A record-breaking storm tore through parts of Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado on July 4 forcing delays in some area fireworks displays. The storm kicked off over Wyoming in the early evening hours Sunday after about a week of clear sky weather.

The National Weather Service in Cheyenne, Wyo., has confirmed several tornado touchdowns including a 30-second twister near Bushnell and a 6:25 p.m. tornado seven miles southeast of Pine Bluffs. Wyoming was the hardest hit with tornado activity, according to a preliminary weather report from the NWS.

The main threats for the southwestern Nebraska Panhandle were heavy rain, high-speed winds, large hail and flash flooding. The largest hail reported came from an area three miles west of Kimball where trained weather spotters said hail was 2.75 inches in diameter at 7:09 p.m. Half-inch to 1.75-inch diameter hail was reported throughout areas between Bushnell and Kimball between 5:30 p.m. and 7.

Flash flooding filled the preliminary report with areas from Bushnell to Sidney to Gurley reporting roads under water. Roads seven miles northeast of Gurley were under 2 inches of water by 7 p.m. A half-hour later, an area six miles southwest of Bushnell had roads under 2 feet of water, which had not receded within an hour.

Flash flood reports from Kimball included flooded underpasses under 10 feet of water, Lodge Pole Creek flooding out of its banks causing the closure of roads in Kimball County that crossed it, and Oliver Reservoir rising a foot in two hours. Areas of U.S. Highway 30 between Kimball and Sidney were under 4- to 6-inches of water, and several Kimball intersections reported wheel well-high water.

Dix reported heavy rainfall to the tune of 1.75 inches in 45 minutes. Winds there reached sustained speeds of 40 mph to 50 mph during the event.

Sidney lucked out again in the storm, although a rainfall record of .60 inches set in 1956 was shattered by the 1.14-inches of rainfall Sunday. Weather reports included a 61 mph gust of wind at 8:39 p.m. and flash flooding in several streets by 9:23 p.m. County Road 131 was closed between Highway 30 and County Road 30 at 11:04 p.m. That area is about eight miles east of Sidney.

Weather activity for the Nebraska Panhandle for Monday was forecast to be sunny with a high of 82 degrees. The temperature might be enough to dry out the area before severe storms hit the area again tonight.

The National Weather Service has forecast a 40 percent chance of severe storms throughout the day and night for the Cheyenne County area. A cold front is reported to be traveling southeast and is expected to stall on a line from Rawlins, Wyo., to Scottsbluff. This is expected to fire off thunderstorm activity throughout the day.

The weekly forecast calls for unseasonably cool weather on Wednesday due to the cold front. Thunderstorm activity on Wednesday is not expected to reach the coverage and severity of Tuesday storms. The weather service then calls for afternoon thunderstorms throughout the remainder of the week. Temperatures today through Saturday are expected to reach into the low- to mid-80s, except Wednesday when the forecast calls for temps in the 70s.