STORM2K

The NWS office in Omaha has called in a structural engineer to Pilger, Nebraska. This means that they are really on the fence about the tornado's rating, and the possibility exists for it to be elevated to EF5 (depending on the results).

Nebraska has had only one tornado officially rated F5: The May 5, 1964 Bradshaw tornado.

The Bradshaw tornado trekked nearly 70 miles, killing 4 people and injuring 50.

May 5, 1964: Last F5 Tornado To Strike Nebraska

Data from last week is mostly finalized...

- On June 16, one supercell produced 4 different EF4s: one near Stanton, NE, one that tracked through Pilger, NE (twin), one that tracked just east of Pilger, NE (second twin), and one that passed near Wisner, NE. The Pilger tornado had winds over 190 mph.

- On June 17, an EF3 tornado touched down in southeastern Montana, making it the strongest tornado ever observed in that region. Another EF3 tornado touched down north of Coleridge, causing amazing ground scouring and completely destroying a home (which I can only assume was not well-constructed given the rating). The ground scouring would argue for a stronger tornado, but the slow motion of the tornado may have been a factor. South of Humboldt, SD, an EF2 tornado severely damaged a house.

- On June 18, a tornado moved through Wessington Springs, SD, causing EF2 damage. That same supercell cycled to produce an EF4 tornado near Alpena, SD.

5 EF4s from a June outbreak. 40 tornadoes in total.

So the pilger tornado was boarderline EF-5.

The 2014 severe season has been well below the average as the graphic data until September 30 shows.

^^^ Not surprising.

When was the last outbreak that got a thread here? The previous post in this thread was from June.

2014 severe season ranks well below average with only about a month left to end. Since 2005 the only year that is below this year is 2013.

As best known, 2014 is the quietest year for tornadoes since record-keeping began in 1953. However, I'd caution that the tornado database is so inconsistent that it's impossible to ever know for sure.

The amount of variability observed during the past decade is interesting to say the least.

2014 was a below average U.S severe season.