NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-What was a hot and sunny Thursday afternoon was rudely disrupted by a sudden blast of wind.
The first severe thunderstorm warning was issued just after 6:00 p.m., but it appeared the storms were going to stay south of North Platte. However, it quickly made its proximity known in the form of 70-plus mph wind gusts.
According to the National Weather Service in North Platte, they are "confident that what North Platte experienced were straight-line winds, after multiple people contacted the Post to report a "small tornado."
According to Shawn Jacobs, National Weather Service Meteorologist, "Several rumors on social media are floating around about a small tornado impacting Lake Maloney and North Platte."
"Nothing in the environmental data suggests this, the damage that occurred was the result of straight-line winds from a thunderstorm downburst," Jacobs added.
Lincoln County Emergency Manager Brandon Meyers reported a semi being blown over about five miles south of North Platte and Tree Lane off of State Farm Road sustained significant damage with numerous large trees being blown down.
Witnesses in the city reported debris being blown from West Highway 30 to Poplar Street. Power outages are also being reported throughout the city of North Platte. It was also reported that large tree branches are down throughout the city and a gas pump at Kwik Stop was blown over.
We're working to gather more information on this weather event.
No injuries were reported.