There was a lot of active weather across South Central Nebraska on this Wednesday, occurring in multiple episodes throughout the entire day, culminating in seven tornadoes. Three of these tornadoes were classified as EF-1 with the other four producing EF-0 damage.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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 episode as NWS GID wrote it up.
There was a lot of active weather across South Central Nebraska on this Wednesday, occurring in multiple episodes throughout the entire day, culminating in seven tornadoes. Three of these tornadoes were classified as EF-1 with the other four producing EF-0 damage. Just after sunrise, scattered showers and thunderstorms developed. While most of these storms were sub-severe, the first severe reports of the day occurred over Franklin county. Just before 10 am CDT, one inch hail fell over parts of Franklin county. These thunderstorms departed into eastern Nebraska by 1 pm CDT. In the wake of the initial storms, several storms, some of which were supercells, formed over Webster and Franklin counties, and congealed into clusters and lifted northeast into Adams and Clay counties. Around 2 pm CDT, hail up to the size of golf balls was reported in and nearby Hastings. As these storm clusters moved north, new isolated supercells formed in surrounding areas, including in their wake. These newly-formed cells were the ones that produced several highly-visible tornadoes over York and Clay counties. Six tornadoes occurred in a two hour period, between 3 and 5 pm CDT, over these counties. Other storms lifted into Nuckolls and Thayer counties from northern Kansas. One of these storms produced 61 mph winds at the Hebron municipal airport just before 5 pm CDT. Just after this time, another isolated supercell formed over Hall county and moved north into Howard county. This storm produced a brief tornado near Ashton and one inch hail near Cotesfield. While this was the last of the severe weather, the thunderstorms were far from over. A squall line, which had been active over southwestern Nebraska, advanced eastward while continuing to weaken. The repeated thunderstorm development resulted in significant rainfall amounts. Measurements of 2 to 3 inches were widespread. The highest total was 3.76 inches, in the town of Harvard and 7 miles southeast of Stromsburg.
These numerous thunderstorms, and the associated severe weather, were a result of lee cyclogenesis over Colorado. A negatively tilted upper-level trough extended from Colorado southeastward to Texas, with the leading edge of a 100 knot upper-level jet streak just to the west. The atmosphere was extremely unstable. Temperatures nearing 80 degrees, with dewpoints approaching 70 degrees, resulted in MLCAPE of 3000 to 3500 J/kg. Deep layer shear was around 40 knots. The supercells that became tornadic occurred in areas where surface winds were significantly veered from the southeast.
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 May 29, 4:56 AM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
556 AM CDT WED MAY 29 2013
.SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT)
ISSUED AT 406 AM CDT WED MAY 29 2013
MAIN FORECAST CONCERN WILL BE
CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS.
RADAR FROM KLNX SHOWS THAT MANY OF THE THUNDERSTORMS TO THE WEST
HAVE DIMINISHED BUT A RAIN SHIELD REMAINS. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
BOUNDARIES THAT ARE SHOWING UP ON KUEX RADAR...ONE FROM THE
CONVECTION TO THE WEST AND ANOTHER FROM CONVECTION TO THE SOUTH.
WHEN THESE COLLIDE APPEARS TO BE THE BEST CHANCE FOR SOME SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS EARLY THIS MORNING. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW THAT
GOT STARTED BUT SOON WANED.
MODELS ARE SIMILAR WITH THE UPPER LEVEL LOW THAT MOVES FROM THE
NORTHERN ROCKIES INTO THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS TODAY AND TONIGHT.
THERE IS A SURFACE LOW ON THE HIGH PLAINS THAT TRIES TO MOVE
EAST...BUT DOES NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE AREA. THE SURFACE PRESSURE
GRADIENT TIGHTENS THIS MORNING AHEAD OF THE SURFACE LOW. WINDS
WILL START TO INCREASE. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE IN THE
SOUTHERN PART OF THE FORECAST AREA...BUT BREEZY CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA TODAY. WILL KEEP THE WIND ADVISORY AS IS
FOR NOW.
THE NEXT CONCERN WILL BE WHEN THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP. THE
UPPER LEVEL WAVE WILL START TO AFFECT THE AREA THIS MORNING AND
SOME THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. THE NAM
AND THE GFS SHOW A DEFINITIVE INCREASE IN QPF DURING THE MORNING
BUT THE RAP AND 4KM WRF BOTH HOLD OFF UNTIL LATER. WILL KEEP SOME
LOW POPS IN FOR THE MORNING...BUT RAMP IT UP LATER THIS MORNING
AND EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WHEN THE UPPER WAVE IS MOVING INTO THE
AREA. SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING
WHEN MUCAPES ARE EXPECTED TO BE OVER 3500 J/KG. THE SEVERE WEATHER
WILL LIKELY CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING BUT THE SEVERE THREAT WILL
DIMINISH LATER TONIGHT.
.LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY)
ISSUED AT 406 AM CDT WED MAY 29 2013
MAIN STORY: A REPRIEVE FROM THE THREAT OF TSTMS WILL OCCUR AS
TEMPS TUMBLE TO BELOW NORMAL THIS WEEKEND...THEN THE THREAT
RETURNS EARLY NEXT WEEK AS SUMMER WARMTH RETURNS.
ALOFT: THE TROF CURRENTLY MOVING THRU THE W WILL CLOSE OFF OVER
THE NRN PLAINS THU NGT-FRI BEFORE OPENING UP AND SLOWLY MIGRATING
INTO THE GREAT LAKES AND MIDWEST THIS WEEKEND. A MODEST SHRTWV
RIDGE WILL ADVANCE INTO THE PLAINS SUN-MON...AS THE NEXT TROF
MOVES INTO THE PAC NW. ALL THE WHILE THE WESTERLIES WILL GRADUALLY
LIFT BACK INTO THE NRN USA.
SFC: A COOL FRONT WILL MOVE THRU LATE THU AFTN/EVE. HOWEVER...THE
TAIL END OF THE FRONT MAY NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR THE SE FRINGE OF OUR
FCST AREA UNTIL FRI EVNG. THIS FRONT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A SECONDARY
STRONGER COLD FRONT FRI EVNG. HIGH PRES DRIFTS THRU SUN WITH RETURN
FLOW INTENSIFYING WITH ITS DEPARTURE TO THE E AND REDEVELOPMENT OF
THE LEE TROF...AS LOW PRES HEADS E ALONG THE USA-CAN BORDER. HEAT
BUILDS OVER THE REGION MON-TUE UNTIL THE NEXT COOL FRONT MOVES THRU
TUE NGT OR WED. COOL HIGH PRES THEN BUILDS IN THU.
HAZARDS: FIRE WX MAY BECOME A CONCERN THU/FRI BETWEEN 2PM-8PM.
ATTM DO NOT ENVISION A RFW BUT FIRE DANGER COULD BE ELEVATED.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE CHANCES FOR TSTMS THU-FRI BUT COVERAGE AND
INTENSITY WILL BE LOW DUE TO DIMINISHING MSTR/INSTABILITY. SOME
SVR TSTMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EARLY NEXT WEEK AS INSTABILITY
INCREASES.
THE DAILY DETAILS...
THU: THE BACKSIDE OF AN MCS MAY STILL LINGER SE OF THE TRI-CITIES
IN THE MRNG. OTHERWISE DECREASING CLOUDS.
THE DRYLINE WILL PRESS INTO THE FCST AREA IN THE WARM SECTOR OF A
992 MB SFC LOW OVER THE DAKOTAS...WITH ITS ASSOCIATED COOL FRONT
DROPPING INTO THE NW FRINGE LATE. THE LFQ OF THE 80 KT ULJ WILL BE
OVER THE CNTRL PLAINS...BUT HIGH QUALITY MSTR WILL BE RAPIDLY ON THE
DECREASE. AN ISOLATED SHWR/TSTM IS POSSIBLE...MAINLY E OF HWY 281.
FIRE DANGER: WE NEED TO WATCH ALONG AND W OF HWY 183. USED LOWER
NAM 2M DWPTS WHICH DROPS INTO THE UPR 30S. WINDS LOOK MARGINAL.
FRI: WEAK HIGH PRES BUILDS IN BEFORE SECONDARY COLD FRONTAL
PASSAGE. A BREEZY DAY W OF HWY 281. THERE IS A VERY LOW
PROBABILITY FOR AN ISOLATED SHWR/TSTM IN VICINITY OF THE
APPROACHING FRONT AND THE STALLED FRONT OVER THE SE. FIRE DANGER
COULD BE ELEVATED AGAIN W OF HWY 183.
SAT: BREEZY AND COOL WITH HIGH TEMPS ABOUT 10F COOLER THAN
NORMAL. COULD SEE A FEW SPRINKLES N OF I-80 IN THE AFTN.
SUN: NICE AND COMFORTABLE. A GOOD DAY TO OPEN UP THE HOUSE.
SUN NGT: A STRONG PULSE OF WAA/MSTR TRANSPORT AS 40 KT LLJ
DEVELOPS. MSTR WILL INITIALLY BE LACKING SO IT APPEARS THIS
PROCESS WILL NOT DESTABILIZE THE ATMS. JUST TOO SOON SO THE FCST
IS DRY.
MON-TUE: RISK OF TSTMS INCREASES AND PROBABLY PEAKS TUE. WE ARE
PROBABLY TOO LOW ON OUR TEMPS BY 3-5F. WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE
MID 90S SW OF THE TRI-CITIES.
&&
.AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY MORNING)
ISSUED AT 555 AM CDT WED MAY 29 2013
LOWER CLOUDS ARE MOVING INTO THE KGRI TERMINAL AREA THIS MORNING.
THEY SHOULD BE MAINLY MVFR THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY. WINDS WILL
INCREASE DURING THE MORNING AND BE BREEZY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND
INTO THE EVENING. THERE ARE CHANCES FOR SOME THUNDER MUCH OF THE
DAY BUT TRIED TO DEFINE THE MOST LIKELY TIMES. THE FIRST ROUND
SHOULD BE DURING THE AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING WITH A BETTER
CHANCE LATER TONIGHT.
&&
.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...NONE.
KS...WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR KSZ006-007-017>019.
&&
SHORT TERM...JCB
LONG TERM...HALBLAUB
AVIATION...JCBHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED TYPO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE 621 AM CDT WED MAY 29 2013 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 301200- PHILLIPS-SMITH-JEWELL-ROOKS-OSBORNE-MITCHELL-VALLEY-GREELEY-NANCE- SHERMAN-HOWARD-MERRICK-POLK-DAWSON-BUFFALO-HALL-HAMILTON-YORK- GOSPER-PHELPS-KEARNEY-ADAMS-CLAY-FILLMORE-FURNAS-HARLAN-FRANKLIN- WEBSTER-NUCKOLLS-THAYER- 621 AM CDT WED MAY 29 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS TODAY. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST WIND ADVISORY PRODUCT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA TODAY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON. HAIL AS BIG AS GOLF BALLS...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 70 MPH AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL ALL BE POSSIBLE. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IN EXCESS OF ONE INCH WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA INTO THIS EVENING...WITH MOST STORMS EVENTUALLY CONCENTRATING WITHIN THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF THE AREA INCLUDING NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS AFTER MIDNIGHT. CONDITIONS WILL AGAIN BE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE STORMS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT...WITH THE MAIN HAZARDS BEING LARGE HAIL TO AROUND GOLF BALL SIZE...DAMAGING WINDS TO AT LEAST 60 MPH...AND HEAVY RAINFALL IN EXCESS OF 1 OR 2 INCHES. LOWLAND FLOODING COULD BECOME A CONCERN...ESPECIALLY IN THOSE AREAS SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 281 THAT HAVE ALREADY MEASURED SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL THIS WEEK. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FIRE DANGER MAY BE ELEVATED WEST OF HIGHWAY 183...DUE TO BREEZY CONDITIONS AND LOW HUMIDITY LEVELS. TO THE EAST OF HIGHWAY 183...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE. THERE IS A LOW CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER...WITH A MARGINAL THREAT FOR HAIL TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER...AND WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 60 MPH. FRIDAY...THERE IS A RISK OF A THUNDERSTORM OR TWO IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING...NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80 AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 281. NO SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED. IN ADDITION...WEST OF HIGHWAY 183...FIRE DANGER MAY BE ELEVATED ONCE AGAIN. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY. SOME THUNDERSTORMS COULD BE SEVERE...ESPECIALLY TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. && MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HASTINGS (ALL LOWERCASE)
The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 15 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:57 UTC.
16 hail, 7 tornado, 5 heavy rain, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A storm total rainfall amount of 3.34 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network Observer.
A storm total rainfall amount of 3.76 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network Observer.
A storm total rainfall amount of 3.76 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network Observer.
A storm total rainfall amount of 3.04 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network Observer.
A storm total rainfall amount of 3.04 inches was reported by a Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network Observer.
Nickel to ping pong ball size hail was reported on the west side of Hastings.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 47 MPH were recorded at the Hastings NWS Office.
Nickel to quarter size hail was reported.
Ping pong ball to golf ball size hail was reported.
Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH.
This tornado touched down in open land for a few minutes approximately 2 miles north-northeast of Clay Center. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be 75 MPH, but no damage was reported.
Quarter to half dollar size hail was reported.
Half dollar to golf ball size hail was reported.
This tornado briefly touched down approximately 6 miles north of Sutton, with an maximum wind speed estimated to be 75 MPH. No damage was reported.
This tornado briefly touched down approximately 2 miles south of Bradshaw, with a maximum wind speed estimated to be 75 MPH. No damage was reported with this tornado.
This was the second tornado to touch down approximately 2 miles north-northeast of Clay Center this day, with this one traveling along a 4 mile path before lifting 6 miles north-northeast of Clay Center. This tornado had a maximum width of 75 yards and maximum wind speed estimated to be 100 MPH. One home suffered minor damage, as did an outbuilding, with metal panels being pulled from the roof and walls.
This tornado touched down approximately 3 miles northwest of York, traveling along a 9 mile path before lifting approximately 12 miles northwest of York. This tornado had a maximum width of 150 yards and maximum wind speed estimated to be 100 MPH.|Along this path, trees were damaged or uprooted, power poles were snapped and irrigation pivots overturned. There were a couple residences which suffered minor damage, but one garage was destroyed. Outbuildings and grain bins were also damaged or destroyed.
This tornado touched down approximately 5 miles south of York, traveling along a 16 mile path before lifting 12 miles northeast of York. It crossed over Interstate 80 approximately 1.3 miles east of the York interchange. This tornado had a maximum width of 400 yards and maximum wind speed estimated to be 110 MPH. Along this path, power poles and trees were snapped, large branches up to 12 to 18 inches in diameter were downed and irrigation pivots were overturned. Two outbuildings were damaged or destroyed.
Wind gusts were estimated to be near 65 MPH.
This tornado briefly touched down approximately 6 miles northeast of Ashton, with a maximum wind speed estimated to be 75 MPH. No damage was reported with this tornado.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Nebraska, 2013Warnings in Nebraska, May 2013
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: 450586, 450587, 450588, 450589, 450590, 450596, 450597, 450598, 450599, 450600, 450601, 450602, 450603, 450604, 450605, 450606, 450609, 450687, 450610, 450607, 450608, 450688, 450682, 450689, 450685, 450591, 450683, 450592, 450594, 450681, 450595.