...NWS Damage Survey for Dec. 15, 2021 Tornado Event - Update #1 (2 additional tornadoes confirmed Friday)... .Update...Staff from NWS Hastings surveyed two more tornado paths today in northern Kearney county and far southeast Buffalo County of south central Nebraska. Specific details and a brief writeup for each tornado are available in this Public Information Statement. This brings the total number of confirmed tornadoes on December 15th in south central Nebraska to nine. Five EF1 tornadoes and four EF0 tornadoes. For historical context, prior to this event, only five tornadoes were reported in entire state of Nebraska during the month of December since 1950. NWS Hastings is thankful for all the assistance provided by the public and partners, especially emergency management. All path information is considered preliminary until final publication in Storm Data in 2 to 3 months. .Gibbon Area Tornado... Rating: EF0 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 cross Interstate 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: EF0 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. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph EF5...Violent...>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data.
...NWS Hastings Damage Survey for December 15, 2021 Tornado Event (7 tornadoes confirmed Thursday)... .Overview...Meteorologists from the National Weather Service in Hastings surveyed several tornado tracks across a six county area of south central Nebraska. In summary, so far seven tornadoes have been confirmed. Five of the tornadoes were rated EF-1 and two tornadoes EF-0. A combination of field observation, reports from the public and emergency management and radar information were taken into account to develop the tracks. Thank you to everyone who supplied information. Please note: the damage surveys aren`t completely done yet. Staff from the NWS Hastings office will look at more damage in the area Friday. Finally, constructing a post-tornado damage survey is always challenging. It is especially difficult in rural areas with limited damage indicators, not to mention the time of year and the speed and type of the thunderstorms which produced the tornadoes. We generally focused on the most likely locations where tornado damage and a tornado path could be determined. We recognize additional information may become available and will reassess when appropriate. The following path information is considered preliminary until final publication in 2 to 3 months. .Campbell Area Tornado... Rating: EF0 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: EF1 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: EF1 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: EF0 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: EF1 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 E streets just south of the railroad tracks. .Kronborg/Hordville Tornado... Rating: EF1 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: EF1 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. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph EF5...Violent...>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data.
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