Overview
A tornado outbreak occurred across Nebraska and Iowa during the
afternoon and evening hours of Friday, April 26, 2024. Several
significant, long-tracked tornadoes damaged or destroyed hundreds,
if not thousands, of homes and businesses across the region.
People across the region were deeply impacted, several were
injured, and there was one fatality. At the National Weather
Service, our hearts are with all of those impacted, including our
friends, our neighbors, and everyone who has been affected by
these devastating tornadoes.
Historically speaking, these are the strongest tornadoes in
eastern Nebraska or western Iowa (the NWS Omaha/Valley coverage
area) in nearly 10 years, when four EF-4 tornadoes impacted northeast
Nebraska (including Pilger) on June 16, 2014.
NWS Omaha/Valley would like to send our sincere appreciation and
thanks to our media partners for sharing the warnings and urging
people to safety in advance of these tornadoes. We would also like
to send our deepest appreciation to emergency management, law
enforcement, and first responders of all kinds who responded to
this disaster. We are also so thankful to our storm spotters who
reported play-by-play tornado information directly to the NWS,
helping us to provide key information in warning products.
NWS Omaha/Valley would like to thank our co-workers from Kansas
City, St Louis, Hastings, and Sioux Falls for coming to assist
with these damage surveys. Your help, years of experience with
high-end damage evaluation, and expertise in these challenging
evaluations is very much appreciated!
~ NWS Omaha/Valley
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Statistics (For Tornadoes in the NWS Omaha Coverage Area)
* Total Number of Tornado Tracks: 25
* Total Track Length of All Combined Tornadoes: 208.1 miles
* Combined time tornadoes were on the ground: 6 hours and 16 min
* Maximum Tornado Wind Speed Based on Ground Level Damage
Assessments: 170 mph
* Maximum Single Tornado Track Length: 40.9 miles
* Maximum Tornado Width: 1900 yards (1.1 miles) for both the Elkhorn and
Minden Tornadoes
Tornado Counts
(For Tornadoes in the NWS Omaha Coverage Area)
* EF-4: 1
* EF-3: 4
* EF-2: 2
* EF-1: 10
* EF-0: 3
* EF-Unknown: 5
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Tornadoes
Tornado - Wolbach / Primrose Areas
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Tornado - Lincoln / Waverly Areas
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Tornado - Elkhorn / Bennington / Blair Areas
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Tornado - Pacific Junction to Pony Creek Park
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Tornado - Eppley Airfield / Crescent IA Areas
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Tornado - Treynor / McClelland Areas
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Tornado - Norfolk Area
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Tornado - Minden / Shelby / Tennant / Harlan / Defiance Areas
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Tornado - Manilla Area
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Tornado - Defiance / Manilla Areas
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Tornado - Butler County Tornadoes #1 and #2, south of David City
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Tornado - Platte County South of Creston
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Tornado - Ashland/Memphis Area
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Tornado #1 and #2 - Waverly/Greenwood Area
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Tornado - Pisgah Area #1
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Tornado - Pisgah Area #2
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Tornado - Moorhead/Soldier
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Tornado - Soldier Area
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Tornado - Logan Area
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Tornado - Eastern Boone County Tornadoes #1 and #2
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Tornado - Richardson County Tornadoes #1 and #2
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EF0 Weak 65-85 mph |
EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph |
EF2 Significant 111-135 mph |
EF3 Severe 136-165 mph |
EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph |
EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph |
Hail:
Hail
Near Davey, Nebraska |
Flooding
Radar/Warnings
Flash Flood Warning issued for the Omaha/CB metro | Advertencia de inundación repentina para Omaha/Council Bluffs | MRMS CREST data shows a significant runoff response from the quick heavy rain, especially in northeast Omaha. | Radar rainfall estimates were 1 to 2 inches. The heaviest amounts were just west of Carter Lake, Iowa including the North Omaha area. |
Photos & Video
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Radar
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Northeast Lincoln/Waverly tornado at peak intensity | Elkhorn, NE tornado at peak intensity | The Eppley Airfield/Crescent, IA tornado at peak intensity | The Minden, IA tornado at peak intensity. |
Storm Reports
Storm Reports |
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0130 PM Hail 6 S Western 40.31N 97.18W 04/26/2024 M1.00 Inch Jefferson NE Public 0143 PM Funnel Cloud Friend 40.65N 97.29W 04/26/2024 Saline NE Fire Dept/Rescue 0205 PM Funnel Cloud 4 NNE Wilber 40.54N 96.94W 04/26/2024 Saline NE Law Enforcement 0205 PM Funnel Cloud 1 NW Wilber 40.49N 96.97W 04/26/2024 Saline NE County Official Dispatch called over NAWAS reporting a funnel cloud 15 miles west of Cortland, or 2 miles northwest of Wilber. 0215 PM Hail 6 WSW Cedar Rapids 41.54N 98.26W 04/26/2024 M1.75 Inch Boone NE Public 0215 PM Hail 6 W Cedar Rapids 41.54N 98.26W 04/26/2024 E1.75 Inch Boone NE Public Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.). 0224 PM Hail Denton 40.74N 96.85W 04/26/2024 M1.00 Inch Lancaster NE Public Report of hail ranging from half an inch to an inch in Denton, NE. 0227 PM Hail 1 SE Denton 40.73N 96.84W 04/26/2024 M1.00 Inch Lancaster NE Amateur Radio ground covered with hail. 0235 PM Hail Ulysses 41.08N 97.20W 04/26/2024 E1.75 Inch Butler NE Emergency Mngr Butler County Emergency Manager reported golf ball sized hail in downtown Ulysses. 0241 PM Hail 4 NW Lincoln 40.86N 96.74W 04/26/2024 E1.50 Inch Lancaster NE Public 0242 PM Funnel Cloud 1 WSW Lincoln 40.81N 96.71W 04/26/2024 Lancaster NE Trained Spotter Over downtown Lincoln. 0243 PM Tornado 5 NW Lincoln 40.88N 96.75W 04/26/2024 Lancaster NE Emergency Mngr Brief tornado touchdown near the Kawasaki Plant. 0248 PM Hail 5 NW Lincoln 40.87N 96.74W 04/26/2024 E1.75 Inch Lancaster NE Public Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.). 0248 PM Hail 5 NNW Lincoln 40.87N 96.73W 04/26/2024 M1.75 Inch Lancaster NE Public 0249 PM Hail 6 SE Malcolm 40.85N 96.79W 04/26/2024 E1.25 Inch Lancaster NE Public 0250 PM Tornado 5 NNE Lincoln 40.87N 96.64W 04/26/2024 Lancaster NE Trained Spotter 0251 PM Tornado 4 SW Waverly 40.88N 96.59W 04/26/2024 Lancaster NE Emergency Mngr Building collapse. 0253 PM Tornado 1 NW Waverly 40.93N 96.55W 04/26/2024 Lancaster NE 911 Call Center House damaged. 0254 PM Hail 3 E Davey 40.99N 96.60W 04/26/2024 M2.50 Inch Lancaster NE Public delayed report time estimated by radar. 0254 PM Tornado 5 W Dwight 41.08N 97.11W 04/26/2024 Butler NE Trained Spotter Relayed from emergency management. 0255 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NE Waverly 40.92N 96.52W 04/26/2024 Lancaster NE Emergency Mngr Numerous reports of damage near Waverly, including trains blown off tracks, semis overturned. 0255 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 SW Waverly 40.88N 96.59W 04/26/2024 Lancaster NE Emergency Mngr Building collapsed with people inside. Potential gas leak. 0257 PM Tornado 4 SW Waverly 40.89N 96.59W 04/26/2024 Lancaster NE Emergency Mngr Train derailment Hwy 6. Additional train derailment Hwy 6 and I-480. Semi-rolled over. 0259 PM Tornado 2 WNW Waverly 40.93N 96.57W 04/26/2024 Lancaster NE Emergency Mngr 0300 PM Tornado 4 SSE Garrison 41.13N 97.13W 04/26/2024 Butler NE Public Social media photo of confirmed tornado 9 miles south of David City, Nebraska. 0301 PM Funnel Cloud 3 WSW Brainard 41.16N 97.06W 04/26/2024 Butler NE Emergency Mngr Two seminars flipped over Hwy 15. 0305 PM Tornado 4 WNW Brainard 41.21N 97.06W 04/26/2024 Butler NE Emergency Mngr 0306 PM Tornado 2 WNW Saint Edward 41.58N 97.89W 04/26/2024 Boone NE Broadcast Media Small rope tornado. 0307 PM Tornado 3 WSW Brainard 41.17N 97.06W 04/26/2024 Butler NE Trained Spotter Trained spotter reported a tornado just southwest of Brainard, Nebraska. Tornado has since lifted but there are two additional funnel clouds currently. 0315 PM Tornado 4 NNW Greenwood 41.01N 96.48W 04/26/2024 Lancaster NE 911 Call Center EM relayed report from 911 call center of confirmed tornado to the west of Ashland, Nebraska. 0325 PM Tornado 5 SE Yutan 41.19N 96.34W 04/26/2024 Saunders NE Law Enforcement 0329 PM Tornado 5 S Lindsay 41.63N 97.69W 04/26/2024 Platte NE Emergency Mngr Emergency manager reported a tornado on the ground 4 to 5 miles south of Lindsay. 0330 PM Tornado 5 ESE Yutan 41.20N 96.31W 04/26/2024 Douglas NE Park/Forest Srvc 0333 PM Hail 1 WNW Valley 41.32N 96.37W 04/26/2024 M1.00 Inch Douglas NE Official NWS Obs 0336 PM Tornado 5 ESE Yutan 41.22N 96.31W 04/26/2024 Douglas NE Law Enforcement 0337 PM Tornado 2 S Waterloo 41.26N 96.28W 04/26/2024 Douglas NE 911 Call Center Vehicle and building damage. 0339 PM Tornado 1 N Elkhorn 41.29N 96.23W 04/26/2024 Douglas NE Trained Spotter House with severe roof damage. 0340 PM Tornado 4 SSW Waterloo 41.23N 96.30W 04/26/2024 Douglas NE Law Enforcement 240th and Dodge. 0345 PM Tornado 1 NW Elkhorn 41.29N 96.26W 04/26/2024 Douglas NE Amateur Radio Very large tornado moving into western Elkhorn. 0347 PM Tornado 1 NNW Elkhorn 41.29N 96.24W 04/26/2024 Douglas NE Trained Spotter Very large tornado moving through western Elkhorn. 0347 PM Tornado 5 W Newman Grove 41.75N 97.87W 04/26/2024 Boone NE Emergency Mngr Emergency Manager reported confirmed large tornado 4 to 5 miles west of Newman Grove. 0349 PM Tornado 3 N Elkhorn 41.32N 96.23W 04/26/2024 Douglas NE Law Enforcement Very large tornado near 204th and Ida. 0350 PM Tornado 4 W Newman Grove 41.75N 97.86W 04/26/2024 Boone NE Emergency Mngr Tornado moving east. 0352 PM Tornado 3 N Elkhorn 41.32N 96.23W 04/26/2024 Douglas NE Public Very large tornado near Flanagan Lake. 0355 PM Tornado 2 WSW Bennington 41.35N 96.20W 04/26/2024 Douglas NE Amateur Radio Major structural damage to at least 10 homes. 0359 PM Tornado 2 NNW Bennington 41.39N 96.17W 04/26/2024 Douglas NE Emergency Mngr 0400 PM Tornado 2 WSW Bennington 41.36N 96.18W 04/26/2024 Douglas NE Public Multiple homes destroyed. 0405 PM Tornado 2 SE Kennard 41.46N 96.18W 04/26/2024 Washington NE Emergency Mngr Homes damaged. 0408 PM Hail Blair 41.55N 96.14W 04/26/2024 M1.25 Inch Washington NE Public 0408 PM Tornado 4 E Kennard 41.47N 96.13W 04/26/2024 Washington NE Law Enforcement Destroyed homes. 0410 PM Tornado 4 SSE Blair 41.49N 96.11W 04/26/2024 Washington NE Emergency Mngr 0412 PM Hail Blair 41.55N 96.14W 04/26/2024 E1.75 Inch Washington NE Public Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.). 0416 PM Tornado 1 SSE Creston 41.70N 97.36W 04/26/2024 Platte NE Public Tornado on the ground south on 18th ave. 0418 PM Tornado 4 SE Blair 41.51N 96.07W 04/26/2024 Washington NE Trained Spotter 0420 PM Tornado 5 SSW Modale 41.55N 96.04W 04/26/2024 Harrison IA Trained Spotter 0423 PM Tornado 2 SE Creston 41.69N 97.33W 04/26/2024 Platte NE Emergency Mngr Multiple vortex tornado. 0425 PM Hail 1 WNW Valley 41.32N 96.37W 04/26/2024 M1.00 Inch Douglas NE Official NWS Obs 0426 PM Hail 5 W Washington 41.40N 96.30W 04/26/2024 E1.00 Inch Washington NE Public Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.). 0430 PM Hail 2 WSW La Vista 41.18N 96.07W 04/26/2024 E1.00 Inch Sarpy NE Public 0432 PM Funnel Cloud 8 E Du Bois 40.02N 95.89W 04/26/2024 Richardson NE NWS Employee Relay from NWS TOP. 0435 PM Tornado Modale 41.62N 96.01W 04/26/2024 Harrison IA Trained Spotter Tornado near Modale looks like it roped out. 0440 PM Hail 2 SSW Papillion 41.13N 96.06W 04/26/2024 M1.00 Inch Sarpy NE Trained Spotter 0440 PM Hail 1 WNW Ralston 41.21N 96.05W 04/26/2024 M1.00 Inch Douglas NE Public 0442 PM Hail 3 NE Cedar Creek 41.09N 96.07W 04/26/2024 E1.75 Inch Sarpy NE Public Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.). 0443 PM Hail 2 W Papillion 41.15N 96.08W 04/26/2024 E1.75 Inch Sarpy NE Public Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.). 0445 PM Hail Papillion 41.15N 96.04W 04/26/2024 M2.00 Inch Sarpy NE Public 0446 PM Hail 3 W Blair 41.55N 96.19W 04/26/2024 E1.00 Inch Washington NE Public Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.). 0447 PM Hail 1 SW Papillion 41.14N 96.06W 04/26/2024 E1.50 Inch Sarpy NE Public 0455 PM Hail 1 NW Carter Lake 41.30N 95.94W 04/26/2024 E1.75 Inch Douglas NE Public 0455 PM Hail 5 NE Omaha 41.30N 95.93W 04/26/2024 M1.75 Inch Douglas NE Public 0455 PM Hail Carter Lake 41.29N 95.91W 04/26/2024 E1.75 Inch Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr 0455 PM Hail 1 NNE Omaha 41.28N 96.00W 04/26/2024 E1.00 Inch Douglas NE Public 0456 PM Hail 1 ENE Papillion 41.16N 96.02W 04/26/2024 E1.00 Inch Sarpy NE Emergency Mngr 0456 PM Tornado 4 E Omaha 41.27N 95.93W 04/26/2024 Douglas NE NWS Employee 0457 PM Tornado 2 NNW Pacific Junction 41.04N 95.82W 04/26/2024 Mills IA Trained Spotter 0501 PM Tornado 3 ENE Carter Lake 41.30N 95.87W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr 0502 PM Hail Nemaha 40.34N 95.67W 04/26/2024 E2.75 Inch Nemaha NE Emergency Mngr 0505 PM Tornado 3 NNE Pisgah 41.87N 95.91W 04/26/2024 Monona IA Storm Chaser 0507 PM Tornado 1 S Crescent 41.36N 95.86W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr 0509 PM Tornado 7 SE Council Bluffs 41.17N 95.75W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Trained Spotter 0513 PM Tornado 6 W Treynor 41.23N 95.73W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Storm Chaser 0514 PM Tornado 6 WSW Treynor 41.19N 95.70W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr 0518 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NNE Falls City 40.08N 95.59W 04/26/2024 M58 MPH Richardson NE ASOS 0520 PM Tornado 3 SE Norfolk 42.00N 97.37W 04/26/2024 Stanton NE Emergency Mngr Possible tornado. 0520 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 SE Norfolk 42.00N 97.36W 04/26/2024 Stanton NE Emergency Mngr delayed report Roof taken off athletic training center. 0520 PM Tornado 7 WNW Neola 41.48N 95.75W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Trained Spotter 0528 PM Tornado 3 SE Underwood 41.36N 95.65W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr 0533 PM Tornado 2 SE Underwood 41.37N 95.65W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr 0540 PM Tornado 3 ESE Neola 41.43N 95.57W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Storm Chaser 0541 PM Tornado Minden 41.47N 95.54W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr Very large tornado. 0541 PM Tornado 4 ESE Logan 41.62N 95.73W 04/26/2024 Harrison IA Storm Chaser 0545 PM Tornado 1 NE Minden 41.48N 95.52W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Storm Chaser Large tornado destroying homes. 0547 PM Tornado 2 ENE Minden 41.48N 95.50W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr Very large multi vortex tornado. At least 1/3 mile wide. 0549 PM Tornado 1 W Shelby 41.51N 95.48W 04/26/2024 Shelby IA Law Enforcement Multiple houses damaged. 0550 PM Tornado 1 WSW Shelby 41.50N 95.48W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Storm Chaser Very large tornado crossing Interstate 80. 0557 PM Tornado 3 S Tennant 41.56N 95.45W 04/26/2024 Shelby IA Law Enforcement Multiple destroyed outbuildings and a home that lost a roof. Time estimated from radar. 0559 PM Tornado Tennant 41.59N 95.44W 04/26/2024 Shelby IA Broadcast Media 0605 PM Tornado 2 W Harlan 41.65N 95.37W 04/26/2024 Shelby IA Public Significant damage between Portsmith and Harlan. Destroyed home, cars flipped. 0605 PM Tornado 3 W Harlan 41.65N 95.38W 04/26/2024 Shelby IA Storm Chaser Multi vortex tornado. 0606 PM Tornado 2 W Harlan 41.65N 95.37W 04/26/2024 Shelby IA Trained Spotter Home destroyed. 0608 PM Hail 1 SE Clarinda 40.72N 95.02W 04/26/2024 M1.00 Inch Page IA CO-OP Observer 0617 PM Tornado 2 E Westphalia 41.72N 95.35W 04/26/2024 Shelby IA Storm Chaser && $$
Environment
A vigorous low pressure system moving through Nebraska brought the necessary ingredients together for a severe weather outbreak across the region. Strong winds and cold temperatures in the mid levels of the atmosphere (15,000-20,000 ft above the ground) overspread a warm, moist air mass streaming north from the Gulf of Mexico to create a favorable environment for severe thunderstorm development. The storms (supercells) that produced the tornadoes across eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa developed along a front that moved into eastern Nebraska from the west during the afternoon hours.
Figure 1: 500-mb map at 7 PM on April 26th | Figure 2: 850-mb map at 7 PM on April 26th | Figure 3: Surface map at 7 PM on April 26th |
Below is a model skew-T and hodograph that is a good representation of environment that the tornadic supercells were moving through.
Figure 4: 0-h Forecast from the 21z HRRR for Omaha Eppley Field |
Additional Information
The Forecast
SPC Day 7 Probabilistic Outlook | SPC Day 6 Probabilistic Outlook |
SPC Day 5 Probabilistic Outlook | SPC Day 4 Probabilistic Outlook |
SPC Day 3 Categorical Outlook | SPC Day 3 Probabilistic Outlook |
SPC Day 2 Categorical Outlook | SPC Day 2 Tornado Outlook | SPC Day 2 Hail Outlook | SPC Day 2 Wind Outlook |
SPC Day 1 Categorical Outlook | SPC Day 1 Tornado Outlook | SPC Day 1 Hail Outlook | SPC Day 1 Wind Outlook |
Historical Perspective
Top Daily Tornado Counts in the Omaha, NE Area of Responsibility
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Date | F/EFU | F/EF0 | F/EF1 | F/EF2 | F/EF3 | F/EF4 | F/EF5 | Total |
12/15/2021 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
4/26/2024 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
5/12/2023 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Top Daily F/EF2+ Tornado Counts in the Omaha, NE Area of Responsibility (since 1950) |
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Date | F/EF2 | F/EF3 | F/EF4 | F/EF5 | Total |
12/15/2021 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
4/26/2024 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
6/16/2014 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
5/6/1975 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
Summaries from other NWS Offices
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