Little Sioux Tornado

Overview

The tornado started 4.5 miles west of Little Sioux, Iowa in Burt County, NE where center pivot irrigation systems were tipped over and numerous trees were damaged. The storm tracked northeast across the Missouri River and interstate 29 near mile marker 97, where a semi-truck flipped on its side. Heading northeast, the tornado snapped power poles and then entered the Little Sioux Scout Ranch. The tornado destroyed the ranger's home near the entrance of the park and was rated a solid EF-3. The storm then blew down trees and struck a bunk house where the four fatalities occurred. The storm continued northeast into Preparation Canyon State Park and continued to topple trees. Prior to entering the park, a farmstead sustained damage. The tornado then hit another farmstead approximately 2.5 miles southwest of Moorhead, IA. Trees were blown down and sheds were damaged on the farmstead. The tornado then began to weaken and lifted 2 miles southwest of Moorhead, IA. In addition to the fatalities, the tornado also resulted in 48 confirmed injuries.

KOAX Velocity Radar Image

Tornado
Photos & Video
Radar
Tornado Reports
Wind Reports
Hail Reports

Tornadoes:

Tornado #1 - Little Sioux, Iowa
Burt/Harrison/Monona Counties

Date	June 11, 2008
Time (Local)	6:25 PM to 6:45 PM
EF Rating	EF3
Est. Peak Winds	165 mph
Path Length	14 Miles
Max Width	0.25 Mile
Injuries/Deaths	48 Injured/ 4 Fatalities
Summary: The tornado started in Burt County and tracked northeast for 14 miles before lifting in Monona County. The tornado made a direct impact on the Little Sioux Scout Ranch where EF-3 damage occurred as well as 4 fatalities.

Track Map


Cell Phone Photo from A.J. Loser		North Shelter before tornado	North Shelter after tornado

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Photos:

Aerial View

Courtesy Dr. Crabb

Aerial View #2

Courtesy Dr. Crabb

Bunk House #1

Bunk House #2

Radar:


0.5º Radar Reflectivity Animation	0.5º Radar Storm Relative Velocity Animation

0.5º Storm Relative Velocity image	0.5º Storm Relative Velocity image

Tornado Reports

Date	Time	County/City	Comments
6/11/2008	23:08	Saunders/1 S Wahoo
6/11/2008	23:35	Monona/6 N Little Sioux	TORNADO HIT A BOYSCOUT RANCH JUST NORTH OF THE HARRISON COUNTY LINE. THIRTY TO FORTY INJURIES WITH 4 FATALITIES REPORTED BY HARRISON COUNTY DISPATCH.
6/11/2008	23:35	Monona/6 SE Blencoe	* 4 FATAL, 48 INJ * TORNADO HIT THE 1800 ACRE LITTLE SIOUX BOY SCOUT RANCH JUST NORTH OF THE HARRISON COUNTY LINE. 48 INJURIES AND 4 FATALITIES CONFIRMED. CAMP CABINS AND HOME DESTROYED. LOCATION WAS CORRECTED BASED ON AERIAL IMAGERY AND PRELIMINARY EF SCALE RATING.
6/11/2008	23:42	Monona/Moorhead	RAIN-WRAPPED TORNADO RELAYED BY WFO-DMX
6/11/2008	23:48	Douglas/2 W Elkhorn
6/11/2008	23:50	Douglas/Elkhorn	TORNADO ON GROUND AT THE WEST EDGE OF TOWN.
6/11/2008	23:59	Douglas/6 N Elkhorn
6/12/2008	00:20	Monona/6 NE Castana
6/12/2008	00:39	Cass/Greenwood
6/12/2008	00:48	Shelby/3 NW Defiance
6/12/2008	00:48	Crawford/4 NW Defiance
6/12/2008	00:50	Cass/3 SW Louisville	TORNADO ON THE GROUND JUST SOUTH OF HWY 66 NEAR PLATTE RIVER STATE PARK. RELAYED BY WFO LBF.
6/12/2008	00:50	Cass/Plattsmouth	TORNADO ON GROUND JUST SOUTH OF HWY 66 NEAR PLATTE RIVER STATE PARK. RELAYED BY WFO LBF
6/12/2008	01:00	Cass/2 SW Cedar Creek	BARN DESTROYED ALONG 114TH STREET. MOBILE HOME MOVED 8 INCHES OFF THE FOUNDATION AT 96TH STREET. 2 OAK TREES UPROOTED. GROVE OF TREES TOPPED. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR IMAGERY.
6/12/2008	01:05	Shelby/4 S Defiance	30-40 VERY LARGE TREES KNOCKED OVER. OUTBUILDING DAMAGED.
6/12/2008	01:25	Jefferson/Plymouth
6/12/2008	01:38	Jefferson/2 N Jansen

Wind Reports

Date	Time	County/City	Comments
6/11/2008	22:55	Dodge/Winslow	LARGE HEALTHY TREE BRANCHES DOWN
6/11/2008	23:05	Burt/Tekamah	LARGE HEALTY TREE BRANCHES AND TREES DOWN
6/11/2008	23:15	Douglas/3 N Papillion	TREE DOWN AT GILES AND ELLSWORTH.
6/11/2008	23:30	Harrison/ 2 NW Little Sioux	BRANCHES AND DEAD TREE DOWN. POWER OUT.
6/12/2008	00:00	Douglas/1 NW Bennington	PATIO CHAIRS BLOWN INTO WINDOW. PONTOON BOAT PICKED UP AND BLOWN TWO HOUSES DOWN. IN THE NEWPORT SUBDIVISION. ESTIMATED WIND SPEED 60 MPH.
6/12/2008	00:05	Lancaster/1 NW Lincoln	LARGE TREE LIMB DOWN
6/12/2008	01:00	Harrison/5 NW Persia	TWO WINDOWS BLOWN OUT. SMALL BRANCHES BLOWN DOWN. 1.75 INCHES OF RAIN. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR IMAGERY.
6/12/2008	01:20	Cass/Plattsmouth	TREE BLOWN ONTO MOBILE HOME. APPEARS TO HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN DUE TO RFD WINDS. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR IMAGERY.

Hail Reports

Date	Time	County/City	Size (inches)	Comments
6/12/2008	00:00	Douglas/Omaha	1.00	LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED QUARTER SIZE HAIL AT THE CORNER OF 168TH AND BENNINGTON
6/12/2008	00:12	Lancaster/1 NW Lincoln	1.00
6/12/2008	00:37	Saline/Dorchester	1.00
6/12/2008	00:48	Cass/Greenwood	1.75	AT 310TH AND CHURCH RD
6/12/2008	01:08	Douglas/Omaha	1.00	AT 159 AND GILES
6/12/2008	01:12	Douglas/Omaha	1.00	138TH AND INDUSTRIAL ROAD
6/12/2008	01:15	Douglas/Omaha	1.00	108TH AND HARRISON
6/12/2008	01:17	Douglas/Omaha	1.00	AT 120 AND W ST
6/12/2008	01:19	Douglas/Omaha	1.00
6/12/2008	01:24	Sarpy/Bellevue	1.00	WASHINGTON STREET
6/12/2008	02:10	Sarpy/Papillion	1.00

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