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Storm Events Database
Event Details:
| Event | Tornado |
| -- Scale | EF3 |
| -- Length | 9.31 Miles |
| -- Width | 600 Yards |
| State | NEBRASKA |
| County/Area | HOWARD |
| WFO | GID |
| Report Source | NWS Storm Survey |
| NCEI Data Source | CSV |
| Begin Date | 2024-04-26 11:58 CST-6 |
| Begin Location | 1SSE FARWELL |
| Begin Lat/Lon | 41.2028/-98.6199 |
| End Date | 2024-04-26 12:21 CST-6 |
| End Location | 4NNE ELBA |
| End Lat/Lon | 41.3301/-98.5612 |
| Deaths Direct/Indirect | 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...) |
| Injuries Direct/Indirect | 0/0 |
| Property Damage | 3.50M |
| Crop Damage | 0.00K |
| Episode Narrative | On this Friday afternoon, south central Nebraska served as the launching point to what would end up being a significant/destructive regional tornado outbreak that impacted portions of south central and eastern Nebraska, into southwestern and south central Iowa. This event unfolded as a powerful upper trough, along with a surface low/trough, moved into the Central Plains. Locally, a northward-arcing warm front passed through south central and central Nebraska. Dewpoints were generally in the 50s and 60s during the early afternoon hours on April 26th across south central and central Nebraska. Most unstable CAPE was around 1,000 to 3,000 J/kg and wind shear was around 40 knots, setting the stage for tornado development within parts of Buffalo, Sherman and especially Howard and Greeley counties. Storms already began developing in south central and central Nebraska during the late morning hours. The storms began by producing nickel sized hail in Sherman County just after 12 PM CDT. The first tornado of the day developed around 12:16 PM CDT from a supercell moving across northern Buffalo County into Sherman County and was rated as an EF1. This storm moved northward and split into two storms with the second storm on the right becoming stronger and continuing to move north northeast. These two storms produced a total of six tornadoes in Buffalo, Sherman, Howard, and Greeley Counties. The last tornado of the day developed in Greeley County just after 2 PM CDT and moved northeastward before exiting this local area into Boone County (which is located in the Eastern Nebraska area). The strongest tornado within the south central Nebraska area was rated an EF3, passing very near Elba in Howard County (this was the strongest tornado to strike the 24-county area in nearly 10 years...since EF-3 tornadoes on May 11, 2014). Other storms developed and produced hail. The largest hail was golf ball sized which fell in Howard County around 1:15 PM CDT. Prior to departing the local area, they produced quarter sized hail in Nance County just after 3 PM CDT. |
| Event Narrative | Initially narrow, this tornado started south of Farwell with eyewitness reports, and would eventually turn into a large, EF3-rated tornado. The tornado moved across rural areas north of Farwell, causing tree damage and overturning center irrigation pivots. As the tornado emerged onto the North Loup River valley just west of Elba, it gained significant strength. Just west of Elba, a farmstead sustained heavy damage to a home, outbuildings and vehicles, among other items. A well-built metal building structure was was demolished, with extensive damage to the nearby home. Based upon damage indicators, this location was deemed to have the strongest winds, estimated to be 145 MPH, resulting in the EF3 rating. The tornado was estimated to be around 600 yards wide as it crossed Highway 11 just northwest of Elba. A long stretch of power poles was knocked down along Odell Road. The tornado eventually navigated across the North Loup River about 2.5 miles north of town. From that point, the tornado moved onto pasture ground. Based upon radar data, timing and lack of solid damage indicators, it is believed this tornado likely weakened as it moved north. |
Event Map:
Note: The tornado track is approximate based on the beginning (B) and ending (E) locations. The actual tornado path may differ from a straight line.
All events for this episode:
| Location | County/Zone | St. | Date | Time | T.Z. | Type | Mag | Dth | Inj | PrD | CrD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals: | 0 | 0 | 5.065M | 0.00K | |||||||
| ROCKVILLE | SHERMAN CO. | NE | 04/26/2024 | 11:01 | CST-6 | Hail | 0.88 in. | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| RAVENNA | BUFFALO CO. | NE | 04/26/2024 | 11:10 | CST-6 | Hail | 1.25 in. | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| RAVENNA | BUFFALO CO. | NE | 04/26/2024 | 11:16 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 70.00K | 0.00K |
| ROCKVILLE | SHERMAN CO. | NE | 04/26/2024 | 11:21 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 70.00K | 0.00K |
| ROCKVILLE | SHERMAN CO. | NE | 04/26/2024 | 11:32 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 200.00K | 0.00K |
| FARWELL | HOWARD CO. | NE | 04/26/2024 | 11:52 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 200.00K | 0.00K |
| FARWELL | HOWARD CO. | NE | 04/26/2024 | 11:58 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF3 | 0 | 0 | 3.500M | 0.00K |
| COTESFIELD | HOWARD CO. | NE | 04/26/2024 | 12:15 | CST-6 | Hail | 1.75 in. | 0 | 0 | 200.00K | 0.00K |
| ELBA | HOWARD CO. | NE | 04/26/2024 | 12:32 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF2 | 0 | 0 | 400.00K | 0.00K |
| WOLBACH | GREELEY CO. | NE | 04/26/2024 | 12:45 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF2 | 0 | 0 | 400.00K | 0.00K |
| WOLBACH | GREELEY CO. | NE | 04/26/2024 | 13:04 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF2 | 0 | 0 | 25.00K | 0.00K |
| GENOA | NANCE CO. | NE | 04/26/2024 | 14:05 | CST-6 | Hail | 1.00 in. | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| Totals: | 0 | 0 | 5.065M | 0.00K |
