UPDATE: National Weather Service confirms 28 tornadoes statewide from last Wednesday

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The National Weather Service (NWS) offices in Hastings and Omaha confirmed 28 tornadoes in the state of Nebraska from Wednesday’s storms.

This number has risen in recent days as the NWS has continued to conduct field surveys of damage caused by tornadoes. The peak intensity of a tornado is estimated based on the damage it causes. These tornadoes range in intensity from EF-0 to EF-2:

• EF-0: 5 (Peak winds between 65 and 85 mph)
• EF-1: 16 (Peak winds between 86 and 110 mph)
• EF-2: 7 (Peak winds between 111 and 135 mph)

While tornadoes can occur in any month of the year, this amount is highly unusual in December. Before Wednesday, Nebraska had only seen 5 tornadoes in the month of December since 1950.

The following is information from the NWS storm surveys for the tornadoes in the Channel 8 viewing area. This data is considered preliminary until official publication in 2-3 months.

3 Miles SE Dorchester Tornado

Rating: EF-2
Estimated Peak Wind: 118 mph
Path Length /Statute/: 23.937 miles
Path Width /Maximum/: 70.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 12/15/2021
Start Time: 03:11 PM CST
Start Location: 3 SE Dorchester / Saline County / NE
Start Lat/Lon: 40.6179 / -97.0722

End Date: 12/15/2021
End Time: 03:29 PM CST
End Location: 3 ESE Malcolm / Lancaster County / NE
End Lat/Lon: 40.8957 / -96.8085

Survey Summary:
An EF-2 tornado began in northeast Saline County where it overturned numerous irrigation pivots. It continued northeastward into Seward County where it damaged trees and farm outbuildings, passing just southeast of Pleasant Dale. As it crossed into Lancaster County, the tornado produced its most substantial damage, tearing off the top half of a 100-year-old barn and pulling the barn itself from its rebar attachment to the foundation. Other outbuildings and grain bins were also damaged in this area. The tornado continued northeastward and passed near the southeast end of Pawnee Lake, damaging power poles in the area. The path continued northeastward, damaging trees and eventually crossing Highway 34 just east of Malcolm Road before dissipating shortly thereafter.

6 Miles ENE Summerfield, KS Tornado

Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph
Path Length /Statute/: 0.1812 miles
Path Width /Maximum/: 20.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 12/15/2021
Start Time: 04:05 Pm CST
Start Location: 6 ENE Summerfield / Pawnee County / NE
Start Lat/Lon: 40.0449 / -96.2506

End Date: 12/15/2021
End Time: 04:05 Pm CST
End Location: 6 ENE Summerfield / Pawnee County / NE
End Lat/Lon: 40.0459 / -96.2474

Survey Summary:
Brief swirl southwest of outbuilding destroyed. Debris strewn in narrow bath to the northeast.

3 E Pawnee City, NE Tornado

Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mph
Path Length /Statute/: 0.8024 miles
Path Width /Maximum/: 100.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 12/15/2021
Start Time: 04:07 PM CST
Start Location: 3 E Pawnee City / Pawnee County / NE
Start Lat/Lon: 40.1199 / -96.0872

End Date: 12/15/2021
End Time: 04:07 PM CST
End Location: 3 SSE Table Rock / Pawnee County / NE
End Lat/Lon: 40.1267 / -96.0752

Survey Summary:
A brief tornado destroyed several outbuildings and removed a wrap-around porch from a house.

3 Miles WSW Du Bois, NE Tornado

Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind: 90 Mph
Path Length /Statute/: 2.1799 Miles
Path Width /Maximum/: 20.0 Yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 12/15/2021
Start Time: 04:06 PM CST
Start Location: 3 WSW Du Bois / Pawnee County / NE
Start Lat/Lon: 40.021 / -96.0973

End Date: 12/15/2021
End Time: 04:08 PM CST
End Location: 1 W Du Bois / Pawnee County / NE
End Lat/Lon: 40.0328 / -96.0592

Survey Summary:
Half of large outbuilding destroyed.

Gibbon Area Tornado

Rating: EF-0
Estimated Peak Wind: 85 mph
Path Length /statute/: 11.1727 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 150.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 12/15/2021
Start Time: 01:27 PM CST
Start Location: 5 N Minden / Kearney County / NE
Start Lat/Lon: 40.5831 / -98.9391

End Date: 12/15/2021
End Time: 01:38 PM CST
End Location: 1 SW Gibbon / Buffalo County / NE
End Lat/Lon: 40.7304 / -98.8599

Survey Summary:
This tornado was typical for the day, likely intermittent with regard to ground circulation and impacting rural areas. Much of the path damage can be traced to center irrigation pivots either partially or fully overturned. The tornado damaged a couple of power poles and peeled back some roofing material at the Rowe Sanctuary. A measured wind gust of 83 mph was recorded at the Sanctuary as the storm passed. Damage was a bit sparse north of the river. The tornadic circulation likely crossed I-80 about 3 miles west of the Gibbon interchange before knocking over a couple more pivots and lifting just southwest of Gibbon. The maximum wind speed of 85 mph (EF0) was based upon the measured wind gust (83 mph) and damage to power poles nearby.

Lowell Area Tornado

Rating: EF-0
Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph
Path Length /statute/: 7.1909 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 120.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 12/15/2021
Start Time: 01:33 PM CST
Start Location: 6 NNW Heartwell / Kearney County / NE
Start Lat/Lon: 40.6563 / -98.8151

End Date: 12/15/2021
End Time: 01:41 PM CST
End Location: 3 WSW Shelton / Buffalo County / NE
End Lat/Lon: 40.7551 / -98.777

Survey Summary:
This shorter path tornado started east of Lowell and traveled north-northeast across the Platte River. Damage was sparse again but a few center irrigation pivots and minor tree damage was found. The tornadic circulation likely crossed Interstate 80 about 2.5 miles west of the Shelton interchange. The tornado moved across one farmstead where a garage was completely destroyed. Minor tree damage was also noted. The damage to the garage was the primary basis for the 80 mph (EF0) maximum wind speed. The tornado tipped one more pivot before lifting just northeast of the farmstead.

Campbell Area Tornado

Rating: EF-0
Estimated Peak Wind: 85 mph
Path Length /statute/: 14.108 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 100.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 12/15/2021
Start Time: 01:29 PM CST
Start Location: 2 S Campbell / Franklin County / NE
Start Lat/Lon: 40.2676 / -98.7285

End Date: 12/15/2021
End Time: 01:41 PM CST
End Location: 3 SW Roseland / Adams County / NE
End Lat/Lon: 40.4306 / -98.5945

Survey Summary:
This intermittent tornado path started near the Franklin and Webster county line south of Campbell. As it tracked northeast, some power poles, an irrigation pivot and minor building occurred east of Campbell. The tornado crossed into Adams county and tipped a few more pivots and caused minor damage to home.

Blue Hill Area Tornado

Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph
Path Length /statute/: 15.0057 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 180.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 12/15/2021
Start Time: 01:44 PM CST
Start Location: 3 WSW Blue Hill / Webster County / NE
Start Lat/Lon: 40.3214 / -98.5025

End Date: 12/15/2021
End Time: 01:56 PM CST
End Location: 4 W Glenvil / Adams County / NE
End Lat/Lon: 40.492 / -98.3325

Survey Summary:
This intermittent tornado path started west of Blue Hill, including some irrigation pipe strewn into a tree line, along with tree damage a couple miles west of town. The tornado moved northeast, upsetting more pivots. The 100 mph wind estimate (EF1) was assigned based upon the snapping of power poles southeast of Ayr. Spotters saw the tornado west of Glenvil, where it upset another pivot before lifting.

Rosedale Road Tornado

Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph
Path Length /statute/: 8.6535 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 150.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 12/15/2021
Start Time: 01:53 PM CST
Start Location: 5 NNE Juniata / Adams County / NE
Start Lat/Lon: 40.6551 / -98.4578

End Date: 12/15/2021
End Time: 02:01 PM CST
End Location: 1 S Doniphan / Hall County / NE
End Lat/Lon: 40.7598 / -98.3696

Survey Summary:
The Rosedale tornado impacted three farmsteads. The 100 mph rating (EF1) was assigned based upon the collapse of an outbuilding at one farmstead. Partial roof loss was noted at one home, while another home had some superficial damage. Again, more pivots were overturned. The tornadic circulation probably crossed U.S. Highway 281 near the fuel supply facility south of Doniphan before lifting a mile or so south of Doniphan.

Trumbull Area Tornado

Rating: EF-0
Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph
Path Length /statute/: 7.289 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 60.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 12/15/2021
Start Time: 02:00 PM CST
Start Location: 1 SSW Trumbull / Adams County / NE
Start Lat/Lon: 40.6662 / -98.2786

End Date: 12/15/2021
End Time: 02:06 PM CST
End Location: 3 SW Giltner / Hamilton County / NE
End Lat/Lon: 40.7407 / -98.1844

Survey Summary:
This intermittent tornado damaged a horse barn south of Trumbull as it began its roughly seven mile path. As it moved northeast, most of the observable damage was to a couple of irrigation pivots along with a snapped tree.

Aurora Tornado

Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph
Path Length /statute/: 11.1217 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 400.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 12/15/2021
Start Time: 02:11 PM CST
Start Location: 4 SSE Giltner / Hamilton County / NE
Start Lat/Lon: 40.724 / -98.1115

End Date: 12/15/2021
End Time: 02:19 PM CST
End Location: Aurora / Hamilton County / NE
End Lat/Lon: 40.8615 / -98.0024

Survey Summary:
This tornado actually started four miles southeast of Giltner and traveled northeast into Aurora. The 100 mph wind speed estimate (EF1) was assigned mostly based upon snapped power poles. There were numerous irrigation pivots damaged along the path. The tornado crossed Interstate 80 about two miles west of the Aurora interchange. The tornado entered the southwest side of Aurora near the fairgrounds. Metal cladding was peeled from storage facilities nearby and there were several spots of tree damage. The tornado lifted around 12th and S streets just south of the railroad tracks.

Kronborg/Hordville Tornado

Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph
Path Length /statute/: 12.085 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 400 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 12/15/2021
Start Time: 02:26 PM CST
Start Location: 5 ESE Marquette / Hamilton County / NE
Start Lat/Lon: 40.9688 / -97.9153

End Date: 12/15/2021
End Time: 02:37 PM CST
End Location: 2 N Polk / Polk County / NE
End Lat/Lon: 41.1107 / -97.7841

Survey Summary:
This tornado was probably one of the more classic looking tornadoes, at least when reviewing pictures. This tornado started southeast of Kronborg and rapidly moved northeast. The 100 wind speed estimate (EF1) was assigned primarily based upon snapped power poles, but a hog facility was heavily damaged about two miles into the path of the tornado. The tornado crossed Highway 66 two miles west of Polk. Just before it lifted north of town, the tornado took down a large metal building.

Eastern Polk Area Tornado

Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph
Path Length /statute/: 7.5826 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 350.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 12/15/2021
Start Time: 02:35 PM CST
Start Location: 3 ESE Polk / Polk County / NE
Start Lat/Lon: 41.061 / -97.7318

End Date: 12/15/2021
End Time: 02:43 PM CST
End Location: 5 NW Stromsburg / Polk County / NE
End Lat/Lon: 41.1632 / -97.681

Survey Summary:
This tornado started southeast of Polk and crossed Highway 66 about 2 miles east of town. The 100 mph wind estimate (EF1) was assigned based upon multiple stretches of power poles snapped. Several pivots were overturned on its 7.5 mile path across the rural countryside.