June 16: Incredible Tornado

On June 16, 2025, our Field Team witnessed an extraordinary EF2 tornado near Wellfleet, Nebraska, just south of North Platte. Here’s the rundown of this unforgettable event and how our team captured it.

Tornado Details

• Date: June 16, 2025

• Time: 7:20 PM to 8:05 PM CDT

• EF Scale: EF2

• Estimated Peak Winds: 134 mph

• Track Length: 3.0 miles

• Max Width: 50 yards

• Injuries/Deaths: 0/0

• Summary: This tornado moved slowly south, subjecting trees and powerlines to prolonged tornadic winds, causing significant localized damage.

RadarOmega showing the storm during peak intensity

Rare and Unpredictable

This tornado was unique, lingering on the ground for an unusually long time! Its slow, methodical track amplified the damage to vegetation and farm buildings, with trees and powerlines taking the brunt of its 134 mph winds.

What made this chase particularly wild was the tornado’s behavior. We deployed RDD-2, expecting a direct hit as the tornado barreled toward our position. But in a surprising twist, it retrograded—moving backward over its own path to the west. This unpredictable movement kept us from a direct hit, but it also gave our field team the opportunity to capture our best footage to date.