Tornado and Hail in Nebraska, July 20, 2003

Name: Tornado and Hail in Nebraska, July 20, 2003
Start: 2003-07-20T17:56
End: 2003-07-20T21:55
Location: Nebraska

July 20, 2003 · NWS GID · 23 events in 11 counties and zones

S. Highway 281.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: 0
Property damage: $835,000
Crop damage: $1.2 million
Events: 23

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GID wrote it up.

Severe thunderstorms rolled south across areas of south-central Nebraska along and east of U.S. Highway 281. Initially, thunderstorms northeast of Grand Island spawned several funnels and at least one tornado. The tornado was sighted about 10 miles west of Fullerton along Highway 22 but no damage was reported. As the thunderstorms continued to march south, numerous wind and hail reports were noted. A semi-tractor was blown over on Interstate 80 in western Hamilton county. The driver was uninjured. Hail ranging from the size of pennies to golf balls was a common occurrence. Some of the larger hail reports were near Chapman and Ayr. While wind damage was mostly in terms of fallen trees on buildings or snapped power poles, the nursing home in Blue Hill did sustain major roof damage. The front roof facade was ripped off by the wind and left the front dining and living areas exposed to the elements.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 20, 1:00 PM CST, 4 hours 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 20, 1:00 PM CST, 4 hours 56 minutes before

SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA/NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
200 PM CDT SUN JUL 20 2003

LOW IN EAST CENTRAL SD WITH FRONT TRAILING SW INTO N CNTRL NE THEN
UP THROUGH SWRN SD...WITH SMALL PRE FRONTAL TROUGH JUST OUT AHEAD.
NICE LL MINI DRY PUNCH MOVING INTO LL JUICE NEAR CHADRON AREA...WITH
FIRST STORM OF DAY ALREADY GOING UP OVR ELEVATED TERRAIN AND WEAKER
CAP. ANOTHER LL CONVERGENCE AREA...PROBABLY ASSOCIATED WITH OUTFLOW
FROM MORNING STORMS OVR MN AND IA...JUST OVR NERN TO ERN CWA.
MID/UPR WAVE AXIS ROUGHLY CUTTING CWA IN HALF FROM NE TO SW. POOR LL
SPEED SHEAR...BUT GOOD DIRECTIONAL SHEAR OUT AHEAD...WITH BEST UPR
LVL SPEED SHEAR OVR NERN QUAD OF NE. STRONG PREFRONTAL COMPRESSIONAL
WARMING AHEAD OF ADVANCING FRONT HAS WARMED TEMPS TO LOW/MID 90S
ALREADY...AND WITH 70 DEW PTS OVR ROUGHLY ERN HALF OF NE...HUGE
CAPES BETWEEN 4500 AND 5000 IN LOWER LEVELS.

ONCE AGAIN A BIT OF A TOUGH FCST. CAPPED OVR OUR CWA RIGHT
NOW...WITH MARGINAL LL FORCING NEAR FRONT AND FA SPLIT BETWEEN
DECENT UPR DYNAMICS E/NE TO RATHER SLIGHT SW. MOD SOUNDINGS
INDICATE MAY BE ABLE TO CONVECT WITHOUT MUCH FORCING...ESPECIALLY
NERN CWA. GOING WITH 30 POPS EVERYWHERE FOR TONIGHT...WITH BEST CHC
FOR SEVERE ERN PORTION CWA...E OR HWY 281. STRONG DOWNDRAFT WIND
POTENTIAL WITH STORMS...MARGINAL HAIL POTENTIAL. IF SFC BASED CONV
CAN BREAK THROUGH SOMEWHERE...SOME VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH RELATIVELY
SLOW MOVING TSRA...WITH MOTION TO S OR SSE.

TOMORROW...ANOTHER INTERESTING DAY OF POSSIBILITIES...WITH GOOD LL
FORCING MOVING THROUGH...PUSHED FROM N BY RATHER VIGOROUS SHORTWAVE
JUST NOW OVR SWRN MT...DRAGGING MUCH COLDER MID LVL TEMPS OVERHEAD.
BETTER HAIL CHANCES MONDAY...AND AGAIN GOING WITH 30 POPS EVERYWHERE
FROM MID AFTERNOON ON.

BEYOND...WITH STRONG SYSTEM MOVING IN FROM AK GULF...RIDGE CONTINUES
TO FLATTEN BY WEEKS END...AND WITH MUCH COOLER OVERHEAD TEMPS MAKING
WAY DOWN BACKSIDE OF MID CANADIAN TROUGH...WILL KEEP THINGS QUITE
UNSTABLE/ACTIVE OVR WEEKEND IF MDLS CONTINUE TO FOLLOW CURRENT
TREND. SO ADDED PERIODS OF LOW CHCS FOR SAT/SUN AND KEPT THU/FRI
CHCS. OTHERWISE...ONLY MINOR TWEAKS HERE AND THERE.

.GID...NONE.

10

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 20, 2:05 PM CST, 3 hours 51 minutes before

KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-211200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
305 PM CDT SUN JUL 20 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND
PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

A COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTH THROUGH NEBRASKA AND
NORTHERN KANSAS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH THUNDERSTORMS
DEVELOPING ALONG THE FRONT. IN ADDITION...AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY
GENERATED FROM A LARGE THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX OVER NORTHERN IOWA MAY
MOVE SOUTHWEST INTO THE AREA LATER THIS AFTERNOON HELPING TO KICK OFF
ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS.

THE REGION HAS BECOME QUITE UNSTABLE THIS AFTERNOON DUE TO VERY
WARM SURFACE TEMPERATURES ALONG WITH AMPLE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE.  WIND
SHEAR IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE ALTHOUGH THE BEST SHEAR SHOULD REMAIN
NORTHEAST OF THE REGION.  OTHER LIMITING FACTORS FOR STORM
DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE WARM MID LEVEL TEMPERATURES AND THE BETTER MID
LEVEL ENERGY REMAINING NORTHEAST.

HOWEVER WITH THE COMBINATION OF THE FRONT AND A VERY UNSTABLE
ATMOSPHERE...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED OVER CENTRAL
NEBRASKA. THE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEAST WITH THE
GREATEST SEVERE WEATHER THREAT BEING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.
THE CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL EXIST FOR ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL
NEBRASKA AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON
AND EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS EARLY TUESDAY MORNING...AND
AGAIN DURING FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY MORNING. THE MAIN HAZARD FROM
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE STRONG WINDS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ACROSS
SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS.

EWALD

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:53 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind, 2 funnel cloud, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Nance

When: July 20, 5:56 PM CST
Where: Nance County, 10 mi W of Fullerton
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.367, -98.183

A brief tornado touched down west of Fullerton.

Funnel Cloud, Howard

When: July 20, 6:01 PM CST
Where: Howard County, Cushing
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.220, -98.517 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Polk

When: July 20, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Polk County, Osceola
Measured: 1 in hail
Crop damage: $150,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 41.183, -97.550

Hail, Merrick

When: July 20, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Merrick County, 5 mi NE of Clarks
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $250,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.250, -97.783

Hail, Merrick

When: July 20, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Merrick County, Archer
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $75,000
Crop damage: $150,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.167, -98.133

Hail, Merrick

When: July 20, 6:35 PM CST
Where: Merrick County, 5 mi N of Chapman
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $250,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.083, -98.167

Thunderstorm Wind, Hall

When: July 20, 6:56 PM CST
Where: Hall County, Grand Is
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 40.917, -98.350

Funnel Cloud, Hall

When: July 20, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Hall County, Grand Is
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 40.873, -98.502 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, York

When: July 20, 7:05 PM CST
Where: York County, Bradshaw
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.883, -97.733

Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton

When: July 20, 7:09 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County, 12 mi W of Aurora
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.867, -98.233

Hail, Hall

When: July 20, 7:20 PM CST
Where: Hall County, Grand Is
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 40.917, -98.350

Hail, York

When: July 20, 7:20 PM CST
Where: York County, Bradshaw
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.883, -97.733

Hail, Hamilton

When: July 20, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County, Giltner
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $150,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.783, -98.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Fillmore

When: July 20, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Fillmore County, Milligan
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 40.500, -97.383

Hail, Hall

When: July 20, 7:55 PM CST
Where: Hall County, Wood River
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.817, -98.600

Hail, Adams

When: July 20, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 2 mi E of Prosser
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.667, -98.533

Hail, Adams

When: July 20, 8:02 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 1 mi N of Hastings
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.600, -98.383

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When: July 20, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 3 mi E of Hastings
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.583, -98.333

Thunderstorm Wind, Fillmore

When: July 20, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Fillmore County, Ohiowa
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 40.417, -97.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When: July 20, 8:10 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 4 mi E of Trumbull
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.683, -98.183

Hail, Adams

When: July 20, 8:50 PM CST
Where: Adams County, Ayr
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: $250,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.417, -98.417

Thunderstorm Wind, Webster

When: July 20, 9:10 PM CST
Where: Webster County, Blue Hill
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 40.333, -98.450

Hail, Webster

When: July 20, 9:55 PM CST
Where: Webster County, 2 mi E of Inavale
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.100, -98.617

What these are

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.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Nebraska in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Nebraska, 2003 Warnings in Nebraska, July 2003

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: 5379172, 5379173, 5379449, 5379450, 5379451, 5379452, 5379453, 5379454, 5379455, 5379456, 5379457, 5379458, 5379459, 5379460, 5379461, 5379462, 5379463, 5379464, 5379465, 5379466, 5379467, 5379468, 5379543.