005
NOUS43 KGID 050027
PNSGID
NEZ073-083-051230-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
727 PM CDT Sat May 4 2024

...NWS Damage Survey for Friday, May 3, 2024 Tornado Event...

Overview...On Friday, May 3, 2024, a line of thunderstorms with
embedded supercells developed along a southeastward moving cold
front during the late evening hours. At least three tornadoes
developed from these supercells, focused in the Holdrege and Ragan
areas in Phelps and northern Harlan Counties. The line turned
into a QLCS (quasi linear convective system) by the time it
reached the Hwy 281 corridor, in which additional tornadoes may
have occurred. This portion of the event will be covered in an
update on Sunday after additional surveys are completed.

Below is the survey of the two confirmed tornadoes in Phelps
County, near Holdrege, both preliminarily rated as EF-1. Also is a
damage survey for the lone tornado in northern Harlan County,
preliminarily rated as EF-0.

Additional damage was noted near the fairgrounds and southeast
side of Holdrege. It is currently unknown if this damage was a
possible additional tornado (continuation of the mesocyclone that
produced the tornado near Atlanta), of if this was caused by
strong rear flank downdraft straight-line winds. Further
investigation is being done to make a final determination, and
additional updates are possible over the coming days.

The staff of NWS Hastings would like to thank local Emergency
Management and residents for their invaluable help conducting the
surveys.

.Atlanta Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    100 mph
Path Length /statute/:  0.66 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   50 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             05/03/2024
Start Time:             08:53 PM CDT
Start Location:         2 W Atlanta / Phelps County / NE
Start Lat/Lon:          40.3723 / -99.5132

End Date:               05/03/2024
End Time:               08:55 PM CDT
End Location:           2 WNW Atlanta / Phelps County / NE
End Lat/Lon:            40.3775 / -99.5028

Survey Summary:
Brief tornado touched down near G Rd just W of Atlanta. EF-
1 damage occurred at this location, primarily to the roof of a
home. Resident witnessed the circulation move NE, out the now
broken large front window, into adjacent field. Damage/debris
ceased about a half mile NE, just S of 728 Rd.

.Ragan Tornado...

Rating:                 EF0
Estimated Peak Wind:    85 mph
Path Length /statute/:  7.24 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   500 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             05/03/2024
Start Time:             09:09 PM CDT
Start Location:         4 W Ragan / Harlan County / NE
Start Lat/Lon:          40.3073 / -99.3679

End Date:               05/03/2024
End Time:               09:20 PM CDT
End Location:           3 NE Ragan / Phelps County / NE
End Lat/Lon:            40.351 / -99.2474

Survey Summary:
Weak and somewhat intermittent tornado touched down near the
intersection of Hwy 183 and Hwy 4, then moved NE. Damage was
limited to trees, pivots, and a few power poles along it`s
roughly 7 mile track. The tornado lifted along the Harlan/Phelps
county line between T Rd and U Rd.

.Holdrege Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    110 mph
Path Length /statute/:  4.57 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   975 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             05/03/2024
Start Time:             09:11 PM CDT
Start Location:         1 NNW Holdrege / Phelps County / NE
Start Lat/Lon:          40.457300000000004 / -99.3839

End Date:               05/03/2024
End Time:               09:21 PM CDT
End Location:           4 NW Funk / Phelps County / NE
End Lat/Lon:            40.4967 / -99.3197

Survey Summary:
EF-1 tornado touched down near the north side of the golf course,
then moved ENE, then NE, ending near the intersection of 736 Rd
and Q Rd. The tornado reached peak intensity and width near
Lincoln St just NE of the town of Holdrege where significant
damage to outbuildings, some newer and well-built, was noted.
Damage also occurred to roofs of a few homes. Based on the damage
track, the peak width of the tornado was about 1000 yards, or
about 0.6 of a mile. Numerous pivots and trees were damaged, and
several power poles snapped. Additional damage was noted to the S
and SE of this track, near the fairgrounds and southeast side of
Holdrege. It is currently unknown if this damage was a possible
second tornado (continuation of the mesocyclone that produced the
tornado near Atlanta), of if this was caused by strong rear flank
downdraft straight-line winds. Further investigation is being
done to make a final determination, and additional updates are
possible.

&&

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

EF0.....65 to 85 mph
EF1.....86 to 110 mph
EF2.....111 to 135 mph
EF3.....136 to 165 mph
EF4.....166 to 200 mph
EF5.....>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.


$$
Thies