PHOTOS: Record-breaking number of tornado warnings issued in Nebraska

On Friday, May 12th, Nebraska as a state saw more tornado warnings issued than ever before in a single day. During the day, 50 tornado warnings were issued mainly across northeast Nebraska. The second date in history that comes close with 47 warnings: May 22nd, 2004. Damage survey crews with local National Weather Service offices have been planning and assessing on Saturday.

Looking across the state, National Weather Services out of Omaha and North Platte have been working to share information about the damage many Nebraskans have endured through Friday’s tornado outbreak.

Pictures from each tornado with the damage surveyed from across the state were taken during the process.

By Saturday evening, North Platte had surveyed 7 tornadoes across Custer, Garfield, Wheeler and Holt counties, but many were unranked due to lack of damage.

As for the latest note from the National Weather Service of Omaha, three survey teams were sent to multiple locations across eastern Nebraska. Two teams were responsible for the long-track circulation that produced numerous reports of damage across Dodge and Burt counties.

The preliminary survey indicates that there were as many as 5 tornadoes associated with the storm that moved north-northeast across Dodge and Burt. Tornado damage from those tornadoes ranged from EF-0 to EF-2.

A third team was responsible for damage reports coming from Stanton, Colfax, Platte, Madison, Pierce and Boone counties. That preliminary survey indicated another 5 EF-1 tornadoes with a downburst of around 70 mph winds near Pilger, Nebraska.

Plans for Pawnee and Richardson counties will come in the next few days.

The latest on each tornado as surveyed by the National Weather Service can be found below.

West of Spalding, NE ….. Greeley County

EF Rating: EF-1

Estimated Peak Winds: 105 mph

Path Length: 13.76 miles

Time: 2:25 – 2:42 p.m.

Irrigation pivots were bent and flipped over during this event, with spotters sending video to help damage crews assess the total path length.

South of Bartlett, NE ….. Wheeler County

EF Rating: EF-1

Estimated Peak Winds: 107 mph

Path Length: 3.42 miles

Time: 3:11 – 3:20 p.m. CDT

Irrigation pivots were bent and flipped over during this event, with spotters sending video to help damage crews assess the total path length. This tornado was said to touch down and mainly impact open areas. But stands of trees were damaged, with trunks snapped and large limbs lost.

South of Chambers, NE ….. Wheeler/Holt County

EF Rating: EF-2

Estimated Peak Winds: 120 mph

Path Length: 7.85 miles

Time: 3:55 – 4:06 p.m. CDT

This tornado touched down in far northern Wheeler County, quickly strengthening and caused extensive damage to shelter belts. Debarking was observed in trees along the county line. EF-2 rating was given due to the debarking of trees and damage to grain bins and accompanying farmstead. Overall, the tornado continued northwestward into Holt County, damaging more trees, outbuildings and pivot systems.

Anselmo, NE ….. Custer County

EF Rating: EF-1

Estimated Peak Winds: 110 mph

Path Length: 4.02 miles

Path Width (max): 100 yards

Time: 12:34 – 12:48 p.m. CDT

The tornado was said to move northwest, causing tree damage on the west side of Anselmo.

The details on these surveys are preliminary. More will be released from the National Weather Service in the coming days.

Meteorologist Jessica Blum 
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