Power Outage in Gordon, NE

Estimated 60 mph winds with reports of power outages in Gordon.

Emergency manager reported a garage heavily damaged, power lines downed, and tree branches broken near Gordon.

Windows broken out along with trees and power lines down.

Power outages reported.

Witnesses describe a tornado touching down and destroying mainly cottonwood trees in wind breaks. The path was not continuous. The tornado lifted and then continued to the northeast, hitting a homestead, damaging old outbuildings and snapping or pushing over 30 wooden power poles.

Witnesses describe a tornado touching down and destroying mainly cottonwood trees in wind breaks. The path was not continuous. The tornado lifted and then continued to the northeast, hitting a homestead, damaging old outbuildings and snapping or pushing over 30 wooden power poles. Same tornado / track as the other LSRs.

Witnesses describe a tornado touching down and destroying mainly cottonwood trees in wind breaks. The path was not continuous. The tornado lifted and then continued to the northeast, hitting a homestead, damaging old outbuildings and snapping or pushing over 30 wooden power poles. Final damage point from Antioch tornado.

At 1105MST, the Gordon Fire Department storm spotters reported that a tornado briefly touched down 3 miles southeast of Gordon. Spotters observed a tarp that was lifted and wrapped around a power pole (DI 26, DOD 1). Based on spotter observations, the average path width was 40 yards.

A tornado formed 5 miles south southeast of Gordon at 1731MST in a corn field. It moved southeast for a path length of three quarters of a mile where a center irrigation pivot system was damaged and crop destroyed in the path. In addition, six power poles were pulled out of the ground and a tree line damaged before dissipating at 1739MST. The tornado was rated an EF0 with an average path width of .20 yards.

A wildfire ignited by lightning in late August continued into September to burn approximately 44,159 acres in Nebraska before being contained on September 4th. The wildfire spread north into South Dakota for a total of 77,159 acres burned before containment. Initial assessments showed the wildfire burned approximately 100 power poles. The Rushville Sheriff requested an Evacuate Immediate (NWEM) message as the fire spread into parks and to alert homeowners and campers in the area. The fire stats showed 50 to 60 outbuildings destroyed, and approximately 10 homes damaged as well as two homes and two commercial properties destroyed. The Nebraska National Guard was deployed (14 personnel) to help fight the fire, which included the use of two type three helicopters and one Blackhawk helicopter. Many roads in the area were closed as the fire burned. Cooperating agencies across Nebraska deployed 350 personnel, while 45 volunteer fire departments from across Nebraska and South Dakota responded to the fire-fighting efforts.

Lightning ignited a wildfire on August 29th that spread quickly north across grassland and timbers across northwest Sheridan County. The wildfire burned approximate 44,159 acres in Nebraska and moved north into South Dakota. Initial assessments showed the wildfire burned approximately 100 power poles. The Rushville Sheriff requested an Evacuate Immediate (NWEM) message as the fire spread into parks and to alert homeowners and campers in the area. The fire stats showed 50 to 60 outbuildings destroyed, and approximately 10 homes damaged. The wildfire continued into September.

A wildfire was ignited by lightning August 29th that spread quickly north across grassland and timbers across northwest Sheridan County. The wildfire burned approximate 44,159 acres in Nebraska and moved north into South Dakota. Initial assessments showed the wildfire burned approximately 100 power poles. The Rushville Sheriff requested an Evacuate Immediate (NWEM) message as the fire spread into parks and to alert homeowners and campers in the area. The fire stats showed 50 to 60 outbuildings destroyed, and approximately 10 homes damaged. The wildfire continued into September.

Six power poles were downed with a total of 20 poles downed across northern Sheridan County.

Trees and powerlines down in Gordon.

Blizzard conditions began across Sheridan County by 10 am MST on April 4, 2009. Snowfall amounts ranged from 10 to 14 inches. Strong north winds of 30 to 50 mph caused significant blowing and drifting snow with reduced visibility to near zero during the afternoon and evening hours. A cooperative observer reported snow drifts up to 8 feet deep. Power was out over much of the county Saturday and Sunday. Many newborn calves died during the storm.

Heavy snow of 6 to 12 inches fell across the northern half of Sheridan County. The heavy snow along with northwest winds of 40 to 50 mph broke off numerous trees and power poles and caused snow drifts up to 4 feet high. Many rural homes were without electricity for over 48 hours. Drifting snow south of Rushville blocked all the doors to one home and the owner had to crawl out of a window to get out.

Thunderstorm outflow winds uprooted and broke off numerous large trees, tore off part of the roof of the Local Pride packing plant, took down power lines, and damaged the siding and sign for the Ideal grocery store on the south side of Gordon.

A strong cyclone came out of southeast Colorado and across Kansas and through eastern Nebraska into Iowa. Heavy precipitation accompanied the system statewide. The wintry weather in the Panhandle and the Northwest included a mix of sleet and snow. Sleet accumulated to a couple of inches in many areas. As much as 2 inches of ice was reported near Merritt Reservoir in eastern Cherry County. Power was out in McPherson County. In most areas, 6 to 8 inches of snow accumulated. There was one report of 10 inches near Thedford in Thomas County. All of the highways were closed in the Panhandle by 330 pm CST Sunday April 22. During the heaviest snow, which was from just after midnight April 22 into the afternoon, visibilities were reduced to near zero at times.

A powerful storm system brought Blizzard conditions to Sheridan County and winter storm conditions to Cherry County. Northeast winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to around 40 mph combined with moderate to heavy snowfall to produce blizzard conditions across Sheridan County. These blizzard conditions began during the late morning hours and continued during the afternoon hours into the early evening hours on March 14th. Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 10 inches across the northern half of Sheridan County with significant blowing and drifting and near zero visibility a times. All roads across Sheridan County were closed. Across Cherry County, east northeast winds of 20 to 35 mph combined with moderate to heavy snowfall to produce winter storm conditions. These conditions began during the afternoon hours and continued into the overnight hours March 14th. Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 11 inches across the northern half of Cherry County with significant blowing and drifting and visibility as low as a quarter mile at times. Most roads across Cherry County were closed.

A powerful storm system produced blizzard conditions across Garden, Sheridan, Grant, and Cherry counties. Snowfall amounts ranged from 4 to 10 inches, where northwest winds gusted to 60 mph at times leading to blizzard conditions. Snow drifts of 4 to 6 feet were common across Sheridan and western Cherry counties, with 2 to 4 feet drifts over the remainder of the area. The NDOT web page noted road closures for many area roadway during the event.

A powerful upper level low crossed western Nebraska late on May 9th to produce heavy snow overnight in Sheridan County. The precipitation began as rain, mixed with snow and transitioned to all snow. The heaviest snow up to 6 inches fells in the Pine Ridge area where localized amounts up to a foot were expected.

Lightning produced by high based thunderstorms ignited the Wellnitz Fire on August 29th. The fire burned over 77,159 acres of land, which included 44,159 acres in Nebraska. The fire started 10 miles north of Hay Springs, then spread into South Dakota onto the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The fire burned timber and grass, along with destroying up to 60 outbuildings, two homes, two commercial properties, and 100 power poles across Sheridan County. An additional 10 homes were damaged. The wildfire continued into September and was reported 100 percent contained on September 4th. The Nebraska National Guard was deployed (14 personnel) to help fight the fire, which included the use of two type three helicopters and one Blackhawk helicopter. Many roads in the area were closed as the fire burned. Cooperating agencies across Nebraska deployed 350 personnel, while 45 volunteer fire departments from across Nebraska and South Dakota responded to the fire-fighting efforts. Three non life-threatening injuries were reported from the fire and fire-fighting efforts.

A powerful winter storm moved across the Central and Northern Plains December 13th and 14th, 2008. Snowfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches occurred across Sheridan and Cherry County. The snow combined with strong northerly winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph to cause visibilities to fall to near zero, creating blizzard conditions.