Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Hastings, NE
Issued by NWS Hastings, NE
353 NOUS43 KGID 282210 PNSGID NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-300000- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Hastings NE 510 PM CDT Sun Apr 28 2024 ...NWS Damage Survey for Friday, April 26, 2024 Tornado Event... .Overview...On Friday, April 26, 2024, two supercells produced five tornadoes across south central Nebraska. The tornadoes were confined to Buffalo, Sherman, Howard and Greeley counties. Supercells which produce more than one tornado are usually called cyclic supercells, as when a supercell forms more than one tornado, it is deemed to have "cycled" through the lifecycle of each tornado. Below is a damage survey summary of four of the tornadoes. The damage survey summary of the 5th tornado, which crossed the Greeley/Boone county line, will be issued after final review by both the Hastings and Omaha/Valley NWS offices. The staff of NWS Hastings would like to think local Emergency Management and residents for their invaluable help conducting the surveys. .Ravenna Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mph Path Length /statute/: 4.76 miles Path Width /maximum/: 175 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/26/2024 Start Time: 12:16 PM CDT Start Location: 2 ESE Ravenna / Buffalo County / NE Start Lat/Lon: 41.0188 / -98.8736 End Date: 04/26/2024 End Time: 12:31 PM CDT End Location: 3 N Ravenna / Sherman County / NE End Lat/Lon: 41.0752 / -98.9202 Survey Summary: This tornado was the first tornado of the day and started near the ethanol plant east of Ravenna, where minor damage occurred on a catwalk. The tornado moved north-northwest during its life cycle. The most significant damage was at a residence in southern Sherman county, where outbuildings were damaged/destroyed. The tornado was rated an EF1 with an estimated peak wind speed of 90 mph, based upon damage to a power pole and the structures. The tornado faded away on or very near State Highway 68 about 3 miles north of Ravenna in Sherman county. .Rockville Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph Path Length /statute/: 5.71 miles Path Width /maximum/: 100 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/26/2024 Start Time: 12:32 PM CDT Start Location: 2 S Rockville / Sherman County / NE Start Lat/Lon: 41.0951 / -98.8275 End Date: 04/26/2024 End Time: 12:48 PM CDT End Location: 4 NNE Rockville / Sherman County / NE End Lat/Lon: 41.177 / -98.8171 Survey Summary: The same supercell spawned a 2nd tornado in Sherman county, this time starting out south of Rockville. The tornado was first sighted in a field, after which it moved north and crossed the Middle Loup River. The tornado caused EF1 rated damage to a home and damaged to outbuildings just south of town. The tornado moved north along the east edge of Rockville and damaged trees, a couple of grain bins and outbuildings. It continued to move north roughly along the Rockville Road and snapped several power poles. Base upon reports, the tornado likely dissipated in open country about 4 miles north of town. The EF1 rating and estimated peak wind speed of 105 mph was assigned basedupon the snapped power poles north of town. .Elba Tornado... Rating: EF3 Estimated Peak Wind: 145 mph Path Length /statute/: 9.54 miles Path Width /maximum/: 600 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/26/2024 Start Time: 12:58 PM CDT Start Location: 1 SSE Farwell / Howard County / NE Start Lat/Lon: 41.2028 / -98.6199 End Date: 04/26/2024 End Time: 01:21 PM CDT End Location: 3 N Elba / Howard County / NE End Lat/Lon: 41.3301 / -98.5612 Survey Summary: Initially narrow, this tornado started south of Farwell with eyewitness reports, and would eventually turn into a large EF3 rated tornado. The tornado moved across rural areas north of Farwell causing tree damage and overturning center irrigation pivot systems. As the tornado emerged onto the North Loup River Valley just west of Elba, it gained significant strength. Just west of Elba, a farmstead sustained heavy damage to a home, outbuildings and vehicles, among other items. A well built metal building structure was demolished along with extensive damage to the nearby farm home. Based upon damage indicators, this location was deemed to have the strongest winds, estimated at 145 mph, which resulted in an EF3 rating for the tornado. The tornado was estimated to be around 600 yards wide as it crossed Highway 11 just northwest of Elba. A long stretch of power poles were knocked down along Odell Road. The tornado eventually navigated across the North Loup River about 2.5 miles north of town. At this point, the tornado moved into pasture ground. Based upon radar data, timing and lack of solid damage indicators, NWS Hastings believes this tornado likely weakened as it moved north. However, this also started the process for the next tornado to form to its east. .Wolbach Tornado... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 135 mph Path Length /statute/: 9.59 miles Path Width /maximum/: 880 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/26/2024 Start Time: 01:32 PM CDT Start Location: 5 NE Elba / Howard County / NE Start Lat/Lon: 41.3446 / -98.5073 End Date: 04/26/2024 End Time: 01:54 PM CDT End Location: 3 N Wolbach / Greeley County / NE End Lat/Lon: 41.4506 / -98.4016 Survey Summary: Through a roughly 10-minute process, during which the supercell did not move much, a 4th tornado formed in northern Howard county. This tornado would eventually grow into the widest tornado, at least 1/2 mile wide at times. This tornado was rated an EF2 with estimated peak wind speeds of 135 mph based on upon metal power pole damage just west of the Highway 281 and 22 junction near Wolbach. The tornado had previously destroyed a metal building to the southwest, and would go on to destroy a couple of wood framed outbuildings to the northeast of Highway 281. The south edge of the tornado likely passed just north of the Highway 281/22 intersection. It was in this general area and along the county line that the tornado at least 1/2 mile wide. The tornado marched northeast causing damage to at least one residence, outbuildings, trees and center irrigation pivots. As the supercell slowed down north of Wolbach, this tornado likely diminished (the damage noted was much less severe and sparse) and the supercell begin a process of developing another tornado to the east, likely similar to the process described previously. && 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. $$