Stats
Path length: 31.2 miles
Width: 77 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 1
Rating: F4
County: Hamilton, Polk
Tornado Path
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SPC coordinates: Start: 40.87 / -98.27 End: 41.12 / -97.75
Note: Exact tornado path may not be straight and/or continuous.
Summary
We look back to April 7, 1978 in this summary. A tornado traveled 31.2 miles through parts of Hamilton and Polk Counties in Nebraska. The twister moved NE from 5 miles ESE of Grand Island, near Marquette and Hordville and then to just NE of Polk. 35 farms sustained damage to homes, buildings, farm equipment and vehicles. There were reports of livestock loss. A woman was injured by flying glass near Marquette. Eight vehicles were completely destroyed. Official rating is F4. Thomas Grazulis in Significant Tornadoes has an F3 rating. He does mention there was near-F4 damage to a house NW of Polk.
Newspaper Clippings
Discrepancies:
We gathered information for this event from the SPC & NCDC Databases, the April 1978 Storm Data Publication and Thomas Grazulis in Significant Tornadoes and found the following differences:
Width:
- SPC/NCDC list a 77 yard width.
- Grazulis and Storm Data have 75 yards.
Path length:
- SPC/NCDC list a path length of 31.2.
- Grazulis and Storm Data have 30 mile path.
Rating:
- Rating is F4 SPC/NCDC.
- Grazulis has F3 rating.
Sources:
April 1978 Storm Data Publication
Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. Page 1200.
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