With the stormy weather hammering away at the heartland, flood warnings were in effect in a number of Nebraska and Iowa counties into Thursday morning.
Cass County, Nebraska law enforcement closed several roads in the Greenwood area Wednesday night and expected them to remain closed into Thursday.
Flooded streets trapped several drivers in Lincoln and other cities as torrential rains fell from the passing storms. Knee-deep storm water was forcing some drivers to abandon their flooded cars.
In Sarpy County, water rushed down streets because clogged storm drains couldn't handle the flow. Underpasses were flooded in Omaha as well.
Significant street flooding was reported in Atlantic, Iowa with water up to waist high on some roadways.
The Carroll County Emergency Management Agency in Iowa has requested that people stay off roads in the town of Carroll due to numerous downed power lines. Several live wires are over the roads posing a threat to individuals who venture out.
No serious injuries have been reported in Nebraska. Several inches of rain and hail as big as golf balls were reported across the region. Lowland flooding caused by previous storms continued in many areas.
A home in Gretna was heavily damaged by a fire started when it was struck by lightning. A lightning strike knocked out radar for a time at the National Weather Service's office in Valley, about 30 miles northwest of Omaha.
Barbara Mayes, a meteorologist at the office, told the Associated Press they heard a loud crack and a sizzle. No one was injured and the service was relying on radar from surrounding offices.
One tornado was reported near Wahoo and another about two miles west of Elkhorn. Mayes said a tornado also hit western Iowa near Moorhead.
Storm chaser Kenny Allen reports damage in Moorhead. He says a tornado jumped over their car, spinning it 180 degrees shortly before 7 p.m.