Bill Wadell
AccuWeather
AccuWeather Global Weather Center – AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologists alerted AccuWeather business customers and Premium+ users in the Whitman, Nebraska area of the imminent tornado 12 minutes before a destructive tornado impacted the community Tuesday evening. A National Weather Service tornado warning was not issued until roughly 4 minutes after the tornado had hit the community of Whitman.
AccuWeather expert meteorologists have been closely monitoring the threat of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in Nebraska this month;
· On June 7, AccuWeather expert meteorologists accurately predicted a major pattern shift that would increase the risk of destructive thunderstorms and tornadoes across much of Nebraska and the Midwest.
· AccuWeather expert meteorologists issued forecasts on Monday highlighting the threat of severe thunderstorms across Nebraska Tuesday.
· AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologists were specifically concerned about the development of rapidly developing severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in western Nebraska Tuesday evening. Our team at AccuWeather’s Severe Weather Center observed intensifying rotation and other radar signatures developing near Whitman.
· Based on the predefined criteria AccuWeather has established, focused on preserving life and preventing injuries from rapidly developing tornadoes, AccuWeather meteorologists issued a Tornado Warning to AccuWeather business customers in the area requesting such alerts at 7:44 pm MDT. At the same time, an ‘AccuWeather Alert - Dangerous Weather Imminent: Tornado’ notification was issued, which are delivered within the Premium+ feature of the AccuWeather app.
· The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the Whitman area at 7:49pm MDT.
· AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologists detected the first radar signature of potential tornado debris at 7:52pm MDT.
· The tornado impacted the Whitman area at approximately 7:56pm MDT, according to radar data.
· The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning at 8pm MDT, roughly four minutes after the tornado impacted Whitman.
AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter says the team of Storm Warning Meteorologists at AccuWeather’s Severe Weather Center in Wichita, Kansas are committed to monitoring severe weather threats and issuing timely, life-saving alerts, even in situations when government sources do not issue warnings to the public.
“AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologists believed that the thunderstorm had the potential to produce a tornado at any moment. When minutes matter, advance notice is critical, especially since this episode occurred around sunset,” said Porter. “Tornadoes at sunset into the overnight hours are more dangerous because many people are getting ready to go to bed or are sleeping and may not be as aware of what is going on around them, and therefore need extra time to move to safe shelter. Tornadoes that happen at night are two times more fatal than tornadoes that occur during the day.”
The warning issued by AccuWeather is the only known source to provide valuable advance notice of 12 minutes, providing people with time to prepare and take shelter before the tornado impacted Whitman.
The tornado resulted in significant damage to homes and businesses in the area. At least one injury was reported.