Midwest Storms Damage Homes and businesses, Quickly Heading East

by Rob Walker | May 30, 2008 at 10:41 am | 646 views | 6 comments

Storms battled through the heartland of the US Thursday evening, causing damage to stores, homes and schools, derailing train cars and disrupting power to thousands of people.

One possible tornado was spotted in Nebraska, and watch warnings were in effect for many midwestern states. The storm has continued moving east, threatening Chicago.

A possible tornado touched down near Aurora, about 70 miles west of Lincoln, damaging a few businesses and damaging at least one house on the outskirts of town.
There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.

Tornadoes were also reported in Kearney, about 60 miles west of Aurora, where 90 rail cars were blown off the tracks outside the city limits. There were reports of downed trees and power lines throughout Kearney, and reports of damage on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus and at a county fairgrounds.

Tornado and storm related watches and warnings in effect from the Plains to the Great Lakes.

The clash of cold air behind the storms and warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico will spark a new round of tornadoes, damaging straight line winds, large hail and drenching rain.

Many centers in Iowa received more than 4 inches of rain in the 24-hour period ending today at noon CDT. Clutier, Iowa topped the list with 5.74 inches. Meanwhile, wind gusts recorded in Iowa and Illinois topped 60 mph, with a 74 mph gust recorded at Murray, Iowa.

Towering thunderstorms bombarded the Plains and western Midwest on Thursday, spawning dozens of reports of twisters in Nebraska and Kansas and unleashing drenching rains and tennis-ball-size hail as far east as Iowa.

A powerful new eastbound storm was behind the latest severe weather outbreak.

The system threatens the Chicago area with its own share of weather woes Friday.

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Aquaus

at 20:37 on May 30th, 2008

This storm was on Memorial Day and I love to capture the beauty of such storms during twilight hours!

Aquaus has contributed a photo to this story.

dugout

at 21:16 on May 30th, 2008

We were about 5 miles away when this happened. Our hearts go out to everyone who was affected by this tragic storm.

These storms are mind boggling when you see homes that were completely blown from their foundations while structures only 20 or 30 feet away remained completely in tact.

dugout has contributed a photo to this story.

.RockStar.

at 21:38 on May 30th, 2008

I was in my way back home, when i got there i saw this amazing landscape.The wind was so hard on the street and was so difficult to me to be standing for a while.

.RockStar. has contributed a photo to this story.

Jess324

at 22:26 on May 30th, 2008

After a horrible storm, I never would have thought I'd have witnessed something so beautiful. Not only *a* rainbow, but a double rainbow. The storm literally came as quickly as it left. (At least in my area.) Those who weren't as fortunate are in my prayers, and I do hope that the rainbow after the storm may at least brighten your day somewhat.

Jess324 has contributed a photo to this story.

sschaper_iowa

at 23:14 on May 30th, 2008

Sunday evening, a little after 8 pm CDT, I went out into the country to snap the storms I could see to the south-east and to the north. I did not know at the time that the SE storm was the one that produced the EF5 in east-central Iowa, particularly New Hampton and Parkersburg, and that the one to the north had produced the EF3 that hit Hugo, MN.

In this image of the Parkersburg storm, you can clearly see the "punch-through" of the intense updraft that produced the tornado. That always indicates a very intense and powerful updraft. Add rotation and humidity and you get a tornado. That is the 'rack of lamb'-like structure above the shelf of cloud towards the top of the cloudbank.

sschaper_iowa has contributed a photo to this story.

Les Cieux

at 23:43 on June 3rd, 2008

I'm from Florida, so I've seen a lot of storms, but this storm was definitely one of the scariest.

Les Cieux has contributed a photo to this story.