Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 1, NWS Omaha, NE
NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at Apr 11, 2026, 6:33 PM CDT for Gage County, Jefferson County, Nebraska. It was in force for 13 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 11, 2026, 6:33 PM CDT (23:33 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 11, 2026, 6:46 PM CDT
- In force
- 13 min
- Issued by
- NWS Omaha, NE
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.0 in
Counties Gage County, NE, Jefferson County, NE
The radar
The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 132 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:34 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.
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 11, 4:31 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 3 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 168 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
- 678 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 37 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 314 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 339 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.5
The text
As transmitted.
559
WFUS53 KOAX 112333
TOROAX
NEC067-095-120015-
/O.NEW.KOAX.TO.W.0001.260411T2333Z-260412T0015Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
633 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026
The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
East central Jefferson County in southeastern Nebraska...
West central Gage County in southeastern Nebraska...
* Until 715 PM CDT.
* At 633 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Diller, or 11 miles east of Fairbury, moving
northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
Harbine around 640 PM CDT.
Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Beatrice.
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 4005 9697 4011 9706 4036 9686 4023 9662
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 226DEG 23KT 4013 9696
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Petersen2 follow-up statements
384
WWUS53 KOAX 112342
SVSOAX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
642 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026
NEC067-095-120015-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260412T0015Z/
Jefferson NE-Gage NE-
642 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL JEFFERSON AND WEST CENTRAL GAGE COUNTIES...
At 642 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Harbine, or 11 miles southwest of Beatrice, moving
north at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
east central Jefferson and west central Gage Counties, including the
following locations... Ellis and Homestead National Historical Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 4011 9689 4017 9701 4036 9686 4026 9668
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 200DEG 28KT 4019 9694
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Petersen490 WWUS53 KOAX 112346 SVSOAX Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska 646 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026 NEC067-095-112356- /O.CAN.KOAX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260412T0015Z/ Jefferson NE-Gage NE- 646 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL JEFFERSON AND WEST CENTRAL GAGE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED... The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for southeastern Nebraska. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service Omaha. && LAT...LON 4011 9689 4017 9701 4036 9686 4026 9668 TIME...MOT...LOC 2344Z 226DEG 23KT 4021 9691 $$ Petersen
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 11, 1:39 PM CDT, 4 hours 54 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Conditional threat for strong to severe storms (20 to 40% chance) expected today. If a storm can develop, it will likely become severe with all hazards possible.
- Showers and storms persist for Sunday, particular in far southeast Nebraska toward western Iowa (25 to 50% chance). A strong storm or two may occur (5% chance).
- Active pattern continues into next week with continued shower and storm chances. Some storms may be strong, particularly on Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures in the 70s and 80s persist before a slight cool down expected on Friday.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 11, 1:39 PM CDT, 4 hours 54 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 139 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Conditional threat for strong to severe storms (20 to 40% chance) expected today. If a storm can develop, it will likely become severe with all hazards possible. - Showers and storms persist for Sunday, particular in far southeast Nebraska toward western Iowa (25 to 50% chance). A strong storm or two may occur (5% chance). - Active pattern continues into next week with continued shower and storm chances. Some storms may be strong, particularly on Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures in the 70s and 80s persist before a slight cool down expected on Friday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 139 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026 .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... 18z RAP objective analysis at H8 shows a 30 to 40kt LLJ pointing into much of the Central and Northern Plains. This feature helped force widespread showers and storms earlier this morning, with most locations receiving anywhere from a tenth to quarter of an inch of rainfall, while far southeast Nebraska into southwest Iowa received a healthy half inch to inch. A brief lull in activity is expected for the early afternoon with only a few lingering rain showers. Expect highs today to reach the 60s to low 70s with gusty south-southeasterly winds. A stronger H5 shortwave off to the west will eventually result in a sfc low developing out in the western Dakotas. The feature will lift a boundary and plume of moisture back into the area with dew points increasing to the low to mid 60s. A secondary shortwave now currently over northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska will also eject northeast toward the area. Instability of 1,500 to 2,000 j/kg in addition to 30 to 35 kts of 0-6 km bulk shear will be available for convection to use **IF** it can develop and sustain itself. Forecast BUFKIT soundings suggest weak capping hanging on across much of the forecast area aside from portions of southeast Nebraska where daytime heating may erode the feature. Latest 12z CAM output suggests a variety of scenarios that could occur. Some guidance like the NSSL WRF tries to develop some convection in southeast Nebraska as early as 19-20z as the secondary H5 wave inches closer to the area, likely rooted aloft per forecast soundings. However, other guidance like the HiRes ARW, FV3, and eventually the NSSL WRF develop convection around 23z/00z that would likely be sfc based. 12z and subsequent runs of the HRRR model seem the least interested in firing off and sustaining any convection in the area likely due to the nebulous forcing from the wave being unable to break the cap. All this to say that lots of uncertainty exists regarding if convection will develop. If convection does form, it will likely become severe with large hail and strong winds, and if it can become sfc based, a tornado cannot be ruled out (especially in southeast Nebraska) given the impressive low level curvature observed in hodographs and model output 0-1 km SRH of 100- 200 m2/s2. A conditional marginal risk (level 1 of 5) for severe weather is in place for much of the forecast area this afternoon and evening. Given the uncertainty of showers and storms developing, have continued trend of keeping lower PoPs of 20 to 40% for much of the forecast area this afternoon and evening. Overnight into early Sunday morning, CAMs suggest a few lingering showers across the area (15-20% chance). Lows tonight remain mild in the upper 50s to low 60s. Sunday will see some continued chances for showers and thunderstorms, this time over our far southeast areas (25-50% chance). Model guidance indicates a second wave clipping those areas along with continued warm air advection helping provide lift, although the better moisture transport shifts east of the area by Sunday afternoon. If convection is able to develop, could see another threat for strong to severe storms with lingering instability/borderline shear of 25 to 30 kts. A marginal risk for severe storms remains in place for much of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Highs Sunday warm to the mid 70s to mid 80s over our far northwest with gusty southwest winds. Our far northwest could see some high to very high fire danger too, but that may be negated by the recent rainfall we've received/the spring greenup. The lowest RH of 15 to 20% also doesn't appear to overlap with the strongest wind speeds. Sunday night may see a few lingering rain showers and thunderstorms, mainly over our far eastern areas with chances remaining at 20 to 40%. .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... The active pattern for showers and storms will continue into much of next week. For Monday, will see another H8 baroclinic zone lift northeast across the area with continued warm air advection helping push temperatures to the 80s areawide. A sfc low will track northeast through the area in tandem with a mid level wave which may help spark some showers and storms. However, the LLJ looks to point more toward the east, away from the forecast area. If a storm manages to form, it could become strong. NBM currently suggests only a 15 to 20% chance for some light PoPs along our northern and eastern border areas for Monday. By Tuesday, should see a more potent H5 shortwave lift northeast from the Four Corners area into the Central and Northern Plains. Lee cyclogenesis ensues with the sfc cyclone tracking northeast throughout the day. Model guidance suggests the best instability and moisture pooling behind the front over our far eastern and southeastern service area. Coupled with strong deep-layer shear, should see another severe threat for the area (15% chance for areas east of a Lincoln to Omaha line). PoPs remain at 20 to 40% areawide Tuesday. Model guidance stalls the shortwave a bit by Wednesday with lingering showers before finally lifting out of the area Thursday with brief ridging. Continued disturbances are progged to track through the area by late Thursday into Friday resulting in continued PoP chances of 20 to 40% by Friday. Temperatures Tuesday through Thursday remain warm in the 70s and 80s before a slight cool down to the 60s to low 70s arrives for Friday. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1241 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026 A low stratus deck remains in place over terminals this afternoon resulting in IFR ceilings. Some breaks in clouds to scattered may occur before broken and overcast ceilings lift to MVFR and eventually VFR. Have adjusted times a bit earlier for stratus clearing out with this issuance based on latest model guidance. 1738z radar imagery shows ongoing areas of showers and storms just south of KLNK. Some of these may clip the terminal within the next two hours or so, but considerable uncertainty exists on if these storms will sustain themselves so have left mentions out of TAF for now. More showers and storms may redevelop late this afternoon into the evening hours (30 to 40% chance), but lots of spread exists amongst model solutions on if storms will even develop. If storms form, they could be strong to severe with large hail, damaging winds, and a tornado. Ceilings deteriorate back to MVFR after 08z at KOMA and KLNK and persist into Sunday morning. Gusty southeasterly winds of 25 to 30 kts persist for much of the TAF period, but turn southerly late tonight. && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. IA...None. && DISCUSSION...Castillo AVIATION...Castillo
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 11, 5:43 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 543 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026 IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034- 042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-122245- 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- 543 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Iowa, west central Iowa, east central Nebraska, northeast Nebraska and southeast Nebraska. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected, particularly for areas along the Nebraska/Kansas border this evening. The main concerns with any storms in this region will be damaging winds, hail and/or a tornado. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Daily thunderstorm chances continue Sunday in into early next week. Strong to severe storms will be possible at times, especially on Tuesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this evening.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Omaha, NE issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 5:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Jefferson | 44 min |
| Apr 11, 6:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson | 39 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.