June 16–18, 2014 tornado outbreak sequence facts for kids
An EF3 tornado in Carter County, Montana on June 17
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| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | June 16–18, 2014 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 76 |
| Max rating1 | EF4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 2 days, 6 hours, 47 minutes |
| Highest winds |
|
| Largest hail | 4.25 in (10.8 cm) in diameter in three Nebraska locations on June 17 |
| Total fatalities | 2 fatalities |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
The June 16–17, 2014 tornado outbreak was a series of powerful tornadoes. These storms mostly hit the Great Plains and the Midwestern United States. The state of Nebraska was hit the hardest. A very strong tornado, rated EF4, struck the town of Pilger. This tornado had winds up to 200 miles per hour. It caused two deaths and injured many people. Another tornado, looking almost the same, hit Pilger at the same time.
Contents
What Caused the Tornadoes?
On June 16, 2014, the day started with only a few small storms in Nebraska. But soon, conditions became perfect for severe weather. This meant there was a high chance of large hail and strong storms. Weather experts began watching the skies closely. They issued warnings for eastern Nebraska as powerful supercell storms started to form.
How Did the Storms Develop?
Later that afternoon, a special tornado watch was issued. This meant the situation was very dangerous. A powerful supercell storm then grew in Nebraska. This single storm created a group of six tornadoes. Four of these tornadoes were rated EF4, which is extremely strong. They hit areas around Stanton, Pilger, and Wakefield, Nebraska.
Impact in Pilger and Other Towns
The town of Pilger suffered a lot of damage. Much of the town was destroyed, and two people died. Later that evening, two more tornadoes hit Platteville, Wisconsin at the same time. These tornadoes, rated EF1 and EF2, caused major damage there.
Tornadoes Continue on June 17
The tornado activity did not stop on June 16. Early on June 17, an EF3 tornado caused a lot of damage in Verona, Wisconsin. It hit homes and an elementary school. Another tornado from the same storm, an EF2, damaged homes in Madison.
Later that day, an EF3 tornado caused serious damage in rural Carter County, Montana. This was near the Custer National Forest. A large EF2 tornado also damaged many homes in Angus and Barrie, Ontario. That evening, several very wide tornadoes were seen near Coleridge and Laurel, Nebraska. One of these caused EF3 damage to farms and trees outside Coleridge.
Official Report on the Outbreak
On June 18, 2014, the National Weather Service in Valley, Nebraska released a report. They confirmed that five tornadoes hit Northeast Nebraska on June 16. Three of these were EF4 tornadoes. One was at least an EF4, and another was an EF0.
The two tornadoes that hit Pilger were part of a very strong group of tornadoes. This group produced four EF4 tornadoes one after another. This event was even shown live on television. In total, the outbreak produced 76 tornadoes. It caused two deaths and many injuries across the affected areas.
Images for kids
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All preliminary storm reports received by the SPC from June 16–18
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EF4 damage in a residential area of Pilger.
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A house completely destroyed by the EF4 Wakefield tornado.
