Roads, fields underwater after heavy rains in Howard, Sherman counties

Heavy rains brought flash flooding to central Nebraska Thursday morning.

Video shared to the National Weather Service office in Hastings showed creeks swelled past their banks and some highways completely covered.

Flash flood warnings were issued in towns like Elba, Ashton and Farwell. Rain gauges in nearby St. Paul showed that almost two inches of rain fell over the course of an hour.

All that rain fell upstream of creeks that rose rapidly. One gauge in Turkey Creek north of Dannebrog showed that water levels had risen about 12 feet over the course of a few hours, putting the creek into minor flood stage.

The Nebraska DOT hadn't officially closed any highways as of midday, but weather officials were encouraging drivers to avoid roads with standing water on them.

This could be just a preview as more heavy rain is possible this afternoon and evening. The entire state is in in a level one severe weather risk.