One of the most significant severe weather episodes to affect the western Nebraska Panhandle occurred during in the early evening of Monday 12 June 2017. Several tornadoes, hail to baseball size, and damaging winds were observed. Supercell thunderstorms developed during the afternoon along Interstate 25 between Fort Collins, CO and Wheatland. Lifting northeast, these thunderstorms spread into the western Nebraska Panhandle during the early evening.

Hail in BOX BUTTE, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 19:15:00 to 12-JUN-17 19:20:00 (MST-7)
Location: ALLIANCE
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Tennis ball to baseball size hail was reported at Alliance.

Hail in BOX BUTTE, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 19:10:00 to 12-JUN-17 19:13:00 (MST-7)
Location: ALLIANCE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Quarter size hail was reported on Kansas Street in southwest Alliance.

Hail in BANNER, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 18:03:00 to 12-JUN-17 18:08:00 (MST-7)
Location: HARRISBURG
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter size hail covered the ground north of Harrisburg.

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTTS BLUFF, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 17:53:00 to 12-JUN-17 17:55:00 (MST-7)
Location: GERING
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Estimated wind gusts of 60 mph were observed at Gering.

Hail in SCOTTS BLUFF, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 18:03:00 to 12-JUN-17 18:08:00 (MST-7)
Location: MELBETA
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Quarter to half dollar size hail covered the ground at Melbeta.

Hail in MORRILL, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 19:00:00 to 12-JUN-17 19:03:00 (MST-7)
Location: BONNER
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Golf ball size hail was reported near the Box Butte County line.

Tornado in BANNER, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 17:12:00 to 12-JUN-17 17:17:00 (MST-7)
Location: HARRISBURG
Tornado F-scale: EFU
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Storm chasers captured video of a tornado briefly touching down in a remote section of southern Banner County. The tornado caused no damage from which the NWS could assign an EF-scale rating. Path was estimated by cross-referencing storm chaser reports and radar data.

Tornado in SIOUX, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 16:30:00 to 12-JUN-17 17:01:00 (MST-7)
Location: AGATE
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 6.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado crossed the WY/NE state line into Sioux County, NE at 1630 MST, and continued northeast before lifting west of Highway 29, 8 miles south-southwest of Harrison, NE at 1701 MST. Damage consistent with EF-2 intensity was noted by the survey team to the residence, as well as to surrounding trees and outbuildings (DI 2, DOD 6) 13 miles southwest of Harrison, NE. One resident at this location was treated and released at a local hospital with injuries incurred from flying debris in the home.

Tornado in DAWES, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 17:33:00 to 12-JUN-17 17:37:00 (MST-7)
Location: WAYSIDE
Tornado F-scale: EFU
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Storm chasers captured video of a tornado briefly touching down about 15 miles west-northwest of Chadron, NE in Dawes County. The location was estimated based on video and radar data. The tornado caused no damage from which the NWS could assign an EF-scale rating.

Tornado in MORRILL, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 18:13:00 to 12-JUN-17 18:17:00 (MST-7)
Location: BAYARD
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A brief tornado touched down on the east side of Bayard, NE producing damage consistent of EF-1 (DI 17, DOD 3) to the Chimney Rock Villa Nursing Home. The tornado lifted quickly as it moved east of Bayard. Many irrigation pivots overturned within 1-2 miles west of Bayard, as well as damage on the west side of town consistent with damaging straight-line winds.

Tornado in MORRILL, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 18:19:00 to 12-JUN-17 19:04:00 (MST-7)
Location: BAYARD
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 2.50M
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A long-track discontinuous tornado path was surveyed by the NWS damage team, initially touching down northwest of the Highway 26 and L62A intersection, 4 miles north-northwest of Bayard, NE. The tornado continued east along and north of L62A. Significant damage consistent of EF-2 tornadic damage was surveyed at a farmhouse approximately 6 miles northeast of Bayard. The house was severely damaged with the roof taken off and numerous exterior walls destroyed (DI 4, DOD 8). A detached garage was swept clean (DI 1, DOD 8) with several trucks slid from their original location. A flat bed and horse trailer were lofted 100 yards from their original position. Trees to the west of the residence were denuded. This storm produced additional damage some of which was due to straight-line winds along L62A. This damage included damage to a steel farm outbuilding, rolled mobile home, rolled semi tractor trailer, rolled center pivots, and continued tree denuding. The storm lifted northeast near Highway 385 with additional damage surveyed at Angora, including downed power poles and a train derailment. The discontinuous tornado continued northeast exiting Morrill County near Highway 385 by 1904 MST. This storm continued and produced additional damage in Box Butte County.

Tornado in BOX BUTTE, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 19:04:00 to 12-JUN-17 19:25:00 (MST-7)
Location: LETAN
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 1.00M
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A discontinuous tornado path continued northeast into Box Butte County from Morrill County. Additional roof damage was surveyed to a large building near the Alliance Airport (DI 1, DOD 3). This was the end of the discontinuous tornado path in Morrill and Box Butte Counties. Sixty-five train cars were blown over south of Alliance.

Tornado in BANNER, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 17:30:00 to 12-JUN-17 17:40:00 (MST-7)
Location: HARRISBURG
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 25.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A short-lived tornado touched down east of Highway 71 southeast of Harrisburg, NE. A calving barn was moved about 10 yards from its original location. One horse was killed with several other horses injured. Several power poles were broken. A grain bin was pushed off its foundation, landing east into grove of trees. Pole barn rolled with only a few walls left standing (DI 1, DOD 7).

Tornado in KIMBALL, NEBRASKA
From 12-JUN-17 17:01:00 to 12-JUN-17 17:08:00 (MST-7)
Location: BUSHNELL
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A brief tornado touched down along County Road 17 approximately 9 miles north of Bushnell, NE. A roof of an old barn was torn off and exterior walls collapsed (DI 1, DOD 6). An auger cart and auger were tipped. Power poles broke near the farm.