Power Outage in Grant, NE

Grant Fire Department reports damage to shingles, trees, and power lines from thunderstorm winds.

General public reported snowfall amounts from 3 to 6 inches with blizzard conditions. Moderate to heavy snow developed Friday morning as northwest winds increased late Friday morning to 30 to 40 mph with gusts from 50 to 60 mph, resulting in blizzard conditions. These strong winds and blizzard conditions continued Friday afternoon and Friday night, then diminished Saturday morning. A utility company reported power outages in and around Elsie Friday evening. Most roads and highways became closed. Snow drifts of 2 to 4 feet were common throughout Perkins County.

Wind gusts estimated 70 mph that downed power poles.

A wildfire fanned by high winds that initiated in Keith County caused a wildfire to quickly spread southeast, crossing Interstate 80 and then burning for an additional 12 miles southeast into northeast Perkins County. The wildfire reached up to 1.5 miles wide. The wildfire destroyed two occupied homes, one abandoned home and various outbuildings were destroyed as well. In addition to building structures the wildfire destroyed several pieces of farm implements, while several power poles and culverts were damaged. The area burned was estimated at 10,000 acres of farm flat and rolling hills. Three firemen developed eye problems with one treated for an unknown illness. The wildfire led to evacuation orders for those in the path of the wildfire from east of Paxton to the south edge of the Keith-Perkins County Line in the southeast.

A supercell thunderstorm produced a tornado in Chase County that continued into Perkins County. The tornado broke some power poles along the path.

A large supercell thunderstorm originally spawned two tornadoes with the eastern tornado eventually taking over. The tornado touched down approximately 6 miles south-southwest of Grant and moved northeast for a few miles and then turned northwest to pass 3 miles west of Grant and continue northwest to near the Perkins and Keith County line approximately 12 miles north-northwest of Grant. The tornado encountered the first farm where it destroyed outbuildings and grain bins and damaged the roof of a metal storage building. Damage to the second farm included ripping off half the roof on the home. At the third farmstead, the tornado destroyed grain bins and a barn and ripped a hole in the roof of the home. The tornado also uprooted and snapped off numerous trees, broke off power poles, and overturned center pivot irrigation systems.

A large supercell thunderstorm originally spawned two tornadoes with the eastern tornado eventually taking over. This western tornado moved northeast and broke off power poles before dissipating. The eastern tornado went on to produce extensive damage through Perkins County.

A large supercell thunderstorm originally spawned two tornadoes with the eastern tornado eventually taking over. This western tornado moved northeast and broke off power poles before dissipating. The eastern tornado went on to produce extensive damage through Perkins County.