Stormy weather leaves damage in Chase, Perkins Counties

A string of storms blew southeast from Lewellen to Wauneta Aug. 13 during the week of the Chase County Fair.
Bill Taylor, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in North Platte, said 15 severe thunderstorm warnings were issued that day in southwest Nebraska.
Taylor’s reports show estimated 80 mph wind gusts in Perkins County and 68 mph gusts in Imperial.
Tennis ball-sized hail was also reported in the Perkins County area, near Madrid and Elsie, Taylor said, though baseball-sized hail was possible.
Norm Fanning experienced crop and property damage from the large hail.
Fanning lives about 14 miles north of Wauneta on the Stinking Water Creek.
Jeremey and Amy Gittlein live near Fanning and also experienced damages.
Gittleins stayed in their camper at the fairgrounds last week and were checking in 4-H animals when the storm hit Imperial.
“So we went to that camper, and the wind was blowing and there was a little bit of hail,” Amy said. “It didn’t last very long and we thought we were okay.”
Gittleins have broken windows on vehicles and property, damaged grass and crops and even lost a cow.
“It’s all fixable,” Amy said. “It’ll just take time.”
Storms returned last Friday night, causing the concert at the fair to be cut short due to lightning.