This day in weather history for May 22...

- In 1886...A short-lived F2 tornado struck 4 miles west of Stromsburg, Nebraska at around 8 pm. Barns were destroyed and livestock killed.

- In 1994...Wind and hail up to the size of golf balls damaged 1300 acres of wheat 5 miles north of Damar Kansas.

- In 1996...The late afternoon and evening brought hailstorms and tornadoes to several counties across south central Nebraska. Thunderstorms that developed near Minden quickly spread over the region. Hail from the size of nickels to baseballs was reported from Hildreth to Superior. Strong winds were reported at Superior and Hebron and two brief tornadoes set down, one near Inavale, and the other near Bostwick. Just after midnight on the 24th, lightning struck a television antenna and tower at Aurora. The lightning entered the home doing damage to the electrical wiring, television, antenna and several appliances.

- In 1999...Severe thunderstorms rolled southeast across north central Kansas, spawning a tornado and causing extensive crop damage. The tornado was reported southeast of Osborne and passed directly over at least one farm. The siding was torn from the home, and farm implements were twisted and blown up to one quarter mile from their original position. The tornado caused extensive tree damage as it moved northeast along the Indian Creek basin. Hail and wind was the problem across Smith County. Wind driven hail, up to 3 inches in diameter, caused millions in crop loss near Cora. The storm also damaged crops in extreme eastern Phillips County. Though not quite as extensive, similar damage was reported in Osborne and Mitchell counties from the wind, hail and heavy rains. Thunderstorms also pummeled parts of Rooks and Phillips counties for several hours with hail and heavy rain. As the large hail teamed with gusty winds, some damage was done to the wheat crop in the western sections of each county. Rainfall amounts of two to three inches were reported.

- In 2002...Scattered thunderstorms produced 1 inch hail just south of Glen Elder Kansas, and localized high winds across parts of north central Kansas, including downburst winds which damaged some outbuildings near Gaylord and Claudell in southern Smith County.

- In 2004...One of the worst severe weather outbreaks in recent years struck south central Nebraska the afternoon and evening of May 22. No less than 17 different tornadoes rolled across south central Nebraska. The first tornado was reported at 5:28 PM in southern Furnas county, 3 miles south of Beaver City. By 5:32 PM, storm spotters reported that it was a large tornado just to the east of Beaver City. The thunderstorm produced large hail up to tennis ball size continued to fall across Furnas county. As the thunderstorm continued towards Harlan county, it became tornadic once again when a tornado was reported 5 miles northwest of Alma. Near Stamford, softball size hail caused extensive tree damage. As the storm tracked to the northeast through northern Webster county and into southern Adams county, three tornadoes touched down. The tornadoes caused some damage in Blue Hill and Pauline. Meanwhile in Thayer county, a supercell thunderstorm quickly developed. At 6:52 PM, a tornado was reported 3 miles northwest of Hebron. The thunderstorm tracked to the northeast, and there were reports of tornadoes near Bruning between 7:12 PM CDT and 7:28 PM. This thunderstorm also produced large hail up to the size of a baseball. This tornadic thunderstorm eventually moved east into Jefferson and Saline counties. The original long lived supercell thunderstorm moved into Clay county where it spawned another tornado. The tornado caused extensive damage in Clay county. The tornado continued to the east and moved just south of Clay Center. The tornado lifted east of Clay Center. The next thunderstorm quickly developed in Jewell County Kansas and moved northeast into Republic county then into Thayer county Nebraska. Storm spotters reported a tornado near Byron at 8:54 PM. The tornado move towards the northeast and was reported near 5 miles north of Byron at 9:07 PM. Another tornado was reported 2 miles west of Alexandria at 9:27 PM. The storm chaser also reported hail of 4 to 6 inches in diameter falling out of the thunderstorm.

- In 2007...Thunderstorms rumbled across south central Nebraska during the evening hours. These storms produced some hail up to the size of golf balls and a few wind gusts to around 60 mph. Inch and three-quarters diameter hail fell in Cozad, and inch and a half diameter hail feel north of Loup City. Strong winds downed tree limbs around the Harlan County Dam.

 

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