Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Nebraska, May 10 to 12, 2014

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Nebraska, May 10 to 12, 2014
Start: 2014-05-10T07:00
End: 2014-05-12T07:00
Location: Nebraska

May 10 to 12, 2014 · NWS GID · 32 events in 7 counties and zones

Multiple thunderstorms formed along and southeast of a line from Red Cloud to York on this Sunday afternoon. However, most of the severe weather was produced by a single supercell.

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: 0
Property damage: $28 million
Crop damage: $2.6 million
Events: 32

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.

Multiple thunderstorms formed along and southeast of a line from Red Cloud to York on this Sunday afternoon. However, most of the severe weather was produced by a single supercell. This was the first and most intense storm of the day and it formed over Webster county around 2:30 p.m. CDT. This storm took full advantage of an extremely favorable environment, quickly becoming severe and producing at least one brief, weak tornado just southwest of Glenvil. The storm continued northeast producing several more tornadoes, two of which resulted in a maximum damage rating of EF-3. One of these tornadoes occurred over Clay and Fillmore counties and the other subsequently occurred over Fillmore and Seward counties. The first of these EF-3 tornadoes was on the ground for nearly 22 miles. Damage surveys, photos and video confirmed that this storm produced at least 6 other tornadoes, 3 rated EF-0, 2 rated EF-1 and 1 rated EF-2. One of the EF-1 tornadoes was anticyclonic and touched down just north of Fairmont. To the left of these tornadoes, severe hail was common. The largest hail observed was the size of tennis balls in Glenvil. Large swaths of damaging winds, from the rear flank downdraft, accompanied the tornadoes to their south and southeast. Tornado and wind damage was extensive to trees, power poles, farm buildings including grain bins, and a few homes. Over 200 irrigation pivots were overturned and/or twisted. Multiple farmsteads also endured damage, including the loss of a new machine shed. By 5:30 p.m., this storm had moved into eastern Nebraska. Other storms developed in its wake, but produced no severe weather.

A very long surface front extended from New England, through the Ohio Valley, across the Central Plains and into the Desert Southwest. Portions of this front were stationary while others were being modulated by several waves of low pressure. The front lifted northward to the Kansas-Nebraska border by daybreak. One low ejected out of Colorado and moved east along the front through northern Kansas during the day. This supercell formed just northeast of this low on the immediate cool side of the front. The upper-level flow featured an amplified western trough and eastern ridge. A closed low was at the base of the trough over the Four Corners region. These storms initiated with the aid of a shortwave trough that ejected into the Central Plains ahead of this low. A strong 100 knot jet streak was at the base of the trough at 300 mb, placing the Central Plains in the favorable left front quadrant. An expansive stratus cloud deck, on the cool side of the front, resulted in a substantial temperature gradient across the front, with afternoon temperatures in the 40s and 50s across much of Nebraska to the mid 80s and low 90s over northern Kansas. This resulted in a tight instability gradient with MLCAPE of 2000 J/kg right along the front. Winds were strong throughout the column. The ejecting low pressure center, combined with the front, resulted in significantly backed winds, enhancing low-level shear. 0-1 km SRH was roughly 300 m2/s2, with 0-3 km SRH 400-600 m2/s2. The environment was very favorable for severe storms and tornadoes.

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 May 10, 4:42 AM CST, 2 hours 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 10, 4:42 AM CST, 2 hours 18 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
542 AM CDT SAT MAY 10 2014

.SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT)
ISSUED AT 349 AM CDT SAT MAY 10 2014

THE FOCUS DURING THE SHORT TERM PERIODS IS WARM TEMPS/FIRE WEATHER
CONCERNS FOR TODAY...THEN INCREASING CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATE
TONIGHT.

WATER VAPOR IMAGERY PLACED CLOSED UPPER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS IN
SASKATCHEWAN AND WASHINGTON STATE...WITH A SHORTWAVE TROUGH LIFTING
OUT OF THE NORTHERN/CENTRAL ROCKIES ONTO THE HIGH PLAINS
REGION...WITH FAIRLY ZONAL FLOW ACROSS THE SOUTHERN THIRD OF THE
CONUS.  AT THE SFC...LOW PRESSURE WAS CENTERED IN SW SD AND THE
OK/TX PANHANDLES.  A WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY WAS LIFTING NORTHEASTWARD
ACROSS NEB WHILE THE SFC TROUGH WAS EDGING EAST OF THE NEB
PANHANDLE.  THE LLVL JET HAS RAMPED TO 40 TO 50KTS AND IN
WAA/DYNAMICS WITH APPROACHING TROUGH AND UPPER JET LIFTING
ACROSS...WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN RADAR RETURNS/MID LEVEL
CLOUD COVER AND CANNOT RULE OUT SPRINKLES OR AN ISOLATED SHOWER
EARLY THIS MORNING.

THE SURFACE BOUNDARY PUSHES EAST BY MID DAY WITH DRY WESTERLY
DOWNSLOPE WINDS AIDING IN WARMING AFTN TEMPS.  HIGHS SHOULD TOP OUT
IN THE MID 70S TO LOWER 80S.  IN THE DRY...WARM AIRMASS LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES WILL DROP INTO THE 20TH PERCENTILE LEADING TO FIRE
WEATHER CONCERNS.  PLEASE REFER TO THE FIRE WEATHER SECTION FOR
FURTHER DETAILS.

THE FIRST PART OF THE NIGHT TONIGHT IS LOOKING QUIET...BUT TOWARD
MORNING CHCS FOR PCPN BEGIN TO INCREASE.  THE AFOREMENTIONED UPPER
LOW IN THE PACIFIC NW MOVES INTO THE CENTRAL ROCKIES WITH FLOW ALOFT
TRANSITIONING SW.  LIFT INCREASES ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS AIDED BY
UPSLOPE FLOW AND PCPN IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TO OUR WEST. TO THE
SOUTH...A WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL ORIENT ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS
AND A STRENGTHENING LLVL JET OF 50KTS WILL PROVIDE LIFT OVER THE
BAROCLINIC ZONE AND AID IN DEVELOPMENT OF CONVECTION. MODELS PROG
ELEVATED INSTABILITY OF 1500 TO 2000 J/KG ACROSS OUR SOUTHEAST CWA
WITH SHEAR ON THE ORDER OF 40KTS. CANNOT RULE OUT A STRONG TO
SEVERE STORM TOWARD DAYBREAK WITH NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL THE
PRIMARY HAZARD.

.LONG TERM...(SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY)
ISSUED AT 349 AM CDT SAT MAY 10 2014

PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERNS THROUGH THE LONG TERM PERIOD LIE WITH THE
IMPACTS FELT ACROSS THE CWA BY A STRONG UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM CROSSING
THE PLAINS.

THE START OF THE LONG TERM PERIOD SHOWS MODELS NOT IN TOO BAD OF
AGREEMENT...WITH SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW SET UP IN THE UPPER LEVELS...A
RESULT OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DIGGING INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION
AND WEAK RIDGING THROUGH THE GULF/MIDWEST. AT THE SURFACE...LOW
PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO BE SET UP OVER SWRN KS...WITH A WARM FRONT
EXTENDING E/NE INTO THE SRN PORTIONS OF THE CWA. SHOULD BE AT LEAST
SOME SCATTERED ACTIVITY ONGOING AT THE START OF THE PERIOD...AS A
WEAK SHORTWAVE DISTURBANCE EJECTED OUT AHEAD OF THE MAIN LOW CROSSES
THE AREA...AND ALSO HAVE THE CONVERGENCE ZONE ALONG THE NOSE OF A 50-
60KT LLJ IN THAT SAME VICINITY OF THE SFC WARM FRONT. EXPECTING THIS
ACTIVITY TO SLIDE OFF TO THE N/NE THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS...AND
THOSE AREAS SHOULD SEE AT LEAST A BRIEF LULL INTO THE
AFTERNOON...WHILE SOME LOCATIONS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE MORNING
ACTIVITY /PROB NEAR AND SOUTH OF THE NEB KS STATE LINE/.  BY LATE
MORNING/MIDDAY...THAT SFC FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLS...THEN STARTS
WORKING ITS WAY BACK S/SE AS A COLD FRONT...PUSHED BY THE LOW OVER
THE FOUR CORNERS REGION SLIDING EAST...WHICH STARTS BECOMING MORE
PHASED WITH A SYSTEM LOCATED TO THE NORTH IN CANADA. SUPPOSE ONE OF
THE MAIN CHANGES WITH THE LATEST RUN OF THE FORECAST MODELS IS MOST
HAVE SLOWED THE EASTWARD PROGRESSION OF THE SFC FRONT DURING THE
AFTERNOON...SO THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS WITH WHETHER IT WILL CLEAR
THE CWA BY LATE AFTERNOON. THIS TREND THROWS A WRENCH IN FORECAST
CONFIDENCE PRIMARILY IN TEMPERATURES...AND HOW MUCH OF THE CWA SEES
MORE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG/SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.  THERE COULD END UP
BEING QUITE A HIGH TEMPERATURE GRADIENT FROM NW TO SE...WITH BETTER
MIXING NEAR/AHEAD OF THE FRONT BRINGING THE POTENTIAL FOR AREAS ARND
HEBRON...SMITH CENTER...STOCKTON AND SOUTH TO REACH FURTHER INTO THE
80S...WHILE NW LOCATIONS MAY STRUGGLE TO GET OUT OF THE MID 50S.
DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING HOURS...LIFT IS THERE...DEEP LAYER
SHEAR IS THERE...AND SOME MODELS SHOWING HEFTY AMOUNTS OF
INSTABILITY AROUND...SO THERE WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR
THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP ALONG THAT SFC COLD FRONT TO BECOME
SEVERE...AND THE E/SERN HALF OF THE CWA IS INCLUDED IN THE SLIGHT
RISK AREA OF SPCS DAY 2 OUTLOOK.

MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT SHOWING THE BETTER INSTABILITY AXIS AND
THUS THUNDERSTORM CHANCES SHIFTING EAST TO THE EAST OF THE CWA BY
MID/LATE EVENING.  PRECIPITATION CHANCES CONTINUE THOUGH...RIGHT ON
THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AND INTO THE DAYTIME HOURS ON MONDAY.
MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT SHOWING THE PATTERN HAVING BECOME AN
OPEN TROUGH AXIS IN THE MID/UPPER LEVELS AND STILL OFF TO THE WEST
OF THE CWA BY 12Z MONDAY...BUT WILL PUSH EAST DURING THE DAY...WITH
POPS DIMINISHING DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS. STILL GOOD MID
LEVEL FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING AFFECTING ESP WRN PORTIONS OF THE
CWA...MAINLY DURING THE MORNING HOURS...AND OVERALL CONFIDENCE IS
NOT HIGH.  SOME MODELS SUGGEST THAT WHILE PRECIP WOULD PRIMARILY
FALL AS RAIN...THERMAL PROFILES ACROSS THE WRN EDGE OF THE CWA COULD
SEE SOME SNOW MIXED IN.  NOT CONFIDENT ENOUGH IN THAT TREND AT THIS
POINT TO INSERT THAT MENTION...BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT UPCOMING
SHIFTS WILL HAVE TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON.

ONCE THAT SFC COLD FRONT PASSES THROUGH...EXPECTING BREEZY
CONDITIONS THROUGH MONDAY. SPEEDS BEHIND THE FRONT COULD AT TIMES
FLIRT WITH ADVISORY CRITERIA...MAINLY SUN/SUN EVENING.  COOLER
CONDITIONS WILL BE THE RULE FOR MONDAY...WITH PLENTY OF CLOUD COVER
AND PRECIP LINGERING AROUND...AND HIGHS ARE FORECAST TO TOP
OUT IN THE LOWER/MID 50S.

LOOKING AT THE FORECAST FOR TUESDAY THROUGH THE END OF THE WORK
WEEK...THE PATTERN IS NOT QUITE AS ACTIVE.  ONCE THE MAIN UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH AXIS STARTS MOVING THROUGH/EAST OF THE CWA /TIMING DOES
VARY AMONG MODELS/...A MORE AMPLIFIED PATTERN IS EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP.  THE CWA WILL BE SET UP UNDER NORTHWESTERLY FLOW
ALOFT...THE TROUGH AXIS CONTINUES TREKKING TOWARD THE EAST
COAST...WHILE AN AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE AND RIDGE AXIS MOVE ONTO THE
WEST COAST.  OUTSIDE OF SOME POPS GOING FOR WED NIGHT/THURS
ACCOMPANYING A WEAK DISTURBANCE AND JET STREAK MOVING THROUGH THE
REGION...THE FORECAST IS DRY.  THIS PATTERN KEEPS THE CWA IN BETWEEN
THE COOLER AIRMASS TO THE EAST WITH THE TROUGH AND THE WARMER AIR TO
THE WEST WITH THE RIDGE...SO CURRENT FORECAST HIGHS ARE PLEASANT
THROUGH THE REST OF THE WORK WEEK...LOWER 60S TUESDAY AND UPPER
60S/NEAR 70 BY FRIDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY MORNING)
ISSUED AT 534 AM CDT SAT MAY 10 2014

A FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL SHIFT WINDS WESTERLY THIS MORNING. LOOK
FOR WINDS TO BE ON THE INCREASE WITH WIND GUSTS OVER 20KTS
POSSIBLE. AS A SURFACE RIDGE NOSES SOUTH TONIGHT AND LOW PRESSURE
DEEPENS IN WESTERN KANSAS...WINDS WILL TRANSITION NORTHEAST AND
EASTWARD. CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS INCREASE TOWARD DAYBREAK AND
INCLUDED A VCTS IN THE LATTER TAF HOURS.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
ISSUED AT 349 AM CDT SAT MAY 10 2014

LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES TODAY ARE FORECAST TO
DROP INTO THE 20TH PERCENTILE WITH THE LOWEST READINGS NEAR OR
PERHAPS BELOW 20 PERCENT POSSIBLE FOR LOCATIONS ALONG AND WEST OF A
LINE FROM LEXINGTON TO CAMBRIDGE NEBRASKA.  CURRENT FUEL STATUS
REFLECTS THAT FUELS ARE STILL FAVORABLE FOR FIRE WEATHER GROWTH.
MODEL FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE THE POTENTIAL FOR DEEP MIXING THIS
AFTERNOON AND IF WINDS MIX ABOVE H85 AND NEAR H7...THEN SNEAKY
BREEZY CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITH WIND GUSTS OF 25 MPH.  ALL OF
THIS BEING SAID...IT MAY BE CLOSE AT TIMES TO REACHING FIRE WX
WARNING CRITERIA IN OUR WEST BUT CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH THAT
CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR FOR THREE HOURS AS WIND SPEEDS DIMINISH AS THE
SFC RIDGE NOSES SOUTH.  FOR NOW WILL JUST MENTION NEAR CRITICAL
FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE HWO.

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...NONE.
KS...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...FAY
LONG TERM...ADO
AVIATION...FAY
FIRE WEATHER...FAY

Hazardous weather outlook, May 10, 3:15 AM CST, 3 hours 45 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
415 AM CDT SAT MAY 10 2014

KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-
111200-
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-
415 AM CDT SAT MAY 10 2014

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST THIS AFTERNOON
FOR LOCATIONS WEST OF HIGHWAY 281...DUE TO LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
VALUES AND INTERMITTENT GUSTY WEST WINDS.

CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS INCREASE TOWARD SUNDAY MORNING. A STRONG
TO SEVERE STORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL
IS POSSIBLE NEAR DAYBREAK...MAINLY FOR LOCATIONS SOUTH OF A LINE
FROM SMITH CENTER KANSAS TO YORK NEBRASKA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

SUNDAY MORNING...A STRONG TO SEVERE STORM REMAINS POSSIBLE FOR
LOCATIONS MAINLY EAST OF HIGHWAY 281. NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL
WILL BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS FROM THE MORNING STORMS.

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...PRIMARILY IN THE VICINITY OF A PASSING COLD FRONT. THERE
WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP TO BE ON THE
STRONG TO SEVERE SIDE...WITH HAIL NEAR THE SIZE OF PING PONG BALLS
AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS NEAR 60 MPH THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. THE BEST
CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE GENERALLY ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY
281.

BEHIND THIS COLD FRONT...STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS ON SUNDAY. SPEEDS OF
20 TO 30 MPH AND GUSTS NEAR 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT.

&&

MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:
   HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HASTINGS  (ALL LOWERCASE)

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 96 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:01 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 hail, 10 tornado, 3 heavy rain, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, York

When: May 10, 7:00 AM CST to May 12, 7:00 AM CST
Where: York County, York Arpt
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 40.880, -97.580

The 48 hour rainfall total reported from Saturday through Monday morning was 3.82 inches.

Hail, Harlan

When: May 11, 2:45 AM CST
Where: Harlan County, Orleans
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.130, -99.450

Hail, Adams

When: May 11, 3:45 AM CST
Where: Adams County, Juniata
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.580, -98.520

Hail, Adams

When: May 11, 4:07 AM CST
Where: Adams County, 6 mi N of Hastings
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.667, -98.380

Hail, Adams

When: May 11, 4:56 AM CST
Where: Adams County, Hastings
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.580, -98.380

Heavy Rain, Hamilton

When: May 11, 7:00 AM CST to May 12, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Hamilton County, 5.42 mi ENE of Stockham
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.740, -97.870

The 24 hour rainfall total reported from Sunday through Monday morning was 4.25 inches.

Heavy Rain, York

When: May 11, 7:00 AM CST to May 12, 7:00 AM CST
Where: York County, Bradshaw
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 40.880, -97.730

The 24 hour rainfall total reported from Sunday through Monday morning was 3.08 inches.

Hail, Adams

When: May 11, 2:10 PM CST to 2:20 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 1 mi S of Ayr
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.406, -98.420

Hail, Adams

When: May 11, 2:17 PM CST to 2:27 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 4 mi SSE of Hastings
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.526, -98.351

Hail, Adams

When: May 11, 2:19 PM CST to 2:22 PM CST
Where: Adams County, Hastings to 2 mi N of Hastings
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.580, -98.380

Penny to nickel size hail was reported.

Hail, Adams

When: May 11, 2:25 PM CST to 2:35 PM CST
Where: Adams County, Hastings to 1 mi ESE of Hastings
Measured: 2 in hail
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 40.580, -98.380

Quarter to hen egg size hail was reported.

Tornado, Clay

When: May 11, 2:26 PM CST to 2:27 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 7.93 mi WNW of Deweese to 7.9 mi WNW of Deweese
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.07 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.382, -98.275

This tornado was photographed by a local resident. While the condensation funnel is not on the ground, the photos suggest the wind field likely reached the ground for a short time. The time and location were determined from the report and radar data. No damage was reported with this tornado.

Hail, Adams

When: May 11, 2:30 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 6 mi S of Hastings
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $75,000
Crop damage: $750,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.493, -98.380

Hail, Clay

When: May 11, 2:45 PM CST
Where: Clay County, Glenville
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $150,000
Crop damage: $1.5 million
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.500, -98.250

Ping pong to tennis ball size hail was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When: May 11, 2:47 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 6 mi S of Glenville
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 40.413, -98.250

Tornado, Clay

When: May 11, 2:50 PM CST to 3:25 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 4.33 mi N of Fairfield to 3.11 mi NNE of Sutton
Rating: EF3
Path length: 18.6 mi
Path width: 1,300 yd
Continued into: Fillmore, Ne (GID)
Property damage: $13 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.493, -98.121

This tornado was reported initially as a multi-vortex tornado for several miles before taking on a more traditional look south of Saronville, where it was described as a wedge tornado. Based upon reports and video, it appears the entire mesocyclone of the storm was near ground level southwest of Sutton. It was one of the strongest tornado of the day in south central Nebraska, rated an EF3 with the peak wind estimated to be 150 MPH. Rear flank downdraft winds resulted in damage on the south side of the tornado track and in addition to the damage to Sutton itself, areas east of Clay Center, southwest of Sutton through northwest of Grafton were affected. Power poles and trees were damaged or snapped, irrigation pivots were overturned, and a few homes and outbuildings suffered damage.

Damage from this tornado was first noted north of Fairfield, where large tree limbs were knocked down and power poles broken. The tornado shifted mainly east across Highway 14 south of Clay Center, with additional tree damage as well as irrigation pivots overturned. It then started to move to the northeast, crossing Highway 41 east of Clay Center and Highway 6 a few miles west of Sutton, but powerful rear flank downdraft winds of 100 mph hammered Sutton and areas south-southwest of town, causing widespread property damage. Moving in between Saronville and Sutton, the tornado then started a more east-northeast path, crossing Road 6 north of Sutton before dissipating approximately 5 miles northeast of town.

As the tornado approached and crossed Highway 6 it intensified to it strongest point. Damage peaked a few miles north of Sutton, where the EF-3 rating was assigned, resulting from the destruction of a home. Elsewhere along the path, a few other homes sustained less significant damage than the one north of Sutton, and a number of other outbuildings and grain bins were also damaged or destroyed. Many trees were damaged, destroyed or contained debris (mainly from destroyed grain bins), irrigation pivots were overturned and power poles broken.

Hail, Hamilton

When: May 11, 3:05 PM CST to 3:35 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County, 6.62 mi ENE of Stockham
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $250,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.750, -97.850

Quarter to half dollar size hail was reported.

Tornado, Fillmore

When: May 11, 3:25 PM CST to 3:28 PM CST
Where: Fillmore County, 6.58 mi W of Grafton to 5.35 mi WNW of Grafton
Rating: EF3
Path length: 1.61 mi
Path width: 1,300 yd
Property damage: $1.5 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.641, -97.825

This is the continuation of the EF3 tornado that started in Clay County northwest of Fairfield.

Tornado, Fillmore

When: May 11, 3:25 PM CST to 3:26 PM CST
Where: Fillmore County, 0.8 mi S of Grafton to 0.76 mi S of Grafton
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.04 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.618, -97.699

This tornado location was determined from video and chaser reports. An experienced meteorologist and others have reported that this tornado rotated anti-cyclonically, or the opposite direction most tornadoes rotate. Radar imagery and video suggest the anti-cyclonic circulation could have occurred, although the rotational direction could not be confirmed via field survey. No damage was reported with this tornado.

Tornado, Fillmore

When: May 11, 3:25 PM CST to 3:41 PM CST
Where: Fillmore County, 2.84 mi NW of Grafton to 4.35 mi N of Fairmont
Rating: EF2
Path length: 9.38 mi
Path width: 750 yd
Property damage: $3.5 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.664, -97.731

This tornado traveled rural areas of northern Fillmore County, bumping the York County line along the way. It touched down a few miles north-northwest of Grafton and lifted a few miles north-northeast of Fairmont. One home suffered damage when part of the roof was torn away, while another older home was pushed approximately 30 feet off of its foundation. There was widespread power pole and tree damage, with some trees containing debris from grain bins, and a number of irrigation pivots were overturned. The peak wind with this tornado was estimated to be 120 MPH. South of the main tornado track, strong rear flank downdraft winds resulted in additional power pole and irrigation pivot damage, and an outbuilding suffered damage near Highway 81 north of Fairmont.

Hail, Hamilton

When: May 11, 3:26 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County, 6 mi SE of Aurora
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.809, -97.919

Hail, Adams

When: May 11, 3:29 PM CST to 3:32 PM CST
Where: Adams County, 0.96 mi NE of Hastings
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 40.589, -98.366

Quarter to half dollar size hail was reported.

Hail, Webster

When: May 11, 3:35 PM CST
Where: Webster County, Bladen
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.320, -98.580

Tornado, Fillmore

When: May 11, 3:40 PM CST to 3:48 PM CST
Where: Fillmore County, 1.45 mi NW of Fairmont to 1.89 mi NW of Exeter
Rating: EF1
Path length: 6.14 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.642, -97.592

This tornado traveled rural areas and was witnessed by several storm chasers and experienced meteorologists. Video evidence, eyewitness accounts, radar imagey and even some of the damage confirm this tornado rotated anti-cyclonically. Damage along the path of the tornado included a grain bin and an old outbuilding being pushed off of their foundations, along with a roof partially blown off of another outbuilding. Numerous irrigation pivots were overturned, and there was plenty of tree damage. There was a home with minor roof damage. The peak wind with this tornado was estimated to be 90 MPH.

Hail, Hamilton

When: May 11, 3:52 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County, 3 mi SW of Giltner
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.749, -98.191

Tornado, Fillmore

When: May 11, 3:57 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Fillmore County, 2.92 mi N of Exeter to 3.49 mi NNE of Exeter
Rating: EF3
Path length: 1.2 mi
Path width: 2,640 yd
Continued into: York, Ne (GID)
Property damage: $7.5 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.692, -97.453

This tornado was the second to be rated an EF3 that affected south central Nebraska, starting in far northern Fillmore County before traversing a portion of York County and passing north of Cordova in Seward County. Damage along the track in Fillmore County was widespread, including one home which was totally destroyed. All 6 occupants took shelter in the basement. Another home suffered less significant damage, but outbuildings on the same property were destroyed. Also along the path of this tornado, and to the south of the path where rear flank downdraft winds occurred, numerous irrigation pivots were overturned, power poles were broken as well as trees and grain bins either damaged or destroyed. The strongest and widest time of this tornado occurred in Seward County, with a peak wind estimated to be 140 MPH and a maximum width of 2,640 yards, or 1.5 miles.

Tornado, York

When: May 11, 4:00 PM CST to 4:07 PM CST
Where: York County, 8.54 mi ESE of Mc Cool Jct to 11.2 mi E of Mc Cool Jct
Rating: EF3
Path length: 3.81 mi
Path width: 2,640 yd
Continued into: Seward, Ne (OAX)
Property damage: $1.5 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.699, -97.432

This is a continuation of the tornado that started in northern Fillmore County. This tornado was the second to be rated an EF3 that affected south central Nebraska, starting in far northern Fillmore County before traversing a portion of York County and passing north of Cordova in Seward County. Damage along the track in Fillmore County was widespread, including one home which was totally destroyed. All 6 occupants took shelter in the basement. Another home suffered less significant damage, but outbuildings on the same property were destroyed. Also along the path of this tornado, and to the south of the path where rear flank downdraft winds occurred, numerous irrigation pivots were overturned, power poles were broken as well as trees and grain bins either damaged or destroyed. The strongest and widest time of this tornado occurred in Seward County, with a peak wind estimated to be 140 MPH and a maximum width of 2,640 yards, or 1.5 miles.

Flash Flood, York

When: May 11, 4:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: York County, 1.72 mi NW of Henderson to 4.51 mi SSW of Henderson
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.800, -97.820

A widespread swath of 3 to at least 4 inches of rain fell, resulting in the closure of numerous county roads across southern portions of York County.

Hail, Hamilton

When: May 11, 4:03 PM CST to 4:13 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County, 6 mi SSW of Aurora to 4 mi S of Aurora
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.790, -98.044

Tornado, York

When: May 11, 4:04 PM CST to 4:06 PM CST
Where: York County, 10.08 mi E of Mc Cool Jct to 9.73 mi E of Mc Cool Jct
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.61 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.750, -97.388

This tornado actually moved southwest and was eventually engulfed into the main Cordova tornado. No damage was reported with this tornado.

Hail, Hamilton

When: May 11, 4:32 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County, 7.35 mi ENE of Stockham
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $150,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.760, -97.840

Tornado, York

When: May 11, 4:58 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: York County, 10.45 mi E of Mc Cool Jct to 11.08 mi E of Mc Cool Jct
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.84 mi
Path width: 700 yd
Continued into: Seward, Ne (OAX)
Property damage: $60,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.741, -97.381

This tornado started just under one mile inside York County and quickly strengthened, destroying a grain bin and power poles on the York and Seward County line. This tornado was only in York County for a short time, with most of its damage occurring in Seward County. Damage along the path of the tornado in York County included overturned irrigation pivots, broken power poles, and the destruction of grain bins. The peak wind with this tornado was estimated to be 90 MPH.

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Nebraska in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Nebraska, 2014 Warnings in Nebraska, May 2014

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: 510498, 510491, 510492, 510493, 510494, 510497, 510499, 510513, 510511, 510512, 510516, 510466, 510515, 510518, 510533, 510467, 510538, 510468, 510469, 510470, 510535, 510536, 510543, 510471, 510539, 510472, 510480, 514446, 510540, 510477, 510542, 510475.