Two Tornadoes Hit Nebraska During Midwest Thunderstorms

Updated: June 16, 2014, 8:22 p.m. E.T.

In a rare meteorological event, two tornadoes appeared near a small town in Nebraska, killing at least one person and injuring many others, while large thunderstorms raged throughout the Midwest on Monday.

The fatality and at least 15 critically injured people were brought to the Faith Regional Medical Center in Norfolk, Neb., the hospital’s director of marketing and public-information officer said, USA Today reports.

The dual twisters began near Pilger, Neb., at approximately 4:20 p.m. local time — a little more than an hour after the National Weather Service issued a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” tornado watch for the northeastern portion of the state, Mashable reports. The city has a population of roughly 350 people, according to data from the 2010 Census, and there have been reports of considerable damage and destruction.

Hail and high-speed winds have also caused damage throughout the Midwest. The National Weather Service predicted tornado activity last week when data from satellite imagery, weather balloons and other sources showed off-the-charts wind activity and precarious atmospheric conditions in parts of states including Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

[Mashable]