Hail — Franklin, Nebraska

2023-10-12 · near Hildreth, Franklin, Nebraska

Wider weather episode

Southerly upper level winds moved across Nebraska and brought in a thick layer of low-level stratus clouds during the early morning hours. These clouds limited surface heating during the day; however, cooler air aloft moved over the area during midday. These conditions resulted in more instability. This instability combined with a low-pressure system, forcing from a strong 500 mb jet, and strong low-level wind shear. There was locally enhanced 0 ' 1 km helicity near a surface low. There was an intersection of a surface warm front with a dryline and cold front near the center of the surface low. The cold front moved across the area during the overnight hours. These conditions resulted in severe weather during the afternoon hours.

Thunderstorms were present across Nebraska during the early afternoon hours and moved northeastward. These storms began in south central Nebraska by producing a tornado in Phelps County at 1:05 PM CDT. This tornado was rated as an EF-0 and did some damage. These storms moved eastward and developed into line segments and went on to produce 5 more tornadoes. The additional tornadoes were in Dawson, Franklin, Kearney, Adams, and Hall Counties. The tornadoes in Franklin and Kearney Counties were rated EF-1 while the others were rated EF-0. These storms also produced hail and severe wind gusts. The biggest hail was half dollar size in Phelps County. There was a 63 mph wind gust in Adams County. The storms ended by producing nickel sized hail in Hamilton County at 5:05 PM CDT.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.2900, -98.9900)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1140292. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.