The National Weather Service received more than 60 reports of tornadoes in at least five states by Friday evening, making it the busiest tornado day in the US in a year.
In addition to tornado warnings, there were 19 reports of strong wind gusts and 45 reports of hail during this episode of severe weather. In some areas, the hail was at least 5 cm in diameter, about the size of a lemon.
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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Pottawattamie County in response to the extreme weather.
A tornado ripped through Lincoln, Nebraska, tearing roofs off homes and crossing part of I-80, where a tractor trailer overturned by the storm disrupted traffic.
Also hit by the tornado was an industrial hangar in which about 70 people were. The building collapsed, three people were injured, but their lives were not in danger.
In Elkhorn, an area on the outskirts of Omaha, Nebraska, emergency crews are searching through destroyed homes for trapped or injured people, local authorities announced at a news conference. The area is experiencing power outages, gas leaks, downed trees and unstable structures.
“We believe the injuries were so few because the warning systems in the city of Omaha and Douglas County were very effective. We were not hit by a sudden storm. People had been warned about this, which saved lives, in our opinion,” said Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer.
“Some houses were swept away and no longer exist”
A storm chaser described a “devastating situation” after a tornado tore through Elkhorn.
“Some houses were swept away and no longer exist. Most of the homes in this area sustained significant damage, and it’s likely going to be a long-term cleanup effort,” Thomas Hinterdorfer told CNN.
Several cars on a train derailed near Waverly, Nebraska, after it was hit by a tornado, according to a railroad spokesman.
Severe storms are expected to continue through Sunday, and Saturday could be the most dangerous day, with severe weather expected to extend from Michigan to Texas, including Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Dallas, Milwaukee, Chicago and Austin. Thunderstorms can bring strong wind gusts, baseball-sized hail, and tornadoes.
Some of the same areas affected by Friday’s storms could be back in the storm’s path Saturday, including southeast Nebraska, southern Iowa, eastern Kansas and northeast Texas.
In total, more than 50 million people are under threat of severe weather on Saturday.
It’s all part of the classic spring setup for severe weather. Moist air from the Gulf of Mexico moves into the central US as heat builds up in the region, creating conditions for strong storms.
Photo: AP
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Tags: Dozens Tornadoes Sweep Central Million People Threat Weather Phenomena
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