Five tornadoes, including one EF-3, confirmed in central Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Several tornadoes tore through Nebraska on Friday, including five in central Nebraska from the same two storms.
As of Monday afternoon, the Hastings office of the National Weather Service completed damage surveys that found five tornadoes.
The Omaha office confirmed three EF-3 tornadoes in eastern Nebraska.
EF-1 NEAR RAVENNA
The tornado that touched down near Ravenna was the first of the day and started near an ethanol plant.
A catwalk at that site sustained minor damage before the tornado moved north and northwest, where significant damage was found at a home in Sherman County.
Outbuildings were destroyed from estimated peak winds of 90 mph, with further damage to a power pole.
Courtesy: NWS Hastings
EF-1 NEAR ROCKVILLE
The same storm later formed a second tornado in Sherman County, south of Rockville.
The tornado was first spotted in a field before causing damage to outbuildings just south of town.
As the tornado moved north, damaged trees were seen along the east edge of town.
The tornado then destroyed some outbuildings and grain bins while snapping several power poles, according to the weather service.
A home also sustained some roof damage and broken windows along the path.
Courtesy: NWS Hastings
EF-3 NEAR ELBA
According to eyewitness reports, a narrow tornado started out in fields near Farwell.
It initially overturned some center irrigation pivots before gaining significant strength just west of Elba.
From there, a farmstead sustained heavy damage to a home, vehicles and outbuildings.
A well-built metal building was demolished, with extensive damage to a nearby farm home.
Based on the damage, this was where the strongest winds, estimated at 145 mph, occurred.
The tornado was surveyed to be 600 yards wide as it crossed Highway 11 just northwest of Elba. A long stretch of power poles were knocked down along Odell Road.
EF-2 NEAR WOLBACH
The Elba tornado helped start the process for the formation of this next one near Wolbach. The tornado was said to be one of the widest of the day – at least a half-mile wide at times.
The tornado was rated an EF-2, with estimated peak wind speeds of 135 mph, based on metal power pole damage just west of the Highway 281 and 22 junction. Before that, the tornado destroyed a metal building to the southwest, going on to destroy a couple of wood-framed outbuildings.
The tornado “marched on,” according to the weather service, causing damage to at least one home, trees, center irrigation pivots and more outbuildings.
Courtesy: NWS Hastings
EF-2 NEAR WOLBACH AND PRIMROSE
The fifth tornado confirmed in central Nebraska happened just after the Wolbach tornado – another EF-2 developed and moved northeast, on the ground for a little over an hour.
It crossed into Boone County along Highway 56 to the southwest of Primrose, causing minor damage to a farmstead at the county line with quite a bit of tree damage.
As the tornado moved north, it appeared to strengthen some to officials surveying the damage because of flipped and tossed pivot irrigation systems; power poles were also snapped and debris lifted into power lines.
But the most significant damage was found just southwest of Primrose where a single-family home was extensively damaged. The three-car garage was totally ripped away along with much of the roof structure. More trees and power poles were snapped as the tornado raged on.
It eventually weakened in open country as it approached Beaver Creek, southwest of Petersburg, according to the National Weather Service.
Courtesy: NWS Hastings
Meteorologist Jessica Blum
Twitter: JessicaBlumWx
Facebook: JessicaBlumWx
YouTube: JessicaBlumWx
