National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

On May 23rd, 2010 the National Weather Service in North Platte completed a storm damage survey in Keya Paha county, northwest and north of Springview, Nebraska. A tornado first was determined to touch down at 930 PM CDT approximately 12 miles northwest of Springview. By 932 PM CDT the tornado was located about 11 miles northwest of Springview.  The tornado finally lifted at approximately 951 PM CDT, about 11 miles north of Springview by an abandoned farmstead. The preliminary damage survey, based on the Enhanced Fujita scale, was that during the strongest period of the tornado, low end EF2 damage occurred.  At EF2 strength, winds are between 111 MPH and 135 MPH.

Extensive tree damage was seen one mile west of a farmstead where tornado initiation occurred.  When the tornado struck the nearby farmstead - an open loafing shed used to shelter cattle was destroyed.  Other damage at this location included tree and fence damage, a roof torn off an old hog building, and a stock trailer which was destroyed. The strongest damage along the tornado path occurred north of the farmstead, where 6 rural electric association power poles were broken. At 930 PM CDT, another farmstead experienced extensive damage, with a 40 foot x 60 foot quonset hut destroyed, along with much damage to trees and fencing.

Please click the tornado path maps above for viewing a larger image.

The images below indicate some of the tornado damage which was incurred across parts of northwestern Keya Paya county. To view larger resolution images, just click on the image to enlarge. Those using Internet Explorer can mouse over the individual pictures, for further details.