Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 2025

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Omaha, NE

April 17, 20254 counties in Nebraska

NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at Apr 17, 2025, 6:18 PM CDT for 4 counties in Nebraska. It was in force for 27 min. 18 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Apr 17, 2025, 6:18 PM CDT (23:18 UTC)
Expired: Apr 17, 2025, 6:45 PM CDT
In force: 27 min
Issued by: NWS Omaha, NE
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 2.0 in

Counties Dodge County, NE, Douglas County, NE, Saunders County, NE, Washington County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 14 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:19 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 17, 6:21 PM CDT	HAIL 2	2 Nw Fremont, NE	Report from mPING: Hen Egg (2.00 in.).
Apr 17, 6:24 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 67	1 Wnw Fremont, NE	Fremont Airport.
Apr 17, 6:25 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 82	1 Wnw Fremont, NE
Apr 17, 6:25 PM CDT	HAIL 2.75	2 N Fremont, NE	Windows broken by baseball-size hail 2 miles N of Fremont.
Apr 17, 6:26 PM CDT	HAIL 1.75	1 Ene Fremont, NE
Apr 17, 6:27 PM CDT	HAIL 2	2 E Fremont, NE	Report from mPING: Hen Egg (2.00 in.).
Apr 17, 6:27 PM CDT	HAIL 2	2 E Fremont, NE
Apr 17, 6:28 PM CDT	HAIL 2.75	3 W Arlington, NE	Report from mPING: Baseball (2.75 in.).
Apr 17, 6:30 PM CDT	HAIL 4	Arlington, NE
Apr 17, 6:34 PM CDT	HAIL 2.5	4 Nw Arlington, NE
Apr 17, 6:39 PM CDT	HAIL 1.75	Kennard, NE
Apr 17, 6:43 PM CDT	HAIL 1	2 S Nickerson, NE
Apr 17, 6:50 PM CDT	HAIL 1	1 Sw Bennington, NE
Apr 17, 6:50 PM CDT	HAIL 2	4 Wsw Fort Calhoun, NE
Apr 17, 6:52 PM CDT	HAIL 1.75	4 E Kennard, NE	Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).
Apr 17, 6:52 PM CDT	HAIL 2.75	Bennington, NE
Apr 17, 6:55 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 60	4 E Kennard, NE
Apr 17, 6:55 PM CDT	TORNADO	4 Ene Bennington, NE	At approximately 6:55 PM CDT on Thursday, April 17, a tornado developed near Highway 133, and appeared to produce first damage by snapping limbs in an area of trees. The tornado moved to the east, impacting trees, homes, and destroying a garage near 108th Stre

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 17, 4:48 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The text

As transmitted.

195 
WFUS53 KOAX 172318
TOROAX
NEC053-055-155-177-172345-
/O.NEW.KOAX.TO.W.0002.250417T2318Z-250417T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
618 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southwestern Washington County in east central Nebraska...
  Southeastern Dodge County in east central Nebraska...
  Northwestern Douglas County in east central Nebraska...
  North central Saunders County in east central Nebraska...

* Until 645 PM CDT.

* At 617 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Fremont, moving east at 50 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and hail up to two inches in diameter.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Fremont, Arlington, and Woodcliff around 625 PM CDT.
  Kennard around 635 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Bennington.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4141 9666 4151 9664 4152 9607 4134 9608
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 276DEG 45KT 4144 9655 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

Wood

2 follow-up statements

280 
WWUS53 KOAX 172330
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
630 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

NEC155-172340-
/O.CAN.KOAX.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-250417T2345Z/
Saunders NE-
630 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL SAUNDERS COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for east central
Nebraska.

&&

LAT...LON 4134 9608 4135 9622 4136 9622 4137 9638
      4139 9650 4142 9653 4151 9657 4152 9607
TIME...MOT...LOC 2330Z 276DEG 45KT 4142 9633 

$$

NEC053-055-177-172345-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-250417T2345Z/
Washington NE-Dodge NE-Douglas NE-
630 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON...SOUTHEASTERN DODGE AND NORTHWESTERN DOUGLAS
COUNTIES...

At 630 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Arlington, or 8 miles east of Fremont, moving east
at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and baseball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Bennington and Kennard around 635 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4134 9608 4135 9622 4136 9622 4137 9638
      4139 9650 4142 9653 4151 9657 4152 9607
TIME...MOT...LOC 2330Z 276DEG 45KT 4142 9633 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.75 IN

$$

Wood

897 
WWUS53 KOAX 172340
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
640 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

NEC053-055-177-172349-
/O.EXP.KOAX.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-250417T2345Z/
Washington NE-Dodge NE-Douglas NE-
640 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON...SOUTHEASTERN
DODGE AND NORTHWESTERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 645 PM CDT...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for east central
Nebraska.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
Washington county until 7:15 PM.

&&

LAT...LON 4134 9608 4135 9622 4136 9622 4137 9638
      4139 9650 4142 9653 4151 9657 4152 9607
TIME...MOT...LOC 2339Z 276DEG 45KT 4141 9621 

$$

Wood

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Omaha, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 17, 2:53 PM CDT, 3 hours 25 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Severe weather threat this evening (15-45% chance, mainly 5-10 PM). Primary threat: large hail up to baseballs. Secondary threats: damaging winds 60-70 mph and tornadoes.
Shower chances return to the region Sunday though confidence is low in exact timing/placement of the heaviest rain.
Increasing chances for showers and storms toward the end of next week.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 17, 2:53 PM CDT, 3 hours 25 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
253 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Severe weather threat this evening (15-45% chance, mainly 5-10
 PM). Primary threat: large hail up to baseballs. Secondary
  threats: damaging winds 60-70 mph and tornadoes.

- Shower chances return to the region Sunday though confidence
  is low in exact timing/placement of the heaviest rain.

- Increasing chances for showers and storms toward the end of
  next week.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 252 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

Updated aviation discussion to increase potential for storms
between 01-02Z at KOMA and KLNK.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 231 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

The cold front is currently located along a line from Sioux City
to Humphrey with moisture pooling along and ahead of the frontal
boundary. Dew points are running a bit higher than earlier
forecasts, already up around 60 degrees in many locations. This
has led to a greater amount of cloud cover across eastern
Nebraska and southwest Iowa in the warm sector. Temperatures are
still forecast to get up into the 80s this afternoon with storms
developing along the cold front between 5-6 PM between Columbus
and Thurston Counties.

CAMs have been consistently developing storms along the front
right around 5-6 PM. As we approach storm initiation time, we'll
see a dry line set up along our western counties of Butler to
Jefferson Counties. This will create a triple-point on the east
side of the approaching surface low along or just north of the
Kansas state line. Strong southerly flow increasing into the
afternoon will enhance low-level helicity in the warm sector
ahead of the cold front. High LCLs around 1500-1800 ft will at
least initially limit shear in the lowest 1km, but 0-3km SRH
values of around 150-300 m2/s2 indicate a good potential for
supercell development. LCLs will be lowering as we get later in
the evening hours, increasing the potential for lower-based
supercells which could produce tornadoes. The greatest threat
with these storms will be large hail up to the size of
baseballs. Tornadoes and damaging wind will also be possible as
well.

The greatest uncertainty with this system is how far south
storms will develop. This morning guidance was trending farther
north with storm development, mostly keeping storms north of the
Omaha Metro. Later guidance has started bringing that potential
back to the south, with storms as far south as Lincoln now
possible. Greatest confidence is in storms developing around
Omaha northward. In any case, the storm farthest south will
likely have the best tornadic potential as it should have a
clear, untapped inflow region. Again, storms will develop around
5-6 PM, moving through Omaha/Council Bluffs around 7-8 PM. The
HRRR develops a trailing supercell out toward Lincoln around 9
PM, but this appears to be an outlier. For the most part storms
should be east of our area by 10 PM, but if the outlier scenario
occurs, we could have one last storm which exits our area around
midnight.

Overnight, skies will be clearing behind the cold front with
northerly winds bringing in cooler temperatures. Low clouds will
develop across our area becoming widespread by daybreak. We
could see some pockets of light rain or drizzle develop in the
low clouds overnight into early Friday, but these should end by
7 AM. Clouds will remain socked in through the day on Friday
with highs only warming into the mid-50s Friday afternoon.

Over the weekend we'll see the upper-level trough over the
Rockies sink farther south, developing a strong surface low over
the Texas/Oklahoma Panhandle region. This will keep cooler
temperatures locked in over eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
With skies clearing on Saturday, we will see temperatures warm
to around 60 Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, the northern
periphery of the precip shield will clip our area with highest
chances across southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa. These
areas could see rain through most of the day while areas in
northeast Nebraska could get missed completely or only see a few
periods of light rain.

Going into next week we'll see that upper-level trough kick off
to the east bringing back more zonal flow for the first half of
the week. High temperatures will warm back into the 70s starting
Monday, approaching 80 on Tuesday. We'll want to watch the
overnight hours Monday night into early Tuesday for a potential
MCS as we see a weak shortwave move across our area interacting
with a strong low-level jet. Beyond that we see troughing
redevelop over the western CONUS bringing us back into a
southwesterly flow regime with increased chances for showers and
storms going into next weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 252 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

We're seeing an increased potential for storms between 01-02Z at
KOMA which was around 30% at earlier TAF issuance. This is now
up to a 70% chance. Chance for storms at KLNK have increased to
30% around 01-02Z. Have this now reflected in our amended TAFs.
Rest of discussion remains accurate.

A cold front will move across the area this evening developing
storms just east of KOFK around 22-23Z which will proceed to the
east. The cold front will bring a wind shift to northerly this
evening with MVFR cigs around 1500-2000 ft developing across
eastern Nebraska around 06-09Z overnight. These will become
widespread by 09Z impacting all of our terminals through the
remainder of the TAF period at 18Z Fri.

&&

.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...None.
IA...None.

&&

UPDATE...
DISCUSSION...McCoy
AVIATION...McCoy

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 17, 2:33 PM CDT, 3 hours 45 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
233 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-180945-
Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-
Page-Knox-Cedar-Thurston-Antelope-Pierce-Wayne-Boone-Madison-
Stanton-Cuming-Burt-Platte-Colfax-Dodge-Washington-Butler-
Saunders-Douglas-Sarpy-Seward-Lancaster-Cass-Otoe-Saline-
Jefferson-Gage-Johnson-Nemaha-Pawnee-Richardson-
233 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest
Iowa...west central Iowa...east central Nebraska...northeast
Nebraska and southeast Nebraska.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Thunderstorms become likely between 5-10 PM this evening, with a
15-45% chance of severe storms. The primary threat will be large
hail, but a few damaging wind gusts are also possible and a
tornado cannot be ruled out. Best chance for storms along and
north of I-80.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed Thursday evening.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 17, 5:22 PM CDT, 56 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
522 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0515 PM     Hail             1 NW Columbus           41.44N 97.36W
04/17/2025  M0.70 Inch       Platte             NE   Emergency Mngr

&&

BLB

Local storm report, Apr 17, 5:57 PM CDT, 21 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
557 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0553 PM     Tornado          1 ENE Rogers            41.47N 96.90W
04/17/2025                   Dodge              NE   Trained Spotter

            Brief tornado may have occurred. Lots of
            dust with a weak circulation.

&&

BLB

Local storm report, Apr 17, 6:01 PM CDT, 17 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
601 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0558 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 E Rogers              41.46N 96.90W
04/17/2025  M81 MPH          Dodge              NE   Trained Spotter

&&

BLB

Local storm report, Apr 17, 6:13 PM CDT, 5 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
613 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0543 PM     Hail             1 N Schuyler            41.46N 97.06W
04/17/2025  E0.88 Inch       Colfax             NE   Public

&&

Local storm report, Apr 17, 6:14 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
614 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0547 PM     Hail             5 NE Rogers             41.53N 96.89W
04/17/2025  E1.00 Inch       Dodge              NE   Public

&&

Local storm report, Apr 17, 6:15 PM CDT, 3 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
615 PM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0614 PM     Hail             5 NE Rogers             41.52N 96.85W
04/17/2025  E0.88 Inch       Dodge              NE   Public

            Nickel-size hail.

&&

LM

The office that day

Everything else NWS Omaha, NE issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 17, 5:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Colfax, Cuming, Dodge, Platte	50 min
Apr 17, 5:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Saunders	50 min
Apr 17, 5:49 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OAX	Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Saunders	41 min
Apr 17, 5:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Butler, Lancaster, Saunders, Seward	52 min
Apr 17, 6:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OAX	Dodge, Douglas, Saunders, Washington	55 min
Apr 17, 6:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OAX	Butler, Cass, Lancaster, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward	42 min
Apr 17, 6:57 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OAX	Douglas, Washington	33 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Nebraska, 2025 Every tornado warning in 2025 Tornadoes in 2025

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.