Three tornadoes occurred in Central Nebraska on Sunday, highest rated EF-3

Three tornadoes occurred during the early evening hours of Sunday, May 17, the highest rated was St. Libory tornado, at EF-3.

The first tornado of the day was a brief touchdown that occurred at 4:51 p.m. around five miles south-southwest of Dannebrog in Howard County.

“This tornado was brief and reported first by local media, which was followed by a second report. No damage was found or reported. A rating of EF-U was applied due to the lack of damage indicators to make a wind speed estimation,” per the National Weather Service – Hastings.

The St. Libory tornado was on the ground from 5:04 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., its highest rated winds were 160 mph and its maximum width was 350 yards. The path length was 6.09 miles.

“This photogenic tornado took a roughly west-to-east trek across southeast Howard County north of St. Libory for about 11 minutes. The tornado came together quickly on the edge of a farmstead west of Highway 281 where some small outbuildings were destroyed and many trees damaged. As it moved east, it quickly snapped power poles and moved across Highway 281 about 1.9 miles north of the Highway 58 intersection,” per NWS Hastings.

“East of Highway 281, the tornado continued to strengthen as it rolled into a rural housing development. Four dwellings were essentially destroyed. At least two more detached garage type structures were destroyed,” NWS Hastings stated.

“Residents who where home at the time took shelter after receiving tornado warning information and seeing the tornado approach. Video evidence suggests two homes likely took a direct hit from the tornado. Power poles were snapped and a pivot nearby was tumbled over and broken into several pieces,” NWS Hastings noted.

” From there, the tornado powered east through a grove of trees while also damaging power poles, fencing and exhibiting ground scouring. Eventually, damage became less widespread and intense in nature. The tornado lifted just prior to the Merrick County line about four miles northeast of St. Libory,” per NWS Hastings.

The third tornado occurred with a separate supercell in Thayer County.

This tornado was rated EF-1 and was on the ground from 6:42 p.m. to 6:53 p.m. Its maximum rated winds was 95 mph and its path width was 200 yards. It was on the ground for 4.25 miles.

“The Hebron tornado started with estimated EF-0 level damage to tree limbs near the Spring Creek, approximately 3.5 miles southwest of town. It intensified to an EF-1 as it moved east-northeast, causing trees to be uprooted and the uplift of the roof of a golf cart shed at the Hebron Country Club,” per NWS Hastings.

“The tornado then weakened as it traveled northeast, crossing over the airport before ending on the east-southeast side of town, with the loss of roofing material on a farm shed and additional tree damage near the Little Blue River,” NWS Hastings concluded.

“The National Weather Service would like to thank the Howard County Emergency Manager, Thayer County Emergency Manager, spotters, local authorities and many others who provided information for this survey.”