Severe storms produced numerous reports of hail and 3 brief, weak tornadoes on this Tuesday afternoon and evening. Between 230 and 330 PM CST, scattered fairly small supercell thunderstorms developed along a line from Red Cloud to Grand Island to Columbus. They were not mini-supercells, though, as cloud tops were near 40,000 ft. The storms generally remained along that line except for one storm that moved east into Clay County and another small multicell cluster that moved east along the Nebraska-Kansas border. Nearly 30 occurrences of severe hail were reported with most of between the sizes of quarters and golf balls. The largest hail reported was 2 inches in diameter in the town of Roseland. Three brief EF-0 tornadoes also occurred. The storms from Grand Island to Columbus formed along a slow-moving cold front. One tornado was associated with a supercell located on or very close to the front just west of Aurora. Another tornado formed near Doniphan as a north-northeastward-moving storm crossed the front. The third tornado occurred with the storm that moved east along the Nebraska-Kansas border. This storm evolved from a small bow echo and exhibited a spiral shape as it produced a brief tornado near Chester. The storms dissipated or moved out of south central Nebraska by 6 PM CST.
A low pressure system was near Lake Superior with a slow-moving cold front extending southwest across Nebraska to the Oklahoma Panhandle. In the upper-levels, southwest flow covered most of the U.S., with a trough over the West and a ridge over the Northeast. Just prior to thunderstorm development, temperatures were in the lower 80s with dewpoints in the upper 50s to near 60. With mid-level lapse rates near 8 C/km, MLCAPE was 2000-2500 J/kg. Deep layer shear was 40-50 kts, which was more than sufficient for supercell convective mode.

Tornado in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 16:53:00 to 01-MAY-18 16:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHESTER
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This EF-0 rated tornado moved in from Republic County, Kansas. The tornado was captured on video by a local farmer. The video and radar was used to determine the time. This tornado did not cause any significant damage as it moved through an open field, and the maximum wind speed was estimated to be 70 MPH.

Hail in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:04:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: COWLES
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:18:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAND IS
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:18:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: AYR
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Hail in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:40:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: HORDVILLE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:50:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROSELAND
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Hail in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:54:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: SWEDEHOME
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 16:08:00 to 01-MAY-18 16:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: (HSI)HASTINGS ARPT
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Hail in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 16:10:00 to 01-MAY-18 16:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: HASTINGS
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Hail in NUCKOLLS, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 16:18:00 to 01-MAY-18 16:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: SUPERIOR
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Hail in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 16:25:00 to 01-MAY-18 16:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: SARONVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:00:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHELBY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 300.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Quarter to golf ball size hail was reported.

Hail in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:25:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROSEMONT
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:30:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: HASTINGS
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 5.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Half dollar to golf ball size hail was reported.

Hail in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:30:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLADEN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:30:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PAULINE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Tornado in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:35:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: MURPHY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A nearly stationary landspout tornado occurred northwest of Aurora. This EF-0 tornado had a maximum wind speed estimated to be 70 MPH, which was based upon damage to a center irrigation pivot which was overturned. Several people witnessed this tornado.

Tornado in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:50:00 to 01-MAY-18 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: DONIPHAN
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado touched down approximately 2 miles south of Doniphan and moved north before lifting on the south edge of Doniphan. The tornado was rated an EF-0 with a maximum wind speed estimated to be 75 MPH. This rating was based on damage to an outbuilding and nearby home. The damage to the home was caused by flying debris from the outbuilding. Other structures in the area sustained minor damage, such as broken windows, damage to soffits and garage doors.
The path was determined from a combination of storm survey information, video, radar data, and other reports. Several reports indicate the possibility of other small circulations near the parent tornado, but the most reliable path information is related to the main parent circulation as given.

Hail in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 15:55:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARQUETTE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter to golf ball size hail was reported.

Hail in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 01-MAY-18 16:00:00 to 01-MAY-18 16:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLAY CENTER
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee