Tornadoes Hit Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota; 2 Chasers Injured

Ada Carr and Sean Breslin
Published: April 25,2016



 

Tornadoes and hail were reported in parts of Kansas and Nebraska Sunday as the first of several rounds of severe weather made its way into the Plains.
At least one trailer home was destroyed by a tornado Sunday in Munden, Kansas, Republic County emergency communications dispatcher Joe Herrick told the Associated Press. Two people who were storm spotting were injured during the storm and taken to a hospital. It was not immediately clear how badly they were hurt, the report added.
A tornado and golf ball-sized hail were reported near Glendale, Kansas, according to the National Weather Service. Hail was also seen in nearby Hoisington.
The NWS also reported tornadoes in Superior, Nebraska, and Deshler, Nebraska, on Sunday evening. The twisters traveled through mostly rural areas, and no serious damage was reported, an NWS meteorologist told the AP.
(FORECAST: Week of Damaging Storms in the Plains Kicks Off)

A tornado in progress near Nelson, Nebraska, on Sunday, April 24, 2016.
(Twitter/@nebraskatwister)

A photo posted on Twitter showed hail covering the road north of Abilene, Kansas, resembling snow.
There were reports of egg- and ping pong ball-sized hail near the downtown area of Lincoln, Kansas, where strong winds also brought down branches near 27th and Superior streets, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.

As the system responsible for the severe storms moved into the region on Sunday, a lightning strike destroyed two homes in Otsego, Minnesota. According to KARE-TV, fire crews arrived on the scene at the 12400 block of 76th Street Northeast to find the rear of one home already up in flames.

"The fire was in the back of the house and within probably five or six minutes, the whole place was engulfed in flames," Doug Prahl, who lives across the street, told KARE.

The house was a total loss, but all three occupants managed to make it out safely. However, high heat and winds caused the home next door to catch fire, KARE also reported.

(MORE: How Soon Is Too Soon To Warn For Tornadoes?)

Those inside were evacuated safely, and the home remains standing, but it suffered extensive damage from the flames and smoke. A third home nearby also sustained some heat damage.

In southern Minnesota's Faribault County, a tornado was confirmed by the NWS Sunday night, meteorologist Shawn Devinny told the AP. There were no reports of injuries or structural damage from the twister, and the NWS will send a survey team to the area on Monday to view tree damage and determine the tornado's strength.

A more widespread threat is anticipated Tuesday throughout the region. Those storms will also include the threat of hail, damaging winds and tornadoes, forecasters say.