Tornado strength determined: Waverly, Elkhorn, Eppley
The strength and size of the tornadoes in eastern Nebraska last Friday have been determined. More information will come out in the coming days, but here’s what we know so far.
The Waverly tornado did initially touch down in Lincoln near the intersection of Havelock Avenue and 84th Street. It eventually lifted just north of Waverly.
This tornado eventually grew into an EF-3 with 158 mph winds.
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It started as an EF-0 just west of 84th Street. It quickly grew.
By the time it got to 84th, just north of Havelock, it was already an EF-2.
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It made its way toward Cornhusker Highway, growing into an EF-3 by the time it got to 98th Street and Highway 6, doing major damage to a manufacturing plant.
It crossed 98th and Highway 6 and hit a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train directly.
By the time the tornado made it to Waverly, it was weakening to an EF-1.
It did damage to a farm there, and two large wood-framed outbuildings were destroyed.
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Another EF-3 tornado struck Elkhorn with 165 mph wind. Major damage was seen here.
The last of the tornadoes in Nebraska started at Eppley Airfield and quickly moved into Iowa. This tornado was an EF-3 as well.
SEE ALSO: Thousands of volunteers helping to rebuild after tornadoes wreak havoc in Nebraska
This is just the beginning of the data that was available.
As the National Weather Service continues to survey the damage, we will have more information in the coming days.
Chief Meteorologist Rusty Dawkins
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