Storm Spans Two Small Tornadoes in Hand County Saturday Night

The National Weather Service is confirming two small tornadoes were produced from a severe thunderstorm Saturday night.

A storm survey by the weather service office in Aberdeen revealed both tornadoes were located five to six miles south of Burdette in northeast Hand County. The first was five miles south of Burdette. It was rated an EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale producing estimated winds of 75 miles an hour. Its path was a half mile long and about 10 yards wide.

It lasted about two minutes.

That tornado lofted large tree branches in all directions up to 50 feet from the parent tree and damaged corn crops.

The second tornado was six miles southeast of Burdette. It also rated EF-0 and had estimated winds of 85 miles an hour and was on the ground for a tenth of a mile. It was also about 10 yards wide. It was on the ground two minutes, but did substantial damage to a calving barn, throwing it to the southeast of its original location. The barn damaged fencing and a chicken coup.

Sheet metal was removed from a second barn and a bale in a feeder was picked up and destroyed. Water and chemical tanks were tossed by the twister along with hay bales becoming displaced.

The storm also caused significant hail damage to a farm house with dented siding and broken windows.

(KCCR)