May 30th, 2008
Tornadoes, heavy wind and rain pound Central Nebraska
Severe storms that hit Central Nebraska Thursday night left a wide path of damage.
Also, flood warnings have been issued as the result of the heavy rains from the storm.
The National Weather Service in Hastings sent a storm survey team to survey the damage from one of two tornadoes in the Kearney area.
According to the weather service, the tornado surveyed initially touched down in Phelps County approximately four miles south of Odessa around 5:20 p.m. The tornado damaged a farmstead approximately one mile east of the Funk Odessa Road. Outbuildings and silos sustained the most damage. The tornado was the strongest at this initial point and was rated an EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
The weather service survey team reported that the tornado "skipped" along as it tracked to the east-northeast into Kearney County and then into Buffalo County.
"The tornado weakened as it moved to the east-northeast and damaged pipes and billboard signs along Interstate 80," the team’s report says. "The tornado had a path length of 14 miles, a path width of 100 yards and had an overall rating of EF2. There were no deaths or injuries from this tornado."
The weather service said a second tornado struck the city of Kearney.
"Multiple tornadoes touched down across south Central Nebraska and north central Kansas with preliminary reports of these additional tornadoes located in Hall, Osborne, Hamilton, Thayer, Jewell, Mitchell and Rooks counties," the weather service said.
Jon Rosenlund, Grand Island/Hall County emergency management director, said the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for portions of Hall County shortly before 6 p.m.
He said it was the same storm system that caused damage to areas of eastern Hall County.
Rosenlund said no injuries or fatalities were reported.
He said Hall County received various reports of rotation, wall clouds, heavy rains and pea- to quarter-size hail. There was minor street flooding, and one overpass was blocked in Grand Island. Also, a tree over a county road west of the city was observed.
Tags: nebraska, tornadoes