Severe thunderstorms rumbled across south-central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening hours.  These storms produced hail, strong winds and a few tornadoes.  The storms started out in Gosper county and moved northeast.  There were several reports of funnel clouds in eastern Gosper county.  As the storms continued into Dawson and Buffalo counties, storm chasers continued to report funnels and hail.  The first tornado set down in southeast Sherman county near Rockville and was observed for a few minutes.  The next twister was in southwest Howard county near Farwell.  Another tornado was reported by a sheriff's deputy near the junction of Nebraska highways 92 and 11.  These tornadoes were in open county and caused little in the way of damage.  The town of Elba in Howard county has pummeled by large hail for period of time.  Broken windows and trees stripped of leaves were common throughout the small community.  The most destructive tornado occurred near the village of Cushing.  The tornado set down on a farm west of town and damaged several outbuildings and threw irrigation pipe across a field.  The tornado then cut a path across the south end of town, again damaging several outbuildings and some minor damage to a home.  The tornado dissipated just southeast of town.  Other storms south of these produced strong winds from Grand Island to near Hebron.  Trees and power poles were damaged from the strong winds.

Hail in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 18:05:00 to 16-MAY-04 18:05:00 (CST)
Location: ST PAUL
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 18:47:00 to 16-MAY-04 18:47:00 (CST)
Location: GRAND IS ARPT
Magnitude: 52 MG
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Hail in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 17:00:00 to 16-MAY-04 17:00:00 (CST)
Location: LITCHFIELD
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in GREELEY, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 18:49:00 to 16-MAY-04 18:49:00 (CST)
Location: WOLBACH
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tornado in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 18:43:00 to 16-MAY-04 18:48:00 (CST)
Location: CUSHING
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 250K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

A tornado set down west of Cushing and traveled eastward.  It damaged or destroyed a few outbuildings and damaged one home.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 19:05:00 to 16-MAY-04 19:05:00 (CST)
Location: GRAND IS
Magnitude: 60 EG
Property damage: 30K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 17:30:00 to 16-MAY-04 17:30:00 (CST)
Location: LOUP CITY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 17:57:00 to 16-MAY-04 17:59:00 (CST)
Location: FARWELL
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Short lived tornado observed by many chasers.  It remained in open country west of Farwell.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 19:10:00 to 16-MAY-04 19:10:00 (CST)
Location: EDGAR
Magnitude: 55 EG
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 18:08:00 to 16-MAY-04 18:08:00 (CST)
Location: FARWELL
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 20K
Crop damage: 250K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Thunderstorm Wind in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 19:10:00 to 16-MAY-04 19:10:00 (CST)
Location: DAVENPORT
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 17:50:00 to 16-MAY-04 18:00:00 (CST)
Location: ELBA
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 50K
Crop damage: 250K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

Thunderstorm Wind in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 19:26:00 to 16-MAY-04 19:26:00 (CST)
Location: GRAFTON
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 15:55:00 to 16-MAY-04 15:55:00 (CST)
Location: SUMNER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 16:11:00 to 16-MAY-04 16:11:00 (CST)
Location: MILLER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Funnel Cloud in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 15:25:00 to 16-MAY-04 15:25:00 (CST)
Location: SMITHFIELD
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Funnel Cloud in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 17:39:00 to 16-MAY-04 17:39:00 (CST)
Location: HAZARD
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Hail in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 15:35:00 to 16-MAY-04 15:35:00 (CST)
Location: LEXINGTON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Funnel Cloud in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 17:37:00 to 16-MAY-04 17:37:00 (CST)
Location: SWEETWATER
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Funnel Cloud in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 15:01:00 to 16-MAY-04 15:01:00 (CST)
Location: SMITHFIELD
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 19:10:00 to 16-MAY-04 19:10:00 (CST)
Location: CLAY CENTER
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Hail in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 15:12:00 to 16-MAY-04 15:12:00 (CST)
Location: SMITHFIELD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 19:20:00 to 16-MAY-04 19:20:00 (CST)
Location: CARLETON
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 18:20:00 to 16-MAY-04 18:25:00 (CST)
Location: MIDWAY
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado crossed Highway 11 west of St. Paul and was observed by law enforcement.

Hail in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 18:25:00 to 16-MAY-04 18:25:00 (CST)
Location: ASHTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Tornado in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 17:48:00 to 16-MAY-04 17:51:00 (CST)
Location: ROCKVILLE
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: STORM CHASER

A tornado was observed by many storm chasers in the area.  It was on the ground about 3 minutes in open country.

Hail in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 14:56:00 to 16-MAY-04 14:56:00 (CST)
Location: ELWOOD
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 16:30:00 to 16-MAY-04 16:30:00 (CST)
Location: ELBA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 16:55:00 to 16-MAY-04 16:55:00 (CST)
Location: HAZARD
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Funnel Cloud in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 16-MAY-04 14:55:00 to 16-MAY-04 14:55:00 (CST)
Location: ELWOOD
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER