A tornado warned supercell approaches Minden during the evening of July 6, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
HASTINGS — Four confirmed tornadoes occurred in south central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening of Saturday, July 6.
The four tornadoes included three EF-1s and one EF-0, all occurred in Kearney, Adams and Clay counties, according to the National Weather Service – Hastings.
The first tornado of the evening took place one mile north of Minden at 3:48 p.m.
“Tornado touched down in the area of the golf course then moved southeast through the northeast part of town, just south of the airport. The ground circulation was likely small and somewhat
disorganized at this stage as most of the damage in town was to trees,” NWS Hastings stated.
“The tornado grew in intensity on the northeast outskirts of town where a couple metal buildings sustained roof and overhead door damage. The tornado appeared to track along the highway northeast of town before crossing into a corn field and overturning pivots,” per NWS Hastings.
“Based on storm chaser video, this is where the condensation funnel was largest and most obvious. The end of the track between 33 Road and 34 Road was confirmed by drone video submitted to the NWS. The peak rating is based on the tree damage at the golf course, and damage to metal buildings on the edge of town,” NWS Hastings noted.
“The tornado width is estimated based on observed damage and storm chaser video. Extensive tree damage was noted further south in the rest of the town of Minden, but this appears to be the result of an intense rear flank downdraft surge of straight-line wind,” per NWS Hastings.
The Minden tornado was rated EF-1, with peak winds of 90 mph. It had a path length of 2.21 miles and was 200 yards wide at its maximum. It lifted at 3:52 p.m.
The second tornado of the evening occurred at 4:03 p.m. two miles northwest of Norman.
“A small tornado touched down near a farmstead northwest of Norman and caused large tree limbs to fall onto a house. The tornado continued southeast where it snapped four power poles along K Road, overturned pivots, and carried a small grain bin over 500 yards from its original location,” per NWS Hastings.
The tornado continued southeast and produced a few locations of minor damage before lifting prior to crossing 42 Road southeast of Norman, according to NWS Hastings.
The Norman tornado was rated EF-1 with peak winds of 100 mph. The path was 4.34 miles and 50 yards wide.
The third tornado was rated EF-0 and touched down at 4:52 p.m. three miles west of Inland in Adams County.
“A multi-vortex tornado, confirmed by storm chaser video, touched down in a corn field just north of the highway rest stop along Highway 6 east of Hastings,” NWS Hastings noted.
“The tornado produced intermittent minor tree damage as it drifted south over the rest stop area and near a residence. A new condensation funnel developed over a nearby corn field where a pivot was overturned. The tornado actually curved back to the north, back across the highway, then dissipated shortly thereafter in a corn field,” NWS Hastings stated.
The tornado’s peak winds were around 85 mph, it had a path length of 0.88 miles and was 100 yards wide. It lifted at 4:54 p.m.
The last tornado, rated EF-1, occurred at 5:32 p.m. near Z Road, four miles southeast of Sutton.
“A QLCS 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,” per NWS Hastings.
A Quasi-Linear Convective System (QLCS) is a line of thunderstorms that can often contain embedded circulation which can produce tornadoes.
“Within this stretch of the tornado, several EF-1 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,” NWS Hastings noted.
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 to 80 mph. Here, five feet tall healthy corn plants were reduced to only one to two feet stalks, and bean fields were nearly unrecognizable. The approximate tornado width is based on power line damage south of the impacted farmstead,” NWS Hastings stated.
The tornado had peak wind speeds estimated to be 110 mph, with a path length of 1.83 miles and its maximum width was 400 yards.
“Special thanks to Kearney County and Clay County Emergency Management for their assistance in completing the damage surveys, as well as to the public for submitting photos and videos,” Hastings stated.
