Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 6, NWS Hastings, NE
NWS Hastings, NE issued this tornado warning at May 17, 2026, 6:41 PM CDT for Thayer County, Nebraska. It was in force for 37 min. 3 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
- May 17, 2026, 6:41 PM CDT (23:41 UTC)
- Expired
- May 17, 2026, 7:18 PM CDT
- In force
- 37 min
- Issued by
- NWS Hastings, NE
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
County Thayer County, NE
The radar
The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 76 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 6:43 PM CDT | TORNADO | 2 Ssw Hebron, NE | Family member of NWS employee. |
| May 17, 6:43 PM CDT | TORNADO | 2 Ssw Hebron, NE | Family member of NWS employee. |
| May 17, 6:53 PM CDT | TORNADO | 1 Ese Hebron, NE | End point and time per official survey. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 2 minutes after it went out.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 3:16 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 166 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1204 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 49 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 38 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -21 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
794
WFUS53 KGID 172341
TORGID
NEC169-180030-
/O.NEW.KGID.TO.W.0006.260517T2341Z-260518T0030Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Hastings NE
641 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
The National Weather Service in Hastings has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southern Thayer County in south central Nebraska...
* Until 730 PM CDT.
* At 641 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Hebron, or 21 miles north of Belleville, moving
east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
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...
Hebron around 645 PM CDT.
Gilead around 700 PM CDT.
Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Alexandria.
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 4008 9770 4015 9773 4031 9737 4009 9737
TIME...MOT...LOC 2341Z 252DEG 21KT 4013 9763
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
Thies3 follow-up statements
026
WWUS53 KGID 180003
SVSGID
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
703 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
NEC169-180030-
/O.CON.KGID.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-260518T0030Z/
Thayer NE-
703 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL THAYER COUNTY...
At 702 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Gilead, or 15 miles west of Fairbury, moving
northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This dangerous storm will be near...
Alexandria around 710 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4015 9752 4023 9755 4031 9737 4014 9737
TIME...MOT...LOC 0002Z 242DEG 24KT 4020 9746
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN
$$
Mangels645
WWUS53 KGID 180011
SVSGID
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
711 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
NEC169-180030-
/O.CON.KGID.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-260518T0030Z/
Thayer NE-
711 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL THAYER COUNTY...
At 711 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Alexandria, or 14 miles northwest of Fairbury,
moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
east central Thayer County.
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.
Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 4021 9744 4027 9746 4031 9737 4021 9737
TIME...MOT...LOC 0011Z 244DEG 31KT 4026 9740
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
Thies873 WWUS53 KGID 180018 SVSGID Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Hastings NE 718 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026 NEC169-180028- /O.CAN.KGID.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-260518T0030Z/ Thayer NE- 718 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL THAYER COUNTY IS CANCELLED... The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for south central Nebraska. && LAT...LON 4021 9744 4027 9746 4031 9737 4021 9737 TIME...MOT...LOC 0017Z 252DEG 21KT 4027 9734 $$ Thies
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 Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 17, 1:18 PM CDT, 5 hours 23 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Severe weather is likely this afternoon and evening, mainly in areas along/east of Highway 281. All severe threats are possible (large hail, damaging wind, and a few tornadoes), mainly in the 5pm-10pm window.
- Portions of northern Kansas and perhaps the Highway 81 corridor in Nebraska have one more chance for severe storms on Monday afternoon. The rest of the area will be noticably cooler with only a few showers expected.
- Cooler-than-normal conditions are expected through midweek. Then we gradually trend warmer (with more rain chances) late in the week.
Area forecast discussion, May 17, 1:18 PM CDT, 5 hours 23 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
118 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Severe weather is likely this afternoon and evening, mainly in
areas along/east of Highway 281. All severe threats are
possible (large hail, damaging wind, and a few tornadoes),
mainly in the 5pm-10pm window.
- Portions of northern Kansas and perhaps the Highway 81
corridor in Nebraska have one more chance for severe storms on
Monday afternoon. The rest of the area will be noticably
cooler with only a few showers expected.
- Cooler-than-normal conditions are expected through midweek.
Then we gradually trend warmer (with more rain chances) late
in the week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1235 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
The main concern in this forecast revolves around severe
convection today and on Monday.
Currently, most of the area is in the warm sector, with a cold
front pushing in from the west, and a dryline/triple-point
expected to push in from the southwest this afternoon. The
eastern half of the area should be quite unstable by late
afternoon, the MLCAPE values likely in the 2000-4000 J/kg range.
If anything, CAMs have trended a bit further west with storm
initiation...possibly as early as 4pm...but becoming more likely
by around 5pm in the Highway 281 corridor. Strong deep-layer
shear will be supportive of supercells, potentially merging into
multiple line segments later into the evening hours. Confidence
in coverage is highest in northern parts of the area and
southern portions of the area, areas to the south and east of
Hastings may not
Generally the entire area near/east of Highway 281 has some
threat for tornado today, although the highest risk is expected
to be north and east of Grand Island where low-level shear is
maximized. Sig-tor parameter (STP) values of 5-7+ are forecast
by the RAP/mesoanalysis, which is a quite substantial indicator
of tornado potential.
A storm or two may approach western areas later this evening,
but are expected to weaken as the move into the area in the
8-10pm timeframe. Most of our Nebraska counties should be
storm-free by 8-9pm, but southern portions of the area have
potential for a longer-duration event, with storms continuing
to build near and just north of I-70. If this occurs, localized
flooding is possible (mainly Mitchell/Osborne counties),
although this will depend exactly on where storms setup.
Monday will start off cloudy and relatively cool, with
potentially some showers/drizzle in the morning and early
afternoon. An additional round of convection is expected to
develop along the stalled front. Less of the area is expected to
be impacted than today and Saturday, but nevertheless, portions
of northern KS, along with the Hwy 81 corridor could see severe
storms in the 3-8pm timeframe.
A Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 9pm today for
southwestern zones that are expected to see a quick burst of dry
air behind the dryline this afternoon. After today, the overall
fire weather threat is relatively low for the rest of this
week.
Not much time was spent on the longer-range forecast. Temperatures
remain below-normal through midweek, then gradually warm back
up into the Memorial Day weekend. Rain/t-storm chances also
return to the forecast by the end of next week.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1159 AM CDT Sun May 17 2026
For KGRI/KEAR Airports:
A broken line of thunderstorms is expected to develop over
central Nebraska later this afternoon, although this is more
likely to impact GRI than EAR. Winds also shift to the north-
northwest as a cold front moves into the the area.
Ceilings are expected to fall through tonight, likely becoming
IFR by shortly after sunrise on Monday and persisting through at
least midday. A few showers are also possible Monday morning,
but any additional thunderstorms should remain south/west of
GRI/EAR Monday afternoon.
&&
.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM CDT this evening for NEZ083-084.
KS...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM CDT this evening for KSZ005-006-
017-018.
&&
DISCUSSION...Mangels
AVIATION...MangelsHazardous weather outlook, May 17, 1:26 PM CDT, 5 hours 15 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Hastings NE 126 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 181200- Phillips-Smith-Jewell-Rooks-Osborne-Mitchell-Valley-Greeley-Nance- Sherman-Howard-Merrick-Polk-Dawson-Buffalo-Hall-Hamilton-York- Gosper-Phelps-Kearney-Adams-Clay-Fillmore-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin- Webster-Nuckolls-Thayer- 126 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and portions of north central Kansas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. The threat for severe weather returns late this afternoon and evening, primarily for areas near and east of Highway 281. Threats include hail to the size of baseballs, damaging wind gusts near 70 MPH, and a few tornadoes. The main timeframe for severe storms will be 5pm to 10pm, although a few storms could develop earlier than that window or persist a bit later than that. In addition to the severe weather potential today, near critical to critical fire weather conditions are expected, and a Red Flag Warning is in effect for portions of the area from 1PM to 9PM. Please refer to the warning statement for more specific information. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Severe weather concerns continue on Monday as a cold front moves across the area. The best potential for severe weather will be in northern Kansas and along and east of the Highway 81 corridor in Nebraska. The main timeframe of concern is 3PM to 8PM. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report any hail, damaging wind, or tornadoes to the National Weather Service. && More information may be obtained at the following web page: https://www.weather.gov/hastings
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 17, 6:32 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
632 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0607 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 NNW Strang 40.47N 97.63W
05/17/2026 M57 MPH Fillmore NE Mesonet
&&
CSLocal storm report, May 17, 6:33 PM CDT, 8 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
633 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0608 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NNW Strang 40.42N 97.59W
05/17/2026 M50 MPH Fillmore NE Mesonet
&&
CSLocal storm report, May 17, 6:34 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
634 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0633 PM Hail Clarks 41.22N 97.84W
05/17/2026 E1.00 Inch Merrick NE Emergency Mngr
&&
CSLocal storm report, May 17, 6:35 PM CDT, 6 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
635 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0634 PM Hail Deshler 40.14N 97.73W
05/17/2026 E2.50 Inch Thayer NE Emergency Mngr
&&
CSLocal storm report, May 17, 6:38 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
638 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0549 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Glen Elder 39.50N 98.31W
05/17/2026 M53 MPH Mitchell KS Mesonet
&&
CSLocal storm report, May 17, 6:39 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
639 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0555 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 7 E Tipton 39.35N 98.34W
05/17/2026 M55 MPH Mitchell KS Mesonet
&&
CSThe office that day
Everything else NWS Hastings, NE issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 7:04 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Buffalo, Kearney | 26 min |
| May 16, 7:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Greeley, Valley | 28 min |
| May 16, 7:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Dawson, Gosper, Phelps | 52 min |
| May 16, 7:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Adams, Buffalo, Hall, Kearney | 50 min |
| May 16, 7:39 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | GID | Buffalo | 6 hr |
| May 16, 7:48 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GID | Hall, Howard | 6 hr |
| May 16, 8:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Buffalo, Dawson, Phelps | 50 min |
| May 16, 8:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Buffalo, Hall | 48 min |
| May 16, 8:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Adams, Franklin, Kearney, Webster | 44 min |
| May 16, 8:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Furnas, Gosper, Harlan | 50 min |
| May 16, 8:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Hall, Hamilton, Howard, Merrick | 44 min |
| May 16, 9:07 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Adams, Clay, Nuckolls, Webster | 38 min |
| May 16, 9:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Phelps | 48 min |
| May 16, 9:14 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Polk, York | 46 min |
| May 16, 9:25 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | GID | Nuckolls, Webster | 27 min |
| May 16, 9:28 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | GID | Franklin, Harlan | 32 min |
| May 16, 9:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Adams, Franklin, Harlan, Kearney, Phelps, Webster | 59 min |
| May 16, 9:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Adams, Clay, Nuckolls, Webster | 44 min |
| May 16, 9:51 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Fillmore, Polk, York | 39 min |
| May 16, 9:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Clay, Fillmore, Nuckolls, Thayer | 33 min |
| May 16, 10:07 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Adams, Franklin, Kearney | 23 min |
| May 16, 10:17 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Adams, Clay, Kearney, Nuckolls, Webster | 58 min |
| May 16, 10:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Clay, Fillmore, Nuckolls, Thayer | 52 min |
| May 16, 10:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Fillmore, York | 26 min |
| May 16, 10:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Buffalo, Hall, Hamilton, Howard, Merrick | 53 min |
| May 16, 10:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Clay, Fillmore, Hamilton, Merrick, Polk, York | 61 min |
| May 16, 11:09 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Clay, Fillmore, Nuckolls, Thayer | 51 min |
| May 17, 1:58 AM CDT | Red Flag Warning | GID | Franklin, Harlan | 18 hr |
| May 17, 3:58 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | GID | Merrick | 32 min |
| May 17, 4:09 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | GID | Sherman | 51 min |
| May 17, 4:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Buffalo, Hall, Howard, Sherman | 49 min |
| May 17, 4:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Howard, Sherman | 40 min |
| May 17, 4:36 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | GID | Hall, Howard, Merrick | 39 min |
| May 17, 4:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Greeley, Howard, Merrick, Nance, Sherman | 50 min |
| May 17, 4:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Nuckolls, Webster | 50 min |
| May 17, 5:07 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | GID | Howard, Merrick, Nance, Polk | 53 min |
| May 17, 5:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Clay, Nuckolls, Webster | 24 min |
| May 17, 5:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Nance | 47 min |
| May 17, 5:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Nuckolls, Thayer | 52 min |
| May 17, 5:41 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Clay, Fillmore, Hamilton, Nuckolls, York | 36 min |
| May 17, 5:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Nance | 23 min |
| May 17, 6:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Merrick, Nance | 45 min |
| May 17, 6:03 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Clay, Hamilton, Polk, York | 27 min |
| May 17, 6:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Hamilton, Polk, York | 52 min |
| May 17, 6:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Fillmore, Nuckolls, Thayer | 50 min |
| May 17, 6:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GID | Merrick, Nance | 35 min |
| May 17, 6:48 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | GID | Thayer | 13 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Nebraska, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026
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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.