B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Weather
West of DSM Iowa and in the vicinity of OMA Nebraska; we encountered severe turbulence while at FL300 with climb clearance to FL320. During the event we were unable to maintain altitude and descended in the downdraft at 1500 - 1700 fpm reaching approximately FL280 before we were able to stop the descent and climb. (The turbulence in the descent was increasingly worse at lower altitude). We then continued to climb back to the previously cleared altitude of FL320 where the turbulence steadily diminished and we were able to re-engage the automatics. During the event; we communicated with Air Traffic Control our condition and actions to the best of our ability. The event lasted approximately 10-15 minutes; with no reported injuries from the flight deck or cabin.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
B737-800 crew reported encountering severe turbulence at FL300 in the vicinity of OMA.