Nebraska, 2000

Tornadoes and Hail in Nebraska, May 16 to 17, 2000

May 16 to 17, 2000 · NWS LBF · 46 events in 13 counties and zones

38 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
2
Property damage
$1.1 million
Crop damage
$150,000
Events
46

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 161 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:29 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

38 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Sheridan

When
May 16, 10:30 PM MST
Where
Sheridan County, Hay Spgs
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.683, -102.683

Thunderstorm Wind, Sheridan

When
May 17, 12:00 AM MST
Where
Sheridan County, 9 mi NW of Rushville
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
42.817, -102.583

Hail, Perkins

When
May 17, 1:20 PM MST
Where
Perkins County, 6 mi SSW of Elsie
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.767, -101.433

Hail, Hayes

When
May 17, 2:25 PM CST
Where
Hayes County, 12 mi NNW of Hayes Center
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.683, -101.100

Hail, Perkins

When
May 17, 1:30 PM MST
Where
Perkins County, Grainton
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.817, -101.283

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 2:35 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 9 mi SSE of Wallace
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.717, -101.100

Hail, Frontier

When
May 17, 2:40 PM CST
Where
Frontier County, 12 mi S of Stockville
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.367, -100.383

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, Wallace
Measured
2.5 in hail
Property damage
$150,000
Crop damage
$25,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.833, -101.167

Extensive damage to homes and cars in Wallace.

Tornado, Lincoln

When
May 17, 2:45 PM CST to 2:50 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 1 mi NE of Wallace
Rating
F1
Path length
2 mi
Path width
50 yd
Property damage
$100,000
Crop damage
$20,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.850, -101.150

An F1 tornado touched down 1 mile northeast of Wallace, was on the ground for 5 minutes and lifted 3 miles north of Wallace. The tornado damaged or destroyed three center pivot irrigation systems and destroyed crops in its path.

Hail, Perkins

When
May 17, 1:55 PM MST
Where
Perkins County, 10 mi N of Elsie
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.000, -101.383

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 2:55 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 4 mi N of Wallace
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.883, -101.167

Hail, Keith

When
May 17, 2:15 PM MST
Where
Keith County, 7 mi NE of Paxton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.200, -101.267

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 3:25 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 8 mi S of Sutherland
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.050, -101.133

Thunderstorm Wind, Garden

When
May 17, 2:30 PM MST
Where
Garden County, 10 mi NNE of Oshkosh
Measured
57 kt (66 mph)
Property damage
$500
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
41.550, -102.267

Large tree down

Hail, Keith

When
May 17, 2:30 PM MST
Where
Keith County, 7 mi SE of Paxton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.067, -101.267

Hail, McPherson

When
May 17, 3:30 PM CST
Where
McPherson County, Tryon
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
41.550, -100.967

Hail, Keith

When
May 17, 2:30 PM MST
Where
Keith County, Paxton
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.133, -101.367

Hail, Frontier

When
May 17, 3:33 PM CST
Where
Frontier County, 5 mi ENE of Curtis
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.667, -100.433

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 3:35 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 15 mi ESE of Wellfleet
Measured
2 in hail
Property damage
$20,000
Crop damage
$25,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.667, -100.467

Hail, Custer

When
May 17, 3:37 PM CST
Where
Custer County, 1 mi W of Callaway
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.300, -99.950

Tornado, Lincoln

When
May 17, 3:41 PM CST to 3:45 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 18 mi S of Brady
Rating
F0
Path length
2 mi
Path width
50 yd
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.767, -100.367

Two F0 tornadoes touched down 20 miles south of Brady over open rangeland, were on the ground for 4 minuted and lifted 18 miles south of Brady. No damage occurred.

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 3:50 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 2 mi S of Maxwell
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.050, -100.533

Hail, McPherson

When
May 17, 3:50 PM CST
Where
McPherson County, 7 mi WNW of Tryon
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.583, -101.100

Tornado, Lincoln

When
May 17, 3:57 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 1 mi E of Sutherland
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
5 yd
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.167, -101.117

Law Enforcement reported a brief F0 tornado touch down 1 mile east of Sutherland with no damage.

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 4:04 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 3 mi S of Hershey
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.117, -101.000

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 4:05 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 5 mi SSE of Hershey
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
41.100, -100.967

Hail, Custer

When
May 17, 4:12 PM CST
Where
Custer County, 9 mi SSW of Merna
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.367, -99.833

Tornado, Lincoln

When
May 17, 4:15 PM CST to 4:35 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 6 mi S of Brady
Rating
F3
Path length
11.5 mi
Path width
1,000 yd
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$750,000
Crop damage
$25,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.950, -100.367

The same supercell thunderstorm that had earlier produced the twin tornadoes 20 miles south of Brady produced a large tornado that touched down 6 miles south of Brady and moved toward the northwest lifting 4 miles south of Maxwell. Two women were injured when their home blew down around them. The tornado destroyed three homes and heavily damaged three others. Numerous outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Four center pivot irrigation systems were destroyed and extensive damage was done to agricultural equipment. Over 75 power and telephone poles were destroyed along with miles of wire. The tornado reached it's maximum intensity of F3 shortly after touchdown when it heavily damaged a brick home and completely destroyed a large steel building. Later in it's path, the tornado leveled a frame home and blew several vehicles over and around the home. The path of the tornado was clearly visible where crops had been stripped from the ground. This tornado received extensive national coverage because of great video taken from chasers.

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 4:22 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, Maxwell
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.083, -100.533

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 4:25 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 5 mi S of Brady
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
40.967, -100.367

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When
May 17, 4:25 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 3 mi W of Hershey
Measured
80 kt (92 mph)
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.167, -101.050

Downburst blew several cars off I-80

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 4:32 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 5 mi W of Brady
Measured
2.5 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.033, -100.467

Hail, Custer

When
May 17, 4:35 PM CST
Where
Custer County, Anselmo
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.617, -99.867

Hail, Custer

When
May 17, 5:05 PM CST
Where
Custer County, 4 mi N of Comstock
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.600, -99.250

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 5:10 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 10 mi NNW of Sutherland
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.300, -101.200

Hail, Loup

When
May 17, 5:15 PM CST
Where
Loup County, 4 mi SE of Taylor
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.733, -99.333

Hail, Keith

When
May 17, 4:15 PM MST
Where
Keith County, 7 mi NE of Paxton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.200, -101.267

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 5:35 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 15 mi NE of North Platte
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.300, -100.583

Hail, Logan

When
May 17, 5:40 PM CST
Where
Logan County, 5 mi W of Stapleton
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
41.483, -100.617

Hail, Logan

When
May 17, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Logan County, Stapleton
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.483, -100.517

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 17, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, North Platte Arpt
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
GOVT OFFICIAL
Coordinates
41.133, -100.717

Several vehicles at Lee Bird Field incurred hail damage

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When
May 17, 6:06 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 2 mi S of Maxwell
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.050, -100.533

Hail, Custer

When
May 17, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Custer County, Broken Bow
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.400, -99.650

Hail, Custer

When
May 17, 7:15 PM CST
Where
Custer County, Berwyn
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.350, -99.500

Hail, Garfield

When
May 17, 8:05 PM CST
Where
Garfield County, 19 mi ENE of Burwell
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.883, -98.800

Hail, Wheeler

When
May 17, 8:05 PM CST
Where
Wheeler County, 7 mi NW of Ericson
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
41.850, -98.783

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Nebraska in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Nebraska, 2000Warnings in Nebraska, May 2000

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5145114, 5145115, 5145116, 5145118, 5145117, 5145119, 5145122, 5145120, 5145121, 5145125, 5145126, 5145123, 5145213, 5143980, 5145124, 5145127, 5145212, 5143979, 5145214, 5143981, 5143976, 5143977, 5143982, 5143978, 5143983, 5143984, 5143990, 5143985, 5143986, 5143987, 5143989, 5143988, 5143991, 5143527, 5143525, 5143842, 5143992, 5143526, 5143843, 5143845, and more.