Tornadoes, Hail Spotted in Nebraska, Kansas as Severe Weather Moves Into Plains

Ada Carr
Published: April 24,2016 


 
Tornadoes and hail were reported in parts of Kansas and Nebraska Sunday as a round of severe weather made its way into the Plains.
A tornado and golfball-sized hail was reported near Glendale, Kansas, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Hail was also seen in nearby Hoisington.
(FORECAST: Week of Damaging Storms in the Plains Kicks Off) 
Reports of tornadoes in Superior, Nebraska, and Deshler, Nebraska, came into NWS on Sunday evening. A wireless tower camera caught video of the twister.
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.

A photo posted on Twitter showed hail covering the road north of Abilene, Kansas. It looked like snow.
There were reports of egg- and ping pong ball-size 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 weather on Sunday moved into the region, a lightning strike destroyed two homes in Otsego, Minnesota. According to KARE11, 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 11.

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, KARE11 also reports.

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. 

So far, the largest hail reported is three inches in diameter near New Cambria, Kansas.
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.