Nebraska is a place for summer tornadoes, especially in June

Tornado near Coleridge, NE on June 17. Via StormChasingVideo on YouTube.

Everything’s coming up Nebraska.

After Monday’s violent twin tornado barrage (the event included a number of tornadoes elsewhere), another round of twisters struck the state June 17. One was the massive and slow moving wedge near Coleridge.

Large wedge tornado half mile north of Coleridge nebraska @NWSOmaha pic.twitter.com/Tgl1nlo722

— Dick McGowan (@stormpics) June 18, 2014

In a year of relative calm for tornadoes nationwide, a few spots have noticeably been getting hit over and over again. Nebraska is one of those spots.

As we’ve shown in several different ways, tornadoes migrate north and west into summer before flat-lining ahead of a ‘second season’ in fall wherein they wander back southeast toward the warm Gulf of Mexico to enjoy a mild winter

Mullen, NE tornado 6/17/14 #newx pic.twitter.com/w5YVJ3XYl9

— Kendra Reed (@KendraReed69) June 18, 2014

About 35 percent of Nebraska’s overall tornado count (1953-2013) has come in June. It is the peak tornado month for the state. If you add in May, it’s over 60 percent. Despite a sharp tornado decline in July as summer takes hold, the “peak season” in Nebraska (May-July) has tallied up 75 percent of the state’s 2,600+ tornadoes during the period.

Tornadoes in Nebraska by month, 1953-2013.

Overall, the state is no stranger to tornadoes. Per NCDC’s last averaging period (1991-2010), Nebraska’s 57 tornado per year average came in fifth place behind Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Florida.

Top tornado producing states in the United States by annual average.

Digging further into June given the activity recently, the past 30 years ending 2013 offered up an average of 19 tornadoes across the state during the month. A June high was reached in 1999 with 49, and a low of one was recently matched in 2012. At this point Nebraska is already near or above average in June 2014, based on reports thus far.

It certainly appears this June won’t have too much trouble rising through the ranks at least a bit more. The highest recent monthly totals were 34 in 2008, and 43 in 2003. Both the last two years were quieter than normal in Nebraska during the month.

Tornadoes in Nebraska during June by year, 1953-2013.

When it comes to overall tornadoes, we’ve got a way to go just yet. Remember things were fairly quiet across the country (minus the April outbreaks in the South) until recently. Looking for a yearly tornado record in Nebraska? 2004 takes the cake with 111 tornadoes, 77 of which occurred in May of that year.

Tornadoes in Nebraska by year, 1953-2013.

Finally, if a tornado from June 17 ends up rated as violent (EF4+), it would be the first time in modern history that Nebraska has seen back-to-back violent tornado days.

A few days which produced one violent tornado went on to produce two violent tornadoes on the same day within the state, and it appears at least three occurred on Monday which would be a new daily/yearly record for the state. 1975 presently holds the lead for the most violent tornadoes in a year, with three.

Violent tornadoes in Nebraska, 1950-2013. (Author, using SPC GIS data)

More severe weather is possible in the region in the days ahead including an enhanced tornado risk today. Given Nebraska was targeted earlier this year, as well as hit by an EF4 last October, we’ll be tempted to keep an extra eye on the state going forward.