2035 Chapman–Central City tornado
Clockwise from top: The tornado as it entered Central City striking the Merrick Medical Center; EF4 damage to the Merrick Medical Center following the tornado; aerial view of the damage through Central City
| |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | May 22, 2035, 6:37 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) |
| Dissipated | May 22, 2035, 8:05 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) |
| Duration | 1 hour, 28 minutes |
| EF4 tornado | |
| on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
| Max width | 1,549 yards (0.88 mi; 1.4 km) |
| Path length | 36.7 miles (59.1 km) |
| Highest winds | 170 mph (270 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 14 |
| Injuries | 171 |
| Damage | $335 million (2035 USD) |
| Areas affected | Merrick County in Nebraska, particularly the cities of Chapman and Central City |
Part of the tornado outbreak of May 22–24, 2035 and tornado outbreaks of 2035 | |
The 2035 Chapman–Central City tornado was a large, long-tracked, and violent EF4 tornado that struck Merrick County, Nebraska, during the evening of May 22, 2035, as part of the tornado outbreak of May 22–24, 2035. Remaining on the ground for 1 hour and 28 minutes, the tornado traveled 36.7 miles (59.1 km) from southwest of Chapman to northeast of Clarks while reaching a peak width of 0.88 miles (1.4 km). It attained estimated peak winds of 170 mph (270 km/h) as it crossed Central City, where it caused catastrophic damage.
The tornado devastated portions of Chapman and Central City before weakening east of the city. Hundreds of homes, businesses, farms, and public buildings were damaged or destroyed, while thousands of trees and power poles were snapped or uprooted along its path. Merrick Medical Center sustained low-end EF4 damage after major structural failures occurred, causing a complete loss of primary and emergency electrical power throughout the facility.
Overall, the tornado killed 14 people, injured 171 others, and caused approximately $335 million (2035 USD) in damage, making it the strongest tornado to strike Nebraska during the outbreak and one of the state's most destructive tornadoes of the 21st century.
Meteorological synopsis
During the afternoon of May 22, 2035, a strengthening upper-level trough advanced eastward across the central Plains while a deepening surface low tracked northeastward across the northern Plains. Rich Gulf moisture surged northward into Nebraska ahead of an advancing cold front, with surface dew points rising into the upper 60s °F (around 20 °C) and temperatures climbing into the lower 80s °F (27–28 °C). These conditions produced mixed-layer CAPE values between 2,000 and 3,000 J/kg, while effective bulk shear exceeded 50–60 kt (58–69 mph; 93–111 km/h), creating an environment favorable for organized supercells.
By mid-afternoon, thunderstorms began developing across central Nebraska along a zone of low-level convergence extending northeastward from the surface low. Most storms quickly became supercellular as they encountered increasingly favorable wind profiles characterized by strong speed shear and curved low-level hodographs. The Storm Prediction Center had highlighted much of central Nebraska within an Enhanced Risk for severe thunderstorms, citing the potential for large hail, damaging winds, and several tornadoes.
The parent supercell responsible for the Chapman–Central City tornado developed southwest of Kearney shortly before 3:40 p.m. CDT and gradually strengthened while tracking northeast across the Platte River Valley. After producing an earlier, weaker tornado near Fort Kearny, the storm underwent a pronounced period of intensification as low-level rotation strengthened. A persistent mesocyclone developed beneath a large wall cloud, and the tornado touched down southwest of Chapman at 6:37 p.m. CDT. As the storm continued northeastward into an increasingly favorable environment with abundant low-level moisture and strengthening storm-relative helicity, the tornado rapidly intensified into a violent wedge before reaching peak intensity over Central City.
Tornado summary
Formation
The tornado first touched down at 6:37 p.m. CDT in open farmland southwest of Chapman, approximately 7 miles (11 km) southwest of the community. Initially a narrow cone tornado, it caused intermittent EF0 to EF1 damage as it crossed fields, snapping trees, damaging irrigation equipment, and destroying several farm outbuildings. The tornado steadily strengthened while tracking northeastward at approximately 25 mph (40 km/h), rapidly widening as a powerful low-level mesocyclone developed beneath the parent supercell.
Over the next several minutes, the tornado intensified into a large wedge as it crossed rural portions of Merrick County. Multiple well-built farmsteads sustained EF2 and EF3 damage, with homes losing roofs and exterior walls while large steel grain bins were crushed or rolled considerable distances. Extensive tree damage and power pole failures became increasingly common as the tornado approached Chapman, prompting numerous tornado emergency reports from storm spotters and law enforcement.
Chapman
The tornado entered the southwestern edge of Chapman as a cone tornado approximately 0.15 miles (0.24 km) wide. Numerous homes sustained severe structural damage, with several destroyed. Small businesses along U.S. Highway 30 were heavily damaged, while vehicles were overturned and tossed into nearby fields. Extensive tree loss and widespread utility pole failures resulted in a complete loss of electrical service throughout the community.
Northeast of Chapman, the tornado reached its maximum width of approximately 1,548 yards (0.88 mi; 1.4 km) while continuing to strengthen. Numerous residences were leveled, several of which were swept from their foundations, though construction quality varied considerably. Damage surveys later identified widespread high-end EF3 damage throughout this portion of the path before the tornado intensified further as it approached Central City.
Central City
As the tornado entered Central City, it reached its peak intensity. Entire residential blocks sustained catastrophic damage, with numerous homes completely destroyed and several well-constructed residences swept from their foundations. Large hardwood trees were snapped or completely denuded, while hundreds of vehicles were overturned or thrown. Extensive pavement scouring and severe ground scouring were documented in localized areas, although survey teams concluded the overall damage supported a low-end EF4 rating with estimated peak winds of 170 mph (270 km/h).
The most catastrophic damage occurred at Merrick Medical Center, where large sections of the hospital were destroyed after the tornado struck the facility nearly head-on. Exterior walls collapsed, portions of the roof were completely removed, and the emergency power system and backup generators were rendered inoperable. The resulting loss of electrical power caused critical life-support equipment to fail in several treatment areas despite emergency response efforts, contributing to multiple fatalities. Throughout Central City, hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed, and emergency responders were initially unable to reach many of the hardest-hit neighborhoods because debris completely blocked numerous streets.
After leaving Central City, the tornado remained violent as it continued northeast, heavily damaging additional farms, industrial facilities, and electrical transmission infrastructure. Although the tornado gradually began a weakening trend, it continued producing widespread EF2 to EF3 damage while maintaining its large wedge structure.
Dissipation
The tornado continued northeastward through rural portions of Merrick County before crossing into Platte County, where it gradually narrowed while remaining a powerful tornado. Numerous farmsteads, irrigation pivots, and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and additional power transmission lines were toppled. The tornado finally weakened below violent intensity as the parent supercell began cycling.
The tornado dissipated at 8:05 p.m. CDT, approximately 36.7 miles (59.1 km) after touching down. In total, it killed 14 people, injured 171 others, and caused an estimated $335 million (2035 USD) in damage. It became the deadliest tornado of the Nebraska portion of the outbreak and one of the strongest tornadoes to impact the state during the 2030s.
Aftermath
Casualties and recovery efforts
Search-and-rescue operations began almost immediately after the tornado lifted, with firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical personnel from throughout central Nebraska responding to Chapman and Central City. The widespread destruction, blocked roadways, and numerous downed power lines significantly hampered rescue operations during the first several hours. Mutual aid was requested from neighboring counties, while Nebraska Task Force 1 urban search-and-rescue teams were deployed to assist in locating trapped residents and clearing debris.
The greatest rescue effort focused on Merrick Medical Center in Central City after the hospital sustained devastating structural damage. Portions of the building collapsed, forcing the evacuation of surviving patients and medical staff to hospitals in Grand Island, Columbus, Hastings, and Lincoln. Temporary triage areas were established outside the damaged facility as emergency crews worked through the evening to locate victims and stabilize the injured.
In total, the tornado killed 14 people and injured 171 others, making it the deadliest tornado of the outbreak prior to the Lake Crystal EF5 the following evening. Hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed, leaving thousands without electrical service as utility crews worked around the clock to restore power. Preliminary damage estimates exceeded $335 million (2035 USD).
Historical significance
The Chapman–Central City–Clarks tornado was officially rated EF4 with estimated peak winds of 170 mph (270 km/h) following an extensive damage survey conducted by multiple National Weather Service teams. Surveyors documented widespread high-end EF3 damage and several pockets of low-end EF4 damage, including complete destruction of numerous well-built residences and catastrophic structural failure at Merrick Medical Center. Although some localized damage approached the threshold for a stronger rating, investigators concluded that the available damage indicators supported a maximum rating of EF4.
The tornado was the strongest and deadliest tornado to strike central Nebraska since the late 2020s and became one of the most significant tornadoes in Merrick County's recorded history. With a path length of 36.7 miles (59.1 km) and a maximum width of 1,549 yards (0.88 mi; 1.4 km), it ranked among the longest-track violent tornadoes produced during the 2035 outbreak.
The tornado also marked the beginning of the outbreak's most destructive phase. Less than twenty-four hours later, atmospheric conditions shifted northeast into Minnesota and western Wisconsin, where the outbreak reached its peak intensity with the Lake Crystal EF5 tornado, the first EF5 tornado in Minnesota since 1992.