Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 11, NWS North Platte, NE
NWS North Platte, NE issued this tornado warning at Aug 17, 2026, 7:50 PM CDT for Garfield County, Wheeler County, Nebraska. It was in force for 40 min. 2 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
- Aug 17, 2026, 7:50 PM CDT (00:50 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 17, 2026, 8:30 PM CDT
- In force
- 40 min
- Issued by
- NWS North Platte, NE
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.25 in
Counties Garfield County, NE, Wheeler County, NE
The radar
The North Platte radar (KLNX), 126 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 8:39 PM CDT | HAIL 1.75 | 8 Ene Burwell, NE | Ping pong to golf ball. Time estimated from radar. |
| Aug 17, 8:40 PM CDT | HAIL 2 | 7 Ene Burwell, NE |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 5:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 00:00Z, 0.8 hours before the alert went out and 150 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
- 2080 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -5 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2076 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 33 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -13 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 116 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.9
The text
As transmitted.
431
WFUS53 KLBF 180050
TORLBF
NEC071-183-180130-
/O.NEW.KLBF.TO.W.0011.260818T0050Z-260818T0130Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service North Platte NE
750 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026
The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southern Garfield County in north central Nebraska...
Southwestern Wheeler County in north central Nebraska...
* Until 830 PM CDT.
* At 750 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 8 miles east of Calamus Reservoir State Recreation
Area, or 8 miles north of Burwell, moving southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar 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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southern Garfield and southwestern Wheeler Counties, including the
following locations... Deverre.
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 4174 9911 4188 9923 4194 9922 4200 9908
4174 9863
TIME...MOT...LOC 0050Z 302DEG 19KT 4190 9911
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
NWS LBF1 follow-up statement
184
WWUS53 KLBF 180108
SVSLBF
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
808 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026
NEC183-180118-
/O.CAN.KLBF.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-260818T0130Z/
Wheeler NE-
808 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN WHEELER COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for
north central Nebraska.
LAT...LON 4174 9908 4186 9915 4192 9903 4174 9876
TIME...MOT...LOC 0108Z 312DEG 26KT 4185 9904
$$
NEC071-180130-
/O.CON.KLBF.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-260818T0130Z/
Garfield NE-
808 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR SOUTHERN
GARFIELD COUNTY...
At 808 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Burwell, moving southeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar 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.
Locations impacted include...
Deverre.
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 4174 9908 4186 9915 4192 9903 4174 9876
TIME...MOT...LOC 0108Z 312DEG 26KT 4185 9904
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
NWS LBFWhat 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 North Platte, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Aug 17, 6:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Isolated to widely scattered severe thunderstorms will be possible tonight.
- A cold front will tend to focus the severe potential more across Kansas Tuesday
- Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible again Wednesday. Locally heavy rainfall will also be possible given the moist environment.
- Warmer and drier conditions return Friday into the weekend as an upper-level ridge strengthens across the region.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 17, 6:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service North Platte NE 637 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated to widely scattered severe thunderstorms will be possible tonight. - A cold front will tend to focus the severe potential more across Kansas Tuesday - Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible again Wednesday. Locally heavy rainfall will also be possible given the moist environment. - Warmer and drier conditions return Friday into the weekend as an upper-level ridge strengthens across the region. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 339 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026 Appears to be a residual outflow boundary from earlier convection that has settled across the southern Sandhills this afternoon. This will be one area to watch for possible convective initiation late this afternoon. The other area to watch will be development across southwest into south central South Dakota. CAMs have been more aggressive with this activity, and move it into northern Nebraska this evening (mainly east of Highway 183). This would be round one, with another potential late night round tracking virtually across the same area of north central Nebraska. If two rounds do indeed occur across the same area will have to monitor for some locally heavy rain potential. As far as severe, deep layer shear is more than adequate for storm organization. A couple of initial supercells could emerge out of a deepening CU field late this afternoon into this evening near the aforementioned outflow boundary. CAMs have struggled with the evolution of this scenario. The storm organization across southern South Dakota is more certain, with multiple runs of the HRRR showing at least a couple of rounds of potential intense convection. The main risks would be from damaging winds and large hail. The overall tornado risk is low. A cold front will sag southward into Kansas Tuesday. Although some isolated shower and thunderstorm activity will be possible during the day, the better focus for afternoon development would be south of the area nearer the cold front across Kansas. Other storms may move off the higher terrain into northwest Nebraska during the evening...and these could continue eastward overnight. At this time, this activity doesn't look like it will be overly strong, with the better focus remaining to the south overnight. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Issued at 339 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026 Wednesday, an upper-level longwave trough will become established across the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay region, resulting in northwest flow aloft across the area. Along the southwestern periphery of this trough, a weak disturbance will move through the region. Surface dew points in the mid to upper 60s, combined with sufficient mid and upper-level forcing, will support shower and thunderstorm development across portions of the area. In terms of severe weather, MUCAPE values of 2000 to 3000 J/kg combined with 40 to 45 knots of deep-layer shear should support organized convection, with large hail and damaging winds the primary threats. The SPC currently has much of the forecast area in a Marginal Risk for severe weather Wednesday, and this period will continue to be monitored closely over the next several forecast cycles. Moisture profiles will also remain quite impressive, supporting efficient rainfall processes and the potential for locally heavy rainfall with stronger thunderstorms. Temperatures Wednesday will remain on the cooler side, with highs generally in the mid to upper 70s across much of the area. Thursday, the longwave trough across the Hudson Bay region will continue to shift east as an upper-level ridge builds across the western United States, maintaining northwest flow aloft across the region. Warm air advection will begin to increase as the western ridge amplifies, with 850-mb temperatures returning to the 20 to 25C range. This will support warmer surface temperatures, with highs returning to the mid 80s across much of the area. Another weak disturbance is forecast to move southeast through the northwest flow on the backside of the departing longwave trough, potentially providing sufficient lift for scattered showers and thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening. Severe weather may again be possible given sufficient instability and deep-layer shear. However, strengthening 850-mb warm air advection may result in a stronger cap, potentially limiting convective initiation. This period will continue to be monitored over the next several forecast cycles. Friday into the weekend, the upper-level ridge across the western United States will amplify and gradually shift east toward the region. Increasing subsidence associated with the amplifying ridge should favor drier conditions, while the stronger upper-level flow and better forcing remain north and east of the area. Temperatures will also trend warmer, with highs returning to the lower to middle 90s across western portions of the forecast area through Monday, while north-central Nebraska remains somewhat cooler with highs generally in the lower to middle 80s. By early next week, the upper- level ridge is forecast to begin flattening, resulting in a transition toward more zonal flow and potentially allowing stronger upper-level flow to return to the region. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 636 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026 VFR conditions are expected across much of the area through the next 24 hours. Scattered thunderstorms have developed across portions of western Nebraska and will move eastward across the region this evening into the overnight hours. Some storms may be strong to severe, with large to very large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall resulting in locally reduced visibility. A TEMPO group has been added for KVTN between 01Z and 05Z as thunderstorms are expected to approach the terminal over the next few hours. A signal also remains for MVFR ceilings to develop behind the departing convection across portions of central and north-central Nebraska early Tuesday morning. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...Taylor LONG TERM...Labenz AVIATION...Labenz
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 17, 4:06 PM CDT, 3 hours 44 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service North Platte NE 406 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026 NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-182115- Sheridan-Eastern Cherry-Keya Paha-Boyd-Brown-Rock-Holt-Garden-Grant- Hooker-Thomas-Blaine-Loup-Garfield-Wheeler-Arthur-McPherson-Logan- Custer-Deuel-Keith-Perkins-Lincoln-Chase-Hayes-Frontier- Western Cherry- 406 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026 /306 PM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and north central Nebraska. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are possible across the area this evening and tonight. A few storms could be strong to severe, especially east of Highway 61. Damaging winds, large to very large hail, and locally heavy rainfall look to be the primary threats. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Thunderstorms chances continue into midweek across western and north central Nebraska. Locally heavy rainfall will remain a possibility each day. Storms could also be strong to severe through Wednesday as well, with large hail and damaging winds as the primary threats. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 17, 6:55 PM CDT, 55 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
555 PM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
NEZ058-180030-
Perkins NE-
555 PM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN PERKINS COUNTY
THROUGH 630 PM MDT...
At 555 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles south of Big Springs, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Grant and Wild Horse Spring.
This includes Highway 61 between mile markers 68 and 78.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4086 10206 4094 10206 4100 10205 4100 10169
4077 10174
TIME...MOT...LOC 2355Z 283DEG 30KT 4093 10200
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
NWS LBFLocal storm report, Aug 17, 7:09 PM CDT, 41 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
709 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0707 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SE Rushville 42.70N 102.44W
08/17/2026 M72 MPH Sheridan NE Mesonet
&&
MRSSpecial weather statement, Aug 17, 7:19 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
619 PM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
NEZ057-180100-
Keith NE-
619 PM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN KEITH COUNTY
THROUGH 700 PM MDT...
At 619 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Ogallala, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Ogallala, Paxton, Keystone, Sarben, Roscoe, Kingsley Dam, Nevens,
Broganville, and Lake View Campground.
This includes the following highways...
Highway 61 between mile markers 80 and 98.
Interstate 80 in Nebraska between mile markers 121 and 149.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
If on or near Lake McCounaughy, get out of the water and move
indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to
10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you
are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter
now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM MDT for
southwestern Nebraska.
&&
LAT...LON 4101 10180 4125 10187 4124 10128 4101 10128
TIME...MOT...LOC 0019Z 278DEG 31KT 4119 10177
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
NWS LBFLocal storm report, Aug 17, 7:21 PM CDT, 29 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
721 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0706 PM Hail 16 SW Amelia 42.10N 99.21W
08/17/2026 E1.00 Inch Holt NE Public
Time estimated from radar.
&&
MRSLocal storm report, Aug 17, 7:26 PM CDT, 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
726 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0715 PM Hail 12 WSW Amelia 42.15N 99.16W
08/17/2026 M1.25 Inch Holt NE Trained Spotter
Time estimated from radar.
&&
MRSLocal storm report, Aug 17, 7:49 PM CDT, 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
749 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0747 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 7 ESE Keystone 41.18N 101.47W
08/17/2026 M66 MPH Keith NE Mesonet
Davis Weatherlink station.
&&
MRSThe office that day
Everything else NWS North Platte, NE issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 7:05 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Garfield, Holt, Loup, Rock | 40 min |
| Aug 17, 7:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Cherry, Sheridan | 50 min |
| Aug 17, 7:14 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Chase, Perkins | 46 min |
| Aug 17, 7:19 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LBF | Keith | 41 min |
| Aug 17, 7:33 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Garfield, Holt, Wheeler | 57 min |
| Aug 17, 7:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Keith, Lincoln | 38 min |
| Aug 17, 7:39 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Garden, Grant | 39 min |
| Aug 17, 7:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Garfield, Loup, Wheeler | 65 min |
| Aug 17, 7:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Keith, Lincoln | 48 min |
| Aug 17, 8:04 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LBF | Hooker | 41 min |
| Aug 17, 8:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Cherry | 60 min |
| Aug 17, 8:18 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Holt | 30 min |
| Aug 17, 8:33 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Lincoln | 42 min |
| Aug 17, 8:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Cherry | 39 min |
| Aug 17, 8:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Garfield, Wheeler | 38 min |
| Aug 17, 8:39 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Cherry, Keya Paha | 51 min |
| Aug 17, 9:04 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LBF | Wheeler | 41 min |
| Aug 17, 9:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Cherry | 44 min |
| Aug 17, 9:19 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LBF | Lincoln | 26 min |
| Aug 17, 9:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Brown, Cherry, Keya Paha | 52 min |
| Aug 17, 9:28 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LBF | Hooker | 32 min |
| Aug 17, 9:31 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LBF | Brown | 29 min |
| Aug 17, 9:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Cherry, Hooker, Thomas | 54 min |
| Aug 17, 9:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Brown, Cherry, Rock | 38 min |
| Aug 17, 9:42 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LBF | Holt | 63 min |
| Aug 17, 10:11 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LBF | Custer | 64 min |
| Aug 17, 10:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Brown, Holt, Rock | 45 min |
| Aug 17, 10:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Boyd, Holt, Keya Paha, Rock | 40 min |
| Aug 17, 10:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LBF | Holt | 42 min |
| Aug 17, 11:26 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LBF | Wheeler | 49 min |
| Aug 17, 11:43 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LBF | Garfield, Wheeler | 32 min |
| Aug 18, 4:45 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LBF | Custer | 45 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.