Weird Weather
Have you ever wondered why the weather is the way it is? Why it happens, why it causes destruction and harm — one of the most asked questions is why is weather so peculiar? Weather is made up of six main components: temperature, atmospheric pressure, cloud formation, wind, humidity and rain. Weather can be peculiar because if any of those six components change, it can cause changes that act as a catalyst for unusual weather. Other factors include deforestation, climate change, rising carbon dioxide levels and human activity.
Weather in Nebraska is influenced by a combination of variable and warming climates, along with changing jet stream patterns. Research says these patterns contribute to the heat, cold, rain, and droughts. If they become disproportionate, they could trap different weather conditions in regions and extend extreme weather periods. Unusual weather conditions create challenges such as human health effects, disruptions of infrastructure and livelihoods, broader societal impacts and agricultural problems. Nebraska’s weather is unpredictable because it is far from large bodies of water, leading to significant temperature shifts and varying precipitation patterns. Another factor is the dramatic swings from day to day and season to season.
Summers in Nebraska are often torrid. Temperatures range from 80 to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which can cause droughts and high humidity. Summer heat has been increasing, leading to severe droughts, higher evaporation rates and reduced soil moisture. Nebraska also receives frequent summer rainfall, which can produce thunderstorms capable of hail and tornadoes.
Floods in Fremont
In March 2019, Nebraska experienced one of its worst floods in history, caused by a bomb cyclone. The state has faced many floods, but the most destructive were in 2005, 2015, 2016 and 2019. According to local news reports, 28 properties were destroyed, 246 required major repairs, hundreds of millions of dollars in homes and businesses were damaged, and thousands of acres were lost.
The flooding left Fremont isolated, forcing supplies to be delivered by air. Water spread across Dodge County, damaging bridges, roads and crops. Four people died. Each major flood in Nebraska has cost millions — in some cases billions — in damages and repairs, requiring loans and federal aid. Despite the devastation, communities came together to recover.
Texas Camp Flood
On July 4, 2025, a flash flood in Hunt, Texas, killed 135 people. The disaster struck near San Antonio and Austin, flooding areas around the Guadalupe and Colorado rivers. The flooding hit Camp Mystic in Kerr County, where more than 750 girls were staying. Fast-moving water swept through cabins, destroying buildings and taking lives.
The storms brought extreme rainfall, raising river levels by more than 20 feet in less than an hour. Roads, homes and entire structures were washed away. With slow warning systems and little cell service, many families had no chance to prepare.
Camp Mystic, long known as a retreat for friendship and growth, was left in ruins. Survivors recalled finding mud, broken doors and fallen trees where cabins once stood. Parents who had sent their children to camp for fun and bonding were left grieving.
Stories of loss spread across the state. Blair and Brooke Harber, ages 11 and 13, were found holding hands 15 miles downstream. In interviews, survivors described chaos, fear and long hours of waiting for rescue.
In the aftermath, parents demanded stronger safety standards for summer camps. One family is still waiting to recover the body of their 8-year-old daughter.
After the flood, volunteers searching for missing girls found wet clothing, toys, blankets and broken furniture scattered across the camp. Once known for its natural beauty and traditions, Camp Mystic became a place marked by devastation.
Parents of Camp Mystic victims have urged state leaders to pass legislation to improve camp safety. Many families said they felt betrayed by officials who were unprepared.
One story told on TikTok described Blair and Brooke Harber, who were staying with their grandparents by the Guadalupe River. Their parents tried to break down the door as floodwaters rose, but the pressure was too strong. Before she died, Blair texted her mother, “I love you.” The girls were found lifeless miles downstream. Their grandparents have never been found.
NBC News interviewed 10-year-old Lucky Kennedy, who described evacuating the camp. She said she and her bunkmates woke to thunder, rain, screaming and floodwaters rushing inside. They were moved to the Rec Hall on the second floor and told to bring pillows, blankets, flashlights and water bottles. Later, helicopters found them at another camp, singing songs as they waited for rescue.
In memory of the victims, 13-year-old Skyler Derrington rewrote the lyrics to the song Hallelujah and performed it for the girls of Camp Mystic.
