Early stages of the largest tornado in US History. Eventually became 2.5 miles wide, before destroying Hallam, Nebraska.
YouTube - Nebraska tornado Hallam Tornado Outbreak
The Hallam, Nebraska Tornado Outbreak was an outbreak of 56 tornadoes in several Midwestern U.S. states on the evening of May 22, 2004 and the first of series of tornado events. Most of the tornadoes occurred in Nebraska and Iowa. On that day, a warm sitting over Nebraska while an upper level low developed in Colorado with a dryline forming along the warm front. One person was killed in this outbreak, 38 were injured and there was $175 million in damage. The worst tornado was an F4 that struck Hallam, Nebraska.
Timeline
The first tornado in this outbreak touched down at 1:15 MDT near La Grange, Wyoming. It was an F0 and did not cause any significant damage.[1] After another small tornado touched down in Colorado, several tornadoes began to form in Nebraska and Iowa during the mid–afternoon hours where they continued until around 11:00 p.m CDT.
The most damaging tornado in the outbreak first touched down at 7:30 P.M. CDT in northwestern Jefferson County. The tornado then moved to the northeast, through southern Saline County and northwestern Gage County. By the time it entered Lancaster County, it measured an F4 on the Fujita scale and the damage was 2.5 miles (4 km) wide. The tornado passed into Otoe County, disappearing just west of Palmyra at 9:10. The tornado had a path length of about 54 miles, and was on the ground for 100 minutes.
Damage
The village of Hallam, struck at 8:33 p.m., was the hardest hit. Approximately 95% of the buildings in Hallam were damaged or destroyed. There were 37 people injured and one fatality in the village. The Norris Public Schools high school building was severely damaged; its auditorium was destroyed. Straight-line winds caused damage in Princeton. Several farms and rural homes also suffered extensive damage. This storm not only derailed a freight train, but moved it 20 feet to the east.
