THE NORTH PLATTE VALLEY TORNADO OUTBREAK OF JUNE 27, 1955

Abstract

The largest and most devastating tornado in the history of western Nebraska occurred on June 27, 1955, in the North Platte Valley. The storm path and damage are described and two personal accounts of encounters with the center are presented. Selected pictures from a large collection of photographs are reproduced and used to determine the width and height, of the funnel and of other features. Radar pictures show the characteristic “hook” or “number 6” appearance of the associated cloud. Aerial photographs of unusual markings apparently made by the tornado on a field near Scottsbluff are scaled and used with certain assumptions to obtain an estimated surface wind of 484 m. p. h. in the funnel. Information is given on observed downdrafts, sense of wind rotation, shape of the cloud protuberance, and associated weather conditions.