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The 2014 Pilger tornado family was an extremely rare and dangerous tornado family that spawned multiple EF4 tornadoes that heavily damaged the communities of Pilger, Wakefield, and Stanton in Nebraska on June 16, 2014, killing 2 people and injuring 20 more. These tornadoes caused $20.2 million dollars in damages and left many people homeless.

Background

On June 13, 2014, the SPC noted the possibility of severe weather associated with potential mesoscale convective systems in the northern United States for June 16–18. However, the predictability of this event was too low for the SPC to designate areas as under risk of severe weather. The following day, the SPC revised their forecasts, indicating a slight risk for severe activity for areas around the confluence of the Big Sioux and Missouri rivers two days before the eventual tornado outbreak. The development of a low-pressure area and increasing atmospheric instability were expected to be contributing factors. Forecasts remained relatively unchanged on June 15, though the probability for "significant severe weather" was predicted for a large area of northern Iowa and adjacent areas.

On June 16, only a few isolated storms were observed, but the "marginal severe weather" risk remained. Throughout the morning, many conditions favorable of severe storms and supercells were seen and monitored, which include hail and wind. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico began to make its way into Nebraska through the south and over Kansas, raising dew points over the region. In addition, the prevalence of altocumulus castellanus clouds was a sign for additional severe storms and possible tornadoes later in the day. The flow of moisture into the region was further enhanced by an eastward progressing warm front, and at noon on June 16, the SPC once again issued a marginal risk for severe storms, particularly for the eastern halves of South Dakota, Nebraska, and extending eastward into the western Great Lakes region.

Event

The first tornado, which was rated EF0, touched down briefly in an open field near Stanton, causing no damage. After this tornado dissipated, another tornado touched down southwest of Stanton, initially snapping trees and power poles at EF0 to EF1 intensity as it moved northeast. As the tornado passed west of Stanton and grew into a large wedge, barns were destroyed and swept away at EF2 intensity and power poles were snapped. Two homes were leveled at high-end EF3 intensity in this area as well. Farther north of town, the tornado weakened slightly to EF2 strength as a house had its roof torn off, a semi-truck was flipped, and several outbuildings were destroyed. The tornado then re-intensified dramatically near the Maskenthine Reservoir, reaching EF4 strength. Two farmhouses were swept away, and multiple trees were debarked in this area. A car and a pickup truck were lofted and thrown over a quarter mile, both of which were mangled beyond recognition. The tornado maintained EF4 strength as it crossed N-57, sweeping away a house and a barn, and debarking additional trees. Another barn was destroyed at EF2 strength before the tornado roped out and dissipated.

After the Stanton tornado lifted, a new tornado touched down southwest of Pilger. The tornado was initially weak, damaging trees, power poles, and outbuildings. The tornado intensified as it approached town, and barns and outbuildings were leveled or swept away at EF2 intensity. The tornado then became violent, striking Pilger directly at EF4 strength, killing one person, injuring many others, and damaging or destroying most structures in town. This led to Nebraska's first tornado fatality since 2004. As the main Pilger tornado was approaching town, a second nearly identical tornado developed east of town and paralleled the path of the main tornado, causing minor tree and outbuilding damage.

Numerous homes and businesses in Pilger were completely destroyed, with several leveled or swept away. Numerous brick buildings in the downtown area were heavily damaged or destroyed, and trees throughout the town were denuded and debarked. A granary was destroyed, multiple cars were thrown and mangled, and a school building had much of its top floor destroyed. A church was completely leveled and partially swept away as the tornado exited the town. Past Pilger, the twin tornadoes continued northeast, with the main tornado debarking several trees at EF3 strength and tearing the roofs off of two homes, while the other tornado damaged several farms at EF2 strength and snapped multiple trees. Both tornadoes grew in size as the damage paths shifted closer to each other. The main Pilger tornado destroyed outbuildings and snapped trees and power poles at EF2 strength, while the other tornado reached EF3 strength, snapping a metal transmission pole, destroying several barns, and inflicting EF1 damage to a house at the edge of the path. Both tornadoes then reached EF4 strength simultaneously as the paths crossed. Numerous trees were completely debarked in this area, and two farm homes were swept away with only the basements remaining. One of these two homes was hit by both tornadoes. Vehicles were lofted in this area, over 300 cattle in nearby herds were killed, and a fatality occurred as the second tornado tossed a car from a road. After the tornadoes crossed paths, the second tornado veered to the north and destroyed an outbuilding and tore the roof and some walls from a house at EF2 strength before lifting. The main Pilger tornado continued to the northeast, snapping trees and sweeping away another home at EF4 strength. The main tornado then veered and moved almost due east, destroying two outbuildings as it roped out and dissipated.

The fifth tornado spawned by this supercell touched down as the main Pilger tornado was dissipating. This large wedge tornado quickly reached EF4 strength soon after touching down, moving east as it cleanly swept away a farm home. Further east, a large metal electrical transmission truss tower was toppled at EF3 intensity. The main Pilger tornado was seen roping out and rotating around the perimeter of this new tornado as it developed. The tornado then weakened somewhat as it veered sharply to the north, destroying outbuildings and toppling power poles at EF2 intensity. Continuing due-north, the tornado maintained EF2 strength as it tore roofs off of multiple homes and destroyed numerous barns and outbuildings. The tornado then re-strengthened to EF4 intensity as it crossed 854th Rd, sweeping away several farm homes at that location and debarking multiple trees. The tornado then weakened back to EF2 strength and became rain-wrapped as it passed east of Wakefield, destroying outbuildings, snapping trees and power poles, and tearing roofs off of homes at EF1 to EF2 strength before dissipating north of town. After the Wakefield tornado dissipated, the supercell continued to the northeast, producing a sixth and final EF0 tornado that briefly touched down in an open field near the town of Hubbard, causing no damage.

Aftermath

The first area of significant tornado damage occurred to the west of Stanton, as some wooden power poles were snapped and a barn was destroyed. The tornadoes also produced high-end EF3 damage to the northwest of Stanton, destroying 2 houses in the process. As the tornadoes moved into Pilger, multiple houses were destroyed and a child was killed. The storm destroyed or heavily damaged an estimated three-fourths of Pilger, including the middle school, Midwest Bank, the co-op, a convenience store, the post office, numerous houses, city hall, the firehouse and St. John Lutheran Church.

Heavy ground scouring occurred in and around Pilger, and is still visible on satellites. Many residents of Pilger and Stanton have moved out due to trauma or other causes related to the tornado family. Many injuries were reported, including broken legs and severe head wounds.

References

1. JONES, SHERITHA (2022-06-16). "Back in the day, June 16, 2014: Twin twisters devastate Pilger, Nebraska". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
2. US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "June 16, 2014 Pilger Tornado Event". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
3. Press, NATALIA ALAMDARI Flatwater Free (2022-06-16). "Misplaced trust: Tornadoes tore Pilger apart. Betrayal followed". JournalStar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
4. "Severe Tornadoes near Pilger, Nebraska". earthobservatory.nasa.gov. 2014-06-29. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
5. Crew, The Tornado Talk (2020-06-13). "The Pilger, NE Tornado Family – June 16, 2014 – Tornado Talk". Retrieved 2024-03-05.
6. "ArcGIS Web Application". apps.dat.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
7. Crew, The Tornado Talk (2020-06-13). "The Pilger, NE Tornado Family – June 16, 2014 – Tornado Talk". Retrieved 2024-03-05.
8. Schanz, Jenn (2014-06-17). "UPDATE: Pilger tornado victims identified". KLKN-TV. Retrieved 2024-03-05.

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