Tornadoes of May 5th, 2007
National Weather Service employees conducted damage surveys on May 6th, 2007 in Custer, Blaine, Brown and Keya Paha Counties.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTH PLATTE WISHES TO THANK THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COUNTY OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE VARIOUS DAMAGE SURVEYS ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THESE INDIVIDUALS WAS CRUCIAL IN THE ULTIMATE COMPLETION OF AND CONTINUATION OF THE DAMAGE SURVEYS
A complex of tornadic super cell thunderstorms produced several tornadoes during the afternoon hours of May 5th, 2007. Below is a summary of each documented tornado and its' associated damage.
Rapidly developing supercell thunderstorms which moved north into Custer County produced a tornado at approximately 1223 pm, when storm spotters reported the tornado about 21 miles south of Arnold, just west of Highway 47. Extensive tree damage was noted on either side of Highway 47...with trees topped or snapped off well above the ground and moved some distance. The tornado crossed over a homestead...damaging a garage and vehicles...crossed over Highway 47 destroying 4 grain bins and proceeded to the north-northeast to cross Highway 40...downing power lines and trees...and damaging irrigation pivots...some beyond recognition. Based on the observed damage and reports by citizens the tornado had a track of nearly 6 miles and a path width of one quarter of a mile or about 400 yards from when it first appeared. The tornado lifted south of Highway 92 and reformed northeast of Arnold...traveling at least another 12 miles before moving north toward the Custer-Blaine county line where it apparently lifted again. Reported northeast of Arnold were trees downed and deer killed in the canyon areas.
Based on the damage the rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale...a rating of
F 1
is assigned this tornado.
(Photos by Shane Cool and NWS)
Brewster, Nebraska Tornado
The supercell storm which spawned the Arnold storm moved into Blaine County...producing a tornado at about 153 pm 6 miles east of Dunning near Highway 2...crossing Highway 91 and taking down power lines along the highway. As it progressed northeast to the west of Brewster...a farmstead 7 miles west of Brewster suffered tree and structural damage to several buildings. The tornado dissipated soon after...tracking approximately 15 miles with a path width of 400 yards.
Based on the damage the rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale...a rating of
F 1
is assigned this tornado.
Brown County, Nebraska Tornado
The supercell which had a history of producing tornadoes in Custer and Blaine counties continued moving north...producing another tornado approximately 22 miles south of Ainsworth, Nebraska...as reported by spotters and ranchers in the area. On a ranch where branding operations were occurring...ranchers noted the tornado picked up a truck briefly and propelled several calfs through the air. Being over open rangeland...no structures were reported damaged. The tornado reportedly traveled about 4 miles to the northeast and dissipated.
Based on the damage the rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale...a rating of
F 0
is assigned this tornado.
Photo by Randy Johnson
Springview, Nebraska Tornado
This same supercell moved northeast into Keya Paha County dropping a tornado at about 345 pm 7 miles southeast of Springview...damaging a Bed and Breakfast and injuring at least one individual...moving across Highway 7 and damaging a residence and destroying an outbuilding. Further northeast another outbuilding was damaged...powerlines downed and power poles snapped off and an irrigation pivot damaged. Aproximately 3 miles south of Burton...a farmstead was damaged as were several outbuildings. The resulting track of the tornado was about 12 miles with a path width of one quarter mile.
Based on the damage the rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale...a rating of
F 1
is assigned this tornado.
National Weather Service employees conducted damage surveys on May 6th, 2007 in Custer, Blaine, Brown and Keya Paha Counties.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTH PLATTE WISHES TO THANK THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COUNTY OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE VARIOUS DAMAGE SURVEYS ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THESE INDIVIDUALS WAS CRUCIAL IN THE ULTIMATE COMPLETION OF AND CONTINUATION OF THE DAMAGE SURVEYS
A complex of tornadic super cell thunderstorms produced several tornadoes during the afternoon hours of May 5th, 2007. Below is a summary of each documented tornado and its' associated damage.
Tornado in Brown County, Nebraska Photo by Randy Johnson
Arnold, Nebraska TornadoBased on the damage the rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale...a rating of
F 1
is assigned this tornado.
(Photos by Shane Cool and NWS)
 |
 |
 |
 |
Brewster, Nebraska Tornado
The supercell storm which spawned the Arnold storm moved into Blaine County...producing a tornado at about 153 pm 6 miles east of Dunning near Highway 2...crossing Highway 91 and taking down power lines along the highway. As it progressed northeast to the west of Brewster...a farmstead 7 miles west of Brewster suffered tree and structural damage to several buildings. The tornado dissipated soon after...tracking approximately 15 miles with a path width of 400 yards.
Based on the damage the rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale...a rating of
F 1
is assigned this tornado.
 |
Brown County, Nebraska Tornado
The supercell which had a history of producing tornadoes in Custer and Blaine counties continued moving north...producing another tornado approximately 22 miles south of Ainsworth, Nebraska...as reported by spotters and ranchers in the area. On a ranch where branding operations were occurring...ranchers noted the tornado picked up a truck briefly and propelled several calfs through the air. Being over open rangeland...no structures were reported damaged. The tornado reportedly traveled about 4 miles to the northeast and dissipated.
Based on the damage the rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale...a rating of
F 0
is assigned this tornado.
Photo by Randy Johnson
 |
Springview, Nebraska Tornado
This same supercell moved northeast into Keya Paha County dropping a tornado at about 345 pm 7 miles southeast of Springview...damaging a Bed and Breakfast and injuring at least one individual...moving across Highway 7 and damaging a residence and destroying an outbuilding. Further northeast another outbuilding was damaged...powerlines downed and power poles snapped off and an irrigation pivot damaged. Aproximately 3 miles south of Burton...a farmstead was damaged as were several outbuildings. The resulting track of the tornado was about 12 miles with a path width of one quarter mile.
Based on the damage the rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale...a rating of
F 1
is assigned this tornado.
 |
 |
 |
 |
