Tornadoes and Hail in Nebraska, December 15, 2021

Falls City ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.

Mesonet site measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.

Public report of a roof blown off of a home.

Public report of an overturned 5th wheel trailer.

Emergency manager reported a semi blown over.

Emergency manager reported power lines blown down.

Emergency manager reported a semi truck blown over on Highway 136.

Mesonet station measured a peak wind gust of 64 knots.

Mesonet station UR416 HEDRIW measured a peak wind gust of 55 knots.

Public reported strong wind capable fo breaking 2-3 inch diameter limbs and 0.88 inch hail.

Emergency manger reported a measured wind gust of 70 knots.

Emergency manager reported numerous pivots overturned throughout Jefferson County.

A tornado developed over an open field south of town and north of the creek where it tipped over two sections of an irrigation pivot. The tornado proceeded north northeast into Platte Center, causing damage to a garage and snapping several trees. The maximum damage occurred between 2nd and 4th streets where a large metal building with wood construction had the wind enter the doors, uplift the roof, and collapse the walls as the entire building shifted and collapsed to the northeast. Very large trees were blown down and one home lost much of its roof. The damage became less notable over the next block and dissipated near the elementary school.

Public reported 1.25 inch hail.

A narrow, fast-moving, tornado began in the parking lot of a business along Howard Blvd where it tipped over a semi trailer and proceeded to cause roof, siding, fence, and tree damage. Approximately one block later, it caused the worst damage of the entire track where an attached garage and entire roof were removed from a ranch home. Much of the roof was deposited 20 to 100 yards downstream. The tornado proceeded to produce sporadic damage over the next two blocks and then a more consistent damage path for a 6 block period where many homes had minor to moderate roof damage and several trees were snapped or uprooted. There was then another 5 blocks of sporadic minor to moderate tree and roof damage followed by a 2 block stretch of continuous minor to moderate roof and siding damage. The tornado then travelled across open fields until reaching the Indian Hills neighborhood where it snapped two power poles and caused generally minor damage to a fence and shingles, with no further damage downstream. The entire 2.7 mile track occurred in approximately 2 minutes.

Public reported 1.25 inch hail.

Emergency manager reported downed powerlines.

This is segmnent 1 of 3 of an EF-2 tornado that began in northeast Saline County where it overturned numerous irrigation pivots. This tornado continued northeast into It continued northeastward into Seward County.

Columbus (OLU) ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 68 mph.

Emergency manager reported damage to outbuildings and barns in the Plymouth area.

This is segment 2 of 3 of an EF-2 tornado that came out of northeast Saline County. In Seward County it damaged trees and farm outbuildings, passing just southeast of Pleasant Dale. The tornado then crossed into Lancaster County.

Personal weather station measured a peak wind gust of 84 mph.

Public reported large tree down in front yard via Twitter.

Personal weather station measured a peak wind gust of 67 mph.

This is segement 3 of 3 of an EF-2 tornado that crossed from Seward County into Lancaster County. After passing southeast of Pleasant Dale and crossed into Lancaster County, the tornado produced its most substantial damage, tearing off the top half of a 100 year old barn and pulling the barn itself from its rebar attachment to the foundation. Other outbuildings and grain bins were also damaged in this area. The tornado continued northeastward and passed near the southeast end of Pawnee Lake, damaging power poles in the area. The path continued northeastward, damaging trees and eventually crossing Highway 34 just east of Malcolm Road before dissipating shortly thereafter.

An intermittent tornado tracked from south to north through Howells. The initial damage point was roof damage to a home on the south side of town along with moderate tree damage. The tornado then skipped several blocks before removing a portion of the building attached to the feed and seed. Nearby security cameras provided video evidence of the brief tornadic circulation on the north side of town. The tornado remained intermittent as it travelled into an open field to the northeast, depositing debris in the field.

Lincoln Airport ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 81 knots.

A tornado developed in a field near 3rd road south of C road and quickly moved northeast to cause roof damage to large animal barns where a substantial amount of roofing tin were removed. The tornado proceeded across open fields before severely impacting a farm near 4th and E road. The farm place had a small shed blown approximately 100 yards. A second brand new larger shed was completely destroyed and a very large shed with equipment inside was also completely destroyed. There was minor roof and siding damage to the home and to another large shed, as well as some fences. The tornado proceeded northeast to another hog farm where it removed large sections of roof from two large barns. The debris were deposited well into a field downstream. The track was then intermittent for 1.5 miles as there were few if any available damage indicators in ag fields before it caused additional damage to 5 power poles and another animal barn where much of the barn was removed and blown into the nearby trees. The tornado appeared to dissipate at that point.

Public reported a destroyed garage and shed.

Beatrice AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 86 mph.

Emergency manager reported a partial roof blown off.

A brief tornado developed in a field and then travelled north northeast where it snapped 5 wooden power poles and then caused tree damage in a grove of trees.

An intermittent path of damage across open fields but also managed to snap off power poles in multiple locations, and also caused damage to a shed.

A tornado developed just north of the Jack Sinn Memorial Wildlife Management area, producing damage to farm buildings and then moving off toward the northeast, and eventually the north northeast as observed by a storm chaser. The tornado caused damage to several barns and outbuildings along the track, including complete destruction of barns near Road 11 and Road F. The tornado also overturned several pivot irrigation systems and snapped wooden power poles at multiple locations, including numerous poles along Highway 92 which prompted a multi-day closure of the highway. The tornado also impacted the University of Nebraska Farm where a video was taken of the small fast-moving tornado and several buildings sustained damage. The tornado ended 1 mile northwest of Yutan where a farm outbuilding was blown for a significant distance and trees were damage. Significant downburst winds on the east flank of the tornado circulation were evident on radar and damage to pivot irrigation systems and other structures throughout the duration of the tornado.

A brief tornado snapped trees and caused minor roof damage to a home before destroying a 40 by 60 foot shed and moving a farm gravity wagon approximately 100 yards while continuing to damage trees. Witnesses noted that this was a brief tornado but they did see the funnel cloud at the site of the damage.

Trained Spotter reported a measured peak wind gust of 92 mph.

This tornado impacted several farms and residences along its 11 mile track with at least 5 points suggesting EF2 damage with maximum winds of approximately 120 mph. This tornado also had one of the wider paths in this region on December 15 where at one point the tree pattern suggested 200 yard width. The tornado destroyed several barns, including some well-built large structures. It also caused substantial power line damage, snapping several power poles in multiple locations.

Public reported uprooted trees.

Public reported via mping 3-inch tree limbs broken; power poles broken.

A short track EF-1 tornado began just west of CR 13 and traveled over a farmstead. This tornado caused substantial damage to several outbuildings and a grain bin. A cattle feeder that was secured to the ground via 3-foot-deep concrete posts was lifted and thrown 250 feet. The tornado was short lived with only tree damage observed at the end of the track.

Fire Department reported a measured wind gust of 99 mph.

Mesonet station NB075 measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.

Mesonet measured a peak wind gust of 99 mph.

Tornado segment 1 of 2. This tornado began southwest of Bancroft, uprooting several large pine trees, collapsing a windmill, and tearing shingles of the roof of a home. The tornado continued northeast, passing just northwest of Bancroft and entered Thurston County northwest of Rosalie.

A very narrow tornado was witnessed and caused substantial damage to vehicles and farm equipment while destroying a large shed near its onset and proceeded to cause minor damage for approximately 3 miles to the northeast before dissipating.

Public reported via mping 3-inch tree limbs broken; power poles broken.

Trained spotter reported estimated wind gusts of 70 mph.

Public reported roof blown off and power lines down in town.

Trained spotter reported a measured peak wind gust of 81 mph.

Tornado segment 2 of 2. This tornado is a continuation of a tornado that started in Cuming County. It entered Thurston County northwest of Rosalie. Here, the tornado damaged some outbuildings before dissipating just northeast of 26th Road and N Avenue.

Emergency manager reported tractor trailer blown over on its side and numerous trees down in Fremont.

Fire Department reported a measured peak wind gust of 75 mph.

Fremont AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph.

Brief swirl southwest of outbuilding destroyed. Debris strewn in narrow bath to the northeast.

A brief EF-1 tornado snapped power poles. Swirling was noted in corn fields north and south of County Road C.

COOP Observer reported a that a shed blew over and crushed a can.

Tornado removed roof from house. Roof over garage uplifted and displaced. House moved slightly on foundation. Several large pines & oak trees snapped. Additional damage to power poles was noted, along with total destruction of a farm outbuilding near Highway 75 and Baxter Loop.

A brief tornado destroyed half of a large outbuilding.

A brief tornado destroyed several outbuildings and removed a wrap-around porch from a house.

Three witnesses observed tornado form south side of lake. Roof taken off residence. Several hardwood trees snapped and pine trees uprooted or snapped. Tornado continued northeast where it did substantial damage to a horse farm. Extension of house destroyed. Horse trailer rolled. Several large trees snapped an uprooted. Unable to survey northern end of track due to terrain and no road.

Public reported an estimated 70 mph wind gust.

Public report via mping of 3-inch tree limbs broken; power poles broken.

Public reported several large tree limbs down.

Law enforcement reported numerous large trees down and homes damaged.

Amateur radio report of limbs down near 30th and Harrison.

Mesonet Station UP945 measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.

Public reported branches with 6 inch diameter down.

Public report via mping of 3-inch tree limbs broken; power poles broken.

Public reported that a large tree limb crushed a car and downed a fence.

Public reported a peak measured wind gust of 81 mph.

Eppley Airfield measured a peak wind gust of 74 mph.

Emergency manager reported a numerous large diameter trees down.

Emergency manager reported a residential building collapse due to a heavy tree falling on it.

Public reported a roof blown off of a home.

Mesonet station measured a peak wind gust of 78 mph.

Beatrice AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph.

Nebraska City AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.

Nebraska City AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.

AWOS measured sustained winds of at least 40 mph.

Norfolk Airport ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.

Omaha Eppley Airfield measured a peak wind gust of 70 mph.