HOLDREGE — Four damaging tornadoes are confirmed to have occurred in south central Nebraska during the evening of Friday, May 3. Damage survey results have been related for three.
During the evening, a line of thunderstorms with embedded supercells developed along a southeastward moving cold frog during the late evening hours, according to the National Weather Service – Hastings.
At least three tornadoes developed from these supercells, focused in the Holdrege and Ragan areas of Phelps and northern Harlan counties.
The line turned into a quasi linear convective system, QLCS, by the time it reached the Highway 281 corridor in which additional tornadoes may have occurred.
Damage surveys continue Sunday, May 5.
The first tornado of the evening took place just west of Atlanta near G Road. EF-1 damage occurred at this location, primarily to the roof of a home in the area. A resident witnessed the circulation move northeast, out of a broken front window, into an adjacent field.
Damage and debris ceased about a half a mile northeast, just south of 728 Road.
The tornado occurred between 8:52 p.m. and 8:55 p.m. It had maximum winds of 100 mph, a width of 50 yards and traveled 0.66 miles.
The next confirmed tornado was somewhat weak and intermittent and took place near the intersection of Highway 183 and Highway 4 near Ragan. Damage was limited to trees, pivots and a few power poles on the track.
The tornado lifted along the Harlan-Phelps county line between T Road and U Road.
The tornado was rated EF-0, took place between 9:09 p.m. and 9:20 p.m. It had maximum winds of 85 mph, a width of 500 yards and traveled 7.2 miles.
The third confirmed tornado, an EF-1, occurred near the north side of the golf course and then moved east northeast, ending near the intersection of 736 Road and Q Road.
The tornado reached peak intensity and width near Lincoln St.just northeast of Holdrege where significant damage occurred to outbuildings, some of which were newer and well-built.
Based on the damage track, NWS Hastings notes the peak width of this tornado was around 1,000 yards.
Numerous pivots and trees were damaged, with several power poles snapped in the area.
Additional damage was noted to the south and southeast of the track; at the time it is unknown if this was a second tornado – a continuation of the mesocyclone that produced the Atlanta tornado, or if it was due to strong straight line winds in the rear flank downdraft of the supercell.
Further investigation is being done to make a final determination, NWS Hastings stated.
The Holdrege tornado occurred from 9:11 p.m. to 9:21 p.m. It had max wind speeds of 110 mph and was on the ground for 4.5 miles.
“The staff of the NWS Hastings would like to thank local Emergency Management and residents for their invaluable help conducting the surveys,” the office stated.
Friday, May 3 Thunderstorm Photos
