EF1 tornado in Fillmore County, Nebraska

A QLCS tornado affected portions of eastern Clay County and western Fillmore County. This tornado touched down at approximately Road 315 and Z Road south of Sutton, then moved north-northeast where it impacted a farmstead along Z Road, just north of Road 316. Within this stretch of the tornado, several EF1 damage points were noted, particularly with respect to several large wooden power poles snapped, uprooted trees, and destroyed small grain bins. The grain bins were carried approximately 300 to 400 yards downstream into a nearby corn field that also sustained pivot damage. Small farm implements were also carried downwind, and a small chicken coop and other outbuildings were destroyed. Fortunately, the house received only minor damage to the siding. The tornado lifted shortly thereafter just northeast of the farmstead. In addition, a broad swath of severe crop damage was noted in the vicinity of and to the south of the tornado track, likely due to a combination of large hail and straight-line wind gusts of 60-80 MPH. Here, five foot tall healthy corn plants were reduced to 1-2 foot stalks, and bean fields were nearly unrecognizable. The peak wind gust was estimated to be 110 MPH, and the tornado width was based on power line damage south of the impacted farmstead.

A broad, upper trough was over most of the country, including Nebraska. An upper disturbance passed over the central Plains which created enhanced lift. CAPE values of around 2,000 J/kg, wind shear of around 40 to 50 knots, and mid-level lapse rates of 7 to 8 degrees C/km were over south-central Nebraska. Temperatures were mostly in the 70s to lower 80s. These conditions resulted in an atmosphere that was conducive for severe storm development.

Thunderstorms had already developed to the northwest of the area during the early to mid-morning hours and moved over central Nebraska during the late morning hours. Additional storms developed to the west and northwest of the area during the late morning hours. These storms moved eastward and one storm began impacting Dawson County with hail up to the size of tennis balls just after 12 PM CDT. This storm continued moving east southeast through the afternoon with other storms moving in behind the original storm. The largest hail of the day was baseball sized and fell in Phelps County after 2 PM CDT. Additional hail impacted Dawson, Gosper, Buffalo, Phelps, Kearney, Franklin, Webster, and Fillmore Counties. These storms produced 5 tornadoes which impacted Kearney, Adams, Clay, and Fillmore Counties. The first two tornadoes impacted Kearney County and were both rated EF1. The third and fourth tornadoes impacted Adams County and were both rated EF0. The fifth tornado first touched down in Clay County then moved into Fillmore County and was rated an EF1. Severe wind gusts were also reported with these storms with the strongest winds estimated near 80 mph in Kearney and Adams Counties. The storm reports ended just before 6 PM CDT as the storms moved east of the area.