Two Days of Twisters Roll Across the Plains

Written by Team Morecast

 

A series of strong springtime storm systems has moved out of the Rocky Mountains in the past few days. These systems have tapped into warm Gulf moisture, sparking intense supercells from Texas up to Nebraska and Iowa. Tornadoes have ravaged several towns, leveling homes and businesses and claiming at least one life so fart.

 

 

Much of the strongest tornadic activity on Friday struck portions of Nebraska and Iowa. Tornadoes affected densely-populated suburbs of major metropolitan areas like Lincoln and Omaha. The town of Elkhorn (population 6,062) was particularly hard hit by a massive wedge tornado (see video below). This tornado has been rated an EF3 with winds up to 165 mph (265 kph).

 

 

The tornado threat shifted a bit further south on Saturday towards Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. Many of these twisters struck after dark, the most dangerous kind of tornado activity. The town of Sulphur, Oklahoma (population 5,065) was largely demolished by not one but two tornadoes. The second struck just as emergency personnel were starting rescue operations for the first. The startling video clips below show the extent of the devastation. They also reveal the tornado’s power, with winds strong enough to embed small branches into concrete pillars. Lead photo courtesy Flickr user rbeard113.

 

 

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