EF1 tornado in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska

An NWS damage survey found evidence of EF-1 tornado damage at multiple

properties along County Road D as well as along Highway 26. One residence

had partial roof structure failure as well as roofing material completely

removed. Another garage facility experienced total structural collapse and

foundation shift. Numerous large tree limbs 1-2 feet in diameter were snapped

and scattered. Several smaller metal outbuildings were also destroyed and scattered.

Of important note, this tornado occurred along the northern fringe of a much

larger area of powerful straight-line outflow winds observed in excess of 90

to 100 mph. Damage indicators from the straight-line winds throughout Scotts Bluff

county were all pointed eastward. This was in dramatic contrast to the tornado

path which featured a chaotic scattering of damage and debris, some of which

was lofted north and even back west of the circulation path.

An intense supercell crossed into western Scotts Bluff County around 3:00 PM MDT on 6/20, quickly transitioning to an intense bow echo which produced widespread destructive straight line winds. These storms produced an EF-1 tornado to the southeast of the town of Morrill, NE, while a notable RFD (Rear Flank Downdraft) produced a broad swath of straight line winds in excess of 80 MPH. These RFD winds resulted in extensive tree and power line damage, most notably resulting in the collapse of a 300 foot KNEB communications tower. A member of the general public reported a wind gust to 104 MPH on a Davis weather instrument on the west side of Scottsbluff, which was consistent with the results of an official NWS Damage Survey. These storms quickly grew upscale into a large bowing MCS which tracked across much of western Nebraska, which continued to produce extreme winds through the evening with a peak wind gust to 81 MPH at Alliance.