Tornadoes · United States · Nebraska · 2009
EF0 tornado, Bayard, Nebraska, June 10, 2009
This EF0 tornado ran 3.7 miles across Morrill County on June 10, 2009, touching down at 2:38 PM MDT and reaching 30 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $10,000 of property damage.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF0
- Date
- June 10, 2009
- Touchdown
- 2:38 PM MDT (20:38 UTC)
- Lifted
- 2:46 PM MDT (20:46 UTC)
- On the ground
- 8 minutes
- Path length
- 3.7 miles (6.0 km)
- Path width
- 30 yards (27 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $10,000
- County
- Morrill County
- Touchdown point
- 41.772, -103.392
- Lift-off point
- 41.779, -103.320
- Record number
- 0906101438-01
What the Weather Service recorded
Thundertorms, some severe, produced flash flooding and a few tornadoes over parts of the southern Nebraska panhandle.
Narrow tornado flipped a center pivot.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
29 minutes of warning. NWS CYS issued a tornado warning for this county at 20:09 UTC, 29 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 20:45 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:52 UTC | 19:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | CYS |
| 19:23 UTC | 20:00 UTC | Tornado Warning | CYS |
| 19:57 UTC | 20:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | CYS |
| 20:07 UTC | 20:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | CYS |
| 20:09 UTC | 20:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | CYS |
| 20:23 UTC | 21:00 UTC | Tornado Warning | CYS |
| 20:24 UTC | 02:30 UTC | Flash Flood Warning | CYS |
| 20:47 UTC | 21:20 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CYS |
| 21:19 UTC | 21:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CYS |
| 23:25 UTC | 04:00 UTC | Flash Flood Warning | CYS |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a General Thunderstorms Risk, with a 0.02 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 20:01 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Denver, CO (KDNR), 12:00Z
8.6 hours before the tornado, 212 km from the path. June 10, 2009.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 95 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -55 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 714 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 49 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 6 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 38 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 69 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.1 K/km
Denver, CO (KDNR), 00:00Z
3.4 hours after it, 212 km from the path. June 11, 2009.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 48 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -45 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 507 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1193 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 32 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 12 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 57 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 112 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- -0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.2
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 7.3 K/km
The surface observations
Scottsbluff (BFF), 23 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:51 UTC | 62.6 | 55.4 | 100° 14 kt | 1010.8 | VCTS -RA | |
| 18:53 UTC | 63 | 55 | 100° 12 kt | 1010.8 | VCTS -RA | |
| 19:10 UTC | 64.4 | 53.6 | 90° 14 kt | 21 | 1010.5 | VCTS |
| 19:38 UTC | 60.8 | 55.4 | 80° 13 kt | 1009.8 | TSRA | |
| 19:49 UTC | 57.2 | 53.6 | 50° 13 kt | 1010.2 | +TSRA BR | |
| 19:51 UTC | 57.2 | 53.6 | 60° 12 kt | 1010.5 | TS +RA BR | |
| 19:53 UTC | 56 | 53 | 60° 8 kt | 1010.8 | +TSRA BR | |
| 20:03 UTC | 51.8 | 48.2 | 120° 10 kt | 18 | 1011.9 | +TSRA BR |
| 20:27 UTC | 48.2 | 44.6 | 100° 15 kt | 22 | 1010.2 | +TSRA BR |
| 20:36 UTC | 48.2 | 46.4 | 80° 15 kt | 23 | 1009.8 | -TSRA |
| 20:53 UTC | 50 | 45 | 90° 18 kt | 26 | 1010.2 | VCTS |
| 21:37 UTC | 53.6 | 48.2 | 340° 15 kt | 26 | 1012.2 | +TSRA BR |
| 21:40 UTC | 53.6 | 48.2 | 360° 9 kt | 26 | 1011.9 | +TSRA BR |
| 21:50 UTC | 53.6 | 50 | 60° 9 kt | 1011.5 | TSRA BR | |
| 21:53 UTC | 53 | 51 | 70° 12 kt | 1011.2 | +TSRA BR | |
| 22:01 UTC | 53.6 | 51.8 | 80° 9 kt | 1011.2 | TSRA BR | |
| 22:20 UTC | 55.4 | 51.8 | 80° 8 kt | 1010.8 | -RA |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Cheyenne radar (KCYS), 139 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 20:36 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:47 UTC | HAIL 0.25 | 5 S Morrill | Scotts Bluff, NE | |
| 18:50 UTC | HAIL 0.5 | 5 S Morrill | Scotts Bluff, NE | SOME ROTATION OBSERVED. |
| 18:59 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | 10 Se Mitchell | Scotts Bluff, NE | SPOTTER IN TOWN SEES FUNNEL 10 MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST. |
| 18:59 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | 6 S Mitchell | Scotts Bluff, NE | ALSO DIME TO NICKLE SIZE HAIL. |
| 18:59 UTC | TORNADO | 3 W Scottsbluff | Scotts Bluff, NE | WEST OF SCOTTSBLUFF NEAR HWY 92. |
| 19:15 UTC | HAIL 0.25 | 3 S Morrill | Scotts Bluff, NE | HAIL MADE A HALF MILE WIDE PATH ABOUT 3 INCHES DEEP. ROAD CREWS ARE OUT WITH PLOWS. |
| 19:24 UTC | HAIL 1 | 5 S Mitchell | Scotts Bluff, NE | UP TO ONE INCH DIAMETER HAIL FELL BETWEEN 124 PM AND 130 PM. |
| 19:33 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | Gering | Scotts Bluff, NE | ROTATION NOTED ON SOUTH SIDE OF GEARING. |
| 20:08 UTC | TORNADO | 2 E Gering | Scotts Bluff, NE | TORNADO ON THE GROUND ALONG HWY 26 BETWEEN SCOTTSBLUFF AND MINATARE. |
| 20:13 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | Melbeta | Scotts Bluff, NE | TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD OFF OF HIGHWAY 92 MOVING EAST WITH STRONG ROTATION. |
| 20:16 UTC | FLOOD | 10 Nw Scottsbluff | Scotts Bluff, NE | NUMEROUS ROADS WITH 5 TO 6 INCHES OF WATER RUNNING OVER THEM IN NORTHWESTERN SCOTTS BLUFF COUNTY. |
| 20:29 UTC | TORNADO | 5 E Minatare | Scotts Bluff, NE | |
| 20:32 UTC | FLASH FLOOD | Scottsbluff | Scotts Bluff, NE | SOME OF THE BUILDINGS ON THE WESTERN NEBRASKA COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS WERE FLOODED DUE TO HEAVY RAIN. |
| 20:38 UTC | TORNADO | 4 Wnw Bayard | Scotts Bluff, NE | |
| 20:44 UTC | TORNADO | 2 N Bayard | Morrill, NE | CENTER PIVOT OVERTURNED. |
| 20:46 UTC | TORNADO | 2 N Bayard | Morrill, NE | TORNADO LIFTED. |
| 20:54 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | Bayard | Morrill, NE | |
| 21:39 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | 6 N Bridgeport | Morrill, NE | |
| 21:42 UTC | HAIL 0.25 | Bayard | Morrill, NE | 3-4 INCHES OF HAIL COVERING THE GROUND. HEAVY FOG. |
| 21:45 UTC | HAIL 0.5 | 6 Sw Angora | Morrill, NE | 4 TO 5 INCHES OF MARBLE SIZED HAIL AT JUCTION OF HWY 385 AND L62A. SNOW PLOWS HAVE BEEN SENT TO PLOW HWY. |
| 21:45 UTC | HEAVY RAIN 0 | 10 N Bridgeport | Morrill, NE | RIVER OF WATER RUNNING DOWN HWY 385. DUGOUT AND UNION CREEKS RUNNING NEAR BANKFULL. |
| 22:00 UTC | FLASH FLOOD | 8 N Bridgeport | Morrill, NE | 8 TO 12 INCHES OF MARBLE SIZED HAIL ALONG HIGHWAY 385 BETWEEN BRIDGEPORT AND ANGORA. BARRICADES PUT UP ALONG A PORTION OF HIGHWAY 385. |
| 23:13 UTC | TORNADO | 5 S Broadwater | Morrill, NE | |
| 23:15 UTC | FLASH FLOOD | Bridgeport | Morrill, NE | HEAVY RAINFALL IN BROADWATERN HAS CAUSED STREET FLOODING. ALSO MANY ROADS ARE CLOSED AROUND BAYARD DUE TO HEAVY RAIN PRODUCING WATER OVER THE ROADS. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2009 tornado in NebraskaEvery tornado in Nebraska since 1950Warnings in force in Nebraska nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of June 10, 2009
17 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 10 | 12:59 PM MDT | EF0 | Scotts Bluff, NE | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| June 10 | 1:55 PM MDT | EF0 | Goshen, WY | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| June 10 | 2:30 PM MDT | EF0 | Weld, CO | 0.0 | 50 | |||
| June 10 | 4:05 PM MDT | EF0 | Weld, CO | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| June 10 | 6:20 PM EDT | EF0 | Glades, FL | 0.5 | 10 | $50,000 | ||
| June 10 | 5:41 PM CDT | EF0 | Vernon, MO | 1.4 | 50 | |||
| June 10 | 6:00 PM CDT | EF0 | Haskell, OK | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| June 10 | 6:11 PM CDT | EF0 | Haskell, OK | 0.4 | 50 | $30,000 | ||
| June 10 | 6:40 PM CDT | EF0 | Denton, TX | 2.3 | 50 | $5,000 | ||
| June 10 | 6:50 PM CDT | EF0 | Denton, TX | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| June 10 | 6:53 PM CDT | EF1 | Denton, TX | 0.2 | 50 | $200,000 | ||
| June 10 | 7:05 PM CDT | EF0 | Denton, TX | 0.6 | 50 | |||
| June 10 | 8:05 PM CDT | EF1 | Miller, MO | 0.6 | 200 | $50,000 | ||
| June 10 | 8:28 PM CDT | EF0 | Seward, KS | 0.3 | 50 | |||
| June 10 | 9:22 PM CDT | EF0 | Red River, TX | 2.5 | 100 | |||
| June 10 | 9:25 PM CDT | EF0 | Titus, TX | 2.6 | 100 | |||
| June 10 | 10:15 PM CDT | EF0 | Cass, TX | 0.5 | 75 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.