On Friday, April 26, 2024, multiple strong to violent tornadoes hit eastern Nebraska and western Iowa hard. Most of the strongest tornadoes occurred in the immediate Lincoln and Omaha areas, with extensive damage in locations like Waverly, Elkhorn, Bennington, Blair, Eppley Airfield, Minden, and many others. Below are the official results of the National Weather Service offices which have spent several days afterward surveying the tornadoes.
To see updates on the stories of those impacted and recovery efforts, check out theTimeline. For a look at the science behind the tornado outbreak and a broad overview of what happened, check out thisarticle.
OVERVIEW FOR EASTERN NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA
Number of Tornadoes: 25
Breakdown by Rating -
EF-4 - 1
EF-3 - 4
EF-2 - 2
EF-1 - 10
EF-0 - 3
EF-U - 5
1. ELKHORN/BENNINGTON/BLAIR, NE
Rating: EF-4
Counties: Douglas, Washington, Harrison (Iowa)
Max. Wind Speed: 170 mph
Path Length: 32 miles
Tornado Width: 1.07 miles
Time: 3:30 - 4:31 pm
Overview: Began in far southwest Douglas County near 255th and Q st, immediately becoming a large tornado. The tornado began to do home damage as it crossed 252nd Street, then NE-92, then US-275 near and south of Waterloo. The tornado continued to gain intensity as it crossed over Harney Street, then Dodge Street near Junkstock Farm where damage occurred.
As the tornado entered the western side of Elkhorn, it intensified to maximum strength of 170 mph winds as it struck a large home on 216th Street just south of Maple Road, where the home was leveled. Nearby, the tornado did major damage to Prospect Hill Cemetary. After crossing Maple Road, the tornado ripped into the Ramblewood neighborhood of Elkhorn. This is where the highest concentration of damage happened, with many homes being reduced to interior walls. As the tornado continued north into the Arbor View neighborhood, it levelled two more homes with 170 mph winds. After crossing Fort Street, it hit more homes in a developing neighborhood, causing major damage.
After crossing 204th Street near Ida, the tornado continued over mostly farmland in rural Douglas County. The next neighborhood it struck was at 180th and Military, where several homes lost roofs and exterior walls. It then went into Bennington, moving over the Newport Landing neighborhood and the lake, where many homes were damaged. After crossing over Highway 36, the tornado entered Washington County.
After a brief lull in intensity north of Bennington, the tornado strengthened quickly in Washington County as it struck several homes between County Roads 29 and 31, and later County Road 36 and Dutch Hill Road. A horse barn was hit near County Roads 40 and 29, where one horse was killed. The tornado weakened slightly before strengthening again as it approached Highway 133, where several homes lost exterior walls. The tornado reached maximum intensity again after crossing Highway 133 and before crossing US-75. Multiple homes were destroyed near County Roads P30 and 33. It then crossed US-75 into the industrial section of southeast Blair, where it crossed over the southern part of the Cargill Plant. The final act of damage in Washington County was several empty container railroad cars being flipped.
The tornado crossed the Missouri River east of Blair into Harrison County. Most of the damage in Iowa was relegated to trees and center-pivots as the tornado stayed over the bottomlands. It lifted south of Modale before reaching I-29.
2. MINDEN/HARLAN, IA
Rating: EF-3
Counties: Pottawattamie, Shelby
Max. Wind Speed: 160 mph
Path Length: 41 miles
Tornado Width: 1 mile
Time: 5:25 - 6:45 pm
Overview: The tornado began east of McClelland originally disorganized and weak. It damaged mostly trees in its early lifespan before rapidly intensifying as it approached 330th Street, where extensive tree damage occurred. The tornado then went into the eastern side of Minden where it did extensive damage. Video evidence shows the tornado had multiple voriticies within it as it hit town, these little vorticies could act to enhance winds at a local level. This was clearly shown in the damage in Minden, where some homes had minor damage while a home 100 yards away was destroyed. The worst damage occurred in the far east side of Minden, where several homes were leveled. The damage in Minden constitued the high range of an EF-3 tornado, a higher rating was not assigned due to the fact that the tornado did not loft many cars, a classic sign of a violent (EF-4+ tornado). 3 people were injured in Minden, with one tragically succumbing to their injuries a few days after the tornado, the only fatality of the entire outbreak.
Continuing after Minden, the tornado crossed I-80 near 355th street where a semi was overturned, closing the highway for a time. The tornado crossed the county line into Harrison County for less then a mile before heading into Shelby County between York Road and 355th Street. A roof was blown off a home near County Road M16 and 450th Street. The tornado went to the west of Shelby, and missed the community of Tennant by less than a mile. A home was severely damaged along Highway 44 west of Harlan, where many exterior walls collapsed. A car at the home was tossed and rolled a quarter mile. As the tornado moved west of Harlan, it turned to the north and paralleled US-59 to its east. Three homes had significant damage during this northward turn. The tornado missed Definance to the east, and lifted near the Crawford County line.
3. COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA/EPPLEY AIRFIELD, NE/CRESCENT, IA
Rating: EF-3
Counties: Pottawattamie, Douglas (NE)
Max. Wind Speed: 152 mph
Path Length: 19 miles
Tornado Width: 516 yards
Time: 4:54 - 5:28 pm
Overview: The tornado began near 35th and Broadway in western Council Bluffs. The tornado went through a neighborhood damaging trees, roofs, and an apartmenr building. A car wash also sustained damage on the north side of Council Bluffs. The tornado then continued across the Levee trail into the riverbed, where it crossed the river briefly into Douglas County, Nebraska. As the tornado crossed into Nebraska, it moved over the southern runway tracks at Eppley Airfield. Several aircraft hangars were destroyed and a couple untethered planes flipped. The tornado missed the main passengar terminals of the airport. It then crossed the river a second time to move back into Iowa, where it would remain for the rest of the track. It crossed I-29 near mile marker 58 as it headed up the bluffs into some residental areas. A home on Little Kiln road was extensively damaged with only a few interior walls remaining. It continued south of Crescent, damaging several more homes on Old Lincoln Highway, including a vehicle shop. Another home was hit near Badger and Jefferson Avenues, the roof sustained major damage. The tornado slowly weakened as it travelled through rural areas of northern Pottawattamie County. The tornado crossed I-880 and briefly entered Harrison County south of Beebeetown before lifting.
4. MCCLELLAND, IA
Rating: EF-3
Counties: Pottawattamie
Max. Wind Speed: 145 mph
Path Length: 13 miles
Max. Width: 800 yards
Time: 5:08 - 5:28 pm
Overview: The tornado began near Aspen Road just west of 240th Street where telephone poles were snapped. Major damage occurred to a home along Chestnut Road. As the tornado crossed Highway 92, two homes were extensively damaged with roofs being torn off and exterior walls destroyed. One home had major damage along Cottonwood Road, alongside extensive tree damage. The worst damage occurred along Dogwood Road where one house was leveled, leaving only a basement. The residents sheltered in an interior bathroom, which spared them from flying debris. The tornado widened as it crossed Highway 6, where more damage was done to homes. The tornado soon lifted east of McClelland after damaging more structures and trees.
5. LINCOLN-WAVERLY, NE
Rating: EF-3
County: Lancaster
Max. Wind Speed: 158 mph
Path Length: 5.25 miles
Tornado Width: 700 yards
Time: 2:52 - 2:57 pm
Overview: The tornado began on the far northeast side of Lincoln near the intersection of 84th street and Havelock Avenue. A business was damaged and transmission lines snapped in this location. The tornado hit the Garner Industries plant at 98th Street and Highway 6, where the building had extensive damage. 70 employees were sheltered in the building, all of them making it out with only a handful of minor injuries. Cars in the parking lot were tossed around, with a few being thrown 50-100 yards away. After crossing Highway 6, a BNSF locomotive took a direct hit and saw several cars be derailed. It then crossed I-80 west of Waverly. The tornado then lifted due west of Waverly
6. CRESTON, IA
Rating: EF-2
Counties: Adams, Union
Max. Wind Speed: 125 mph
Path Length: 6.82 miles
Tornado Width: 350 yards
Time: 6:52 - 7:08 pm
Overview: Tornado began in far eastern Adams County and traveled into the west side of Creston. Only minor damage occurred in Adams County, with most of the damage occurring west of Creston.
7. MANILA, IA
Rating: EF-2
Counties: Shelby, Crawford
Max. Wind Speed: 112 mph
Path Length: 9 miles
Tornado Width: 200 yards
Time: 6:28 - 6:44 pm
Overview: As the Minden-Harlan EF-3 was in the process of ending, a new tornado began to its east in the V and W Petersen Wildlife area in northern Shelby County. Several trees were snapped on 2500th Street in north Shelby County before the tornado crossed into Crawford County. The tornado passed just west of Manila, destroying a farm building. The tornado produced little damage before lifting southwest of Vail.
8. DEFIANCE, IA
Rating: EF-1
Counties: Shelby, Crawford
Max. Wind Speed: 107 mph
Path Length: 12 miles
Tornado Width: 100 yards
Time: 6:51 - 7:08 pm
Overview: Hardly 15 minutes passed after the Minden tornado lifted east of Defiance then another tornado began just southeast of town, doing damage in places just hit by the first tornado. A roof was blown off a barn and several trees were snapped. Continuing northeast, a home at Linden Road and 2300th Street saw some roof damage, while a barn along Street F16 and Mulberry Road also had roof damage. As the tornado crossed into Crawford County, it damaged many trees and a few outbuildings before lifting north of Manilla.
9. GLENWOOD, IA
Rating: EF-1
County: Mills
Max. Wind Speed: 100 mph
Path Length: 2.7 miles
Tornado Width: 80 yards
Time: 4:52 - 4:57 pm
Overview: The tornado began just north of Pacific Junction just southeast of the I-29 and US-34 interchange. Trees were snapped as the tornado crossed into US-34. Into the bluffs, a home was hit and lost a large part of its roof alongside a camper being flipped. The tornado continued to damage trees as it crossed Pony Creek, and lifted near Pony Creek Park east of the dam.
10. LOGAN, IA
Rating: EF-1
County: Harrison
Max. Wind Speed: 100 mph
Path Length: 1.84 miles
Tornado Width: 30 yards
Time: 5:40 - 5:43 pm
Overview: This tornado started southeast of Logan near 270th St and Reading Trail. A home along Reading Trail was hit, the porch was ripped off and a camper was destroyed. The tornado then did damage to mostly trees before lifting near the intersection of 260th Street and Redwood Avenue.
11. PISGAH, IA
Rating: EF-1
Counties: Harrison, Monona
Max. Wind Speed: 110 mph
Path Length: 9 miles
Tornado Width: 766 yards
Time: 4:52 - 5:09 pm
Overview: Tornado began near Steer Creek in the Loess Hills and moved due north, damaging trees and several homes. The tornado moved just east of Pisgah before lifting on the Monona County side of the county line.
12. PISGAH, IA 2
Rating: EF-0
County: Harrison
Max. Wind Speed: UNK
Path Length: 2 miles
Tornado Width: 200 yds
Time: 4:59 - 5:04 pm
Overview: Eyewitnesses saw two tornadoes east of Pisgah, but the second tornado did little damage other than a few snapped tree branches.
13. SOLDIER, IA
Rating: EF-1
County: Monona
Max. Wind Speed: 98 mph
Path Length: 3 miles
Tornado Width: UNK
Time: 5:23 - 5:30 pm
Overview: Tornado brushed the west side of Soldier, but did little to no damage in town. Damage was confined to snapped trees and broken power poles.
14. MOORHEAD, IA
Rating: EF-0
County: Monona
Max. Wind Speed: 85 mph
Path Length: 1 mile
Tornado Width: 100 yards
Time: 5:17 - 5:19 pm
Overview: A brief tornado in southern Monona County did damage to a few trees and one shed.
15. WAVERLY, NE
Rating: EF-1
County: Lancaster
Max. Wind Speed: 107 mph
Path Length: 2.96 miles
Max. Tornado Width: 150 yards
Time: 2:57 - 3:02 pm
Overview: As the Waverly EF-3 tornado was lifting, a new tornado began north of Waverly. The tornado damaged trees and powerlines, as well as two outbuildings. Window damage occurred to one home north of Waverly before lifting.
16. ASHLAND, NE
Rating: EF-1
Counties: Lancaster, Saunders
Max. Wind Speed: 108 mph
Path Length: 4 miles
Tornado Width: 50 yards
Time: 3:12 - 3:18 pm
Overview: Storm chasers documented a tornado west of Ashland in Saunders County. The tornado did hit one farmstead where it snapped trees and damaged a barn.
17. GREENWOOD, NE
Rating: EF-0
County: Lancaster
Max. Wind Speed: 75 mph
Path Length: 1.90 mile
Tornado Width: 100 yards
Time: 3:03 - 3:07 pm
Overview: Storm chasers documented a tornado northwest of Greenwood in Lancaster County. Except for a few snapped tree branches, minimal damage was done by this tornado.
18. NORFOLK, NE
Rating: EF-1
Counties: Madison, Stanton
Max. Wind Speed: 107 mph
Path Length: 0.7 miles
Tornado Width: 100 yards
Time: 5:16 - 5:19 pm
Overview: This brief tornado moved near the Elkhorn River along the Madison/Stanton County lines. Damage was done to a Gymnastics Center and a Pallet Plant.
19. DWIGHT, NE
Rating: EF-1
County: Butler
Max. Wind Speed: 100 mph
Path Length: 8 miles
Tornado Width: 200 yds
Time: 2:51 - 3:07 pm
Overview: Began near Highway 15 north of the Seward County line. A road sign and trees were snapped as it crossed Highway 15. The tornado caused little more damage before lifting south of David City.
20. BRAINARD, NE
Rating: EF-UNK
Counties: Butler
Max. Wind Speed: N/A
Path Length: 0.7 miles
Tornado Width: 30 yards
Time: 3:06 - 3:07 pm
Overview: Storm spotters observed a tornado southeast of David City, but no damage was noted along its track.
21. CRESTON, NE
Rating: EF-1
County: Platte
Max. Wind Speed: 100 mph
Path Length: 5 miles
Tornado Width: 100 yds
Time: 4:07 - 4:20 pm
Overview: Moved through eastern Platte County, south of Creston. A few homes were damaged before the tornado lifted south of Creston.
22. BUCK GROVE, IA
Rating: EF-UNK
County: Crawford
Path Length: 2 miles
Tornado Width: 40 yds
Time: 6:31 - 6:34 pm
Overview: Despite photo/video evidence, as well as radar data, of a tornado in southern Crawford County, no damage was discovered.
23. MAITLAND, MO
Rating: EF-UNK
County: Holt
Path Length: 0.1 miles
Time: 3:12 - 3:18 pm
Overview: The fire chief spotted a brief tornado in an open field, with no damage.
24. VERDON, NE
Rating: EF-UNK
County: Richardson
Path Length: 0.1 miles
Overview: A brief tornado was observed by spotters southwest of Verdon, but no damage was done.
25. RULO, NE
Rating: EF-UNK
County: Richardson
Path Length: 0.1 miles
Overview: Emergency management reported a brief tornado near Rulo, but no damage was done.
