EF1 tornado in Buffalo County, Nebraska

This tornado started west of Kearney and moved east. Eye witness reports indicate this was a multi-vortex tornado that skipped along US Highway 30 through Kearney and ended near Shelton. Near the start of this twister, scores of empty coal train cars were blown over. The tornado did affect a large part of the central area of Kearney. A report from the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department's wind system showed 100 mph winds as it passed through the downtown area. There were hundreds of trees and literally thousands of tree limbs that crashed into homes, businesses, and vehicles. There was some minor siding and roof damage to structures caused by the winds. These winds also knocked down power lines and signs and displaced several empty grain bins. Tree damage was noted in the villages of Gibbon and Shelton.

A significant severe weather outbreak occurred during the late afternoon and evening of May 29th. Several tornadoes were reported from near Elwood to north of York. Two tornadoes caused damage in the city of Kearney and one occurred just to the south of town. Another tornado damaged homes and power poles near Aurora. Another tornado started in north-central Kansas and entered south-central Nebraska near Hubbell. Very strong winds moved down a portion of Interstate 80 and pushed cars and trucks off of the roadway near Aurora. Other areas of south-central Nebraska received heavy rains and hail. Hail to the size of baseballs was reported near Arapahoe in Furnas County. These storms also produce a lot of rainfall over areas that had fairly wet ground. Several areas of flooding were noted in the Platte and Republican River valleys.