states within “Tornado Alley” often differ from one source to the next, Nebraska is often included in the group of states with a high incidence rate of tornadic activity. The peak tornado season in Nebraska is May to July.
Between 1953 and 2013, nearly 75 percent or over 2,600 tornadoes occurred during the peak season. Despite the high incidence rate in the spring and summer months, tornadic activity is recorded in Nebraska during every month.
On March 13, 1913, there were three separate tornadoes throughout Nebraska, which all resulted in fatalities and significant damage. There have been other notable and devastating tornadoes and storms in Nebraska, including a tornado in Omaha in 1976.
The 1976 tornado resulted in nearly 300 injuries, between $300 and 500 million in damages, and up to 5,000 homes destroyed or damaged. Each year Nebraska experiences on average over 50 tornadoes each year, but the damage remains incomparable to the tornadoes of 1913 or 1976.
Nebraska has a long history of blizzards, cold temperatures, and ice storms; most notably the Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888, which claimed over 235 lives. While winter weather-related fatalities are less common today, heavy snow and ice often cause power outages and structural damage such as roof collapse.
In mid-April of 2019, a spring blizzard swept through the Great Plains and Midwest. Mixed precipitation in the form of rain and snow caused power outages and other issues throughout Nebraska and neighboring states. Although flooding was an initial worry, the minimal snowpack resulted in a lower risk of flooding.
Almost 90,000 Nebraska residents live in a high-risk area for inland flooding. Inland flooding, which is also known as flash flooding, occurs quickly and typically after a storm when existing infrastructure (such as drain systems) cannot keep up with the excessive rainfall.
The Nebraska FAIR Plan provides basic property and casualty insurance to homeowners who live in high-risk areas, and have a hard time finding other coverage. The FAIR plan is not your only option and by doing a little research, you may find an alternative to the Nebraska FAIR Plan which is not only affordable but will also protect all or your assets.