Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 10, NWS Omaha, NE

May 16, 2026Gage County, Nebraska

NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at May 16, 2026, 9:09 PM CDT for Gage County, Nebraska. It was in force for 36 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 16, 2026, 9:09 PM CDT (02:09 UTC)
Expired
May 16, 2026, 9:45 PM CDT
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS Omaha, NE
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
2.0 in

County Gage County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 121 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:12 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.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 16, 5:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 2.2 hours before the alert went out and 121 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2026-05-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2743 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2026-05-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 77 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
2743 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-30 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1278 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
77 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
253 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.5
Supercell composite
12.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 May 16, 5:37 PM CDT, 3 hours 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Strong to severe storm chances expected for the afternoon (30%) and evening hours, with more storms possible in the late evening and overnight (70-90%).
  • Continued threat for severe storms Sunday and Monday with all hazards possible.
  • Temperatures cool down for Tuesday through Thursday in the 50s and 60s, warming back up toward the end of the week.
Area forecast discussion, May 16, 5:37 PM CDT, 3 hours 32 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
537 PM CDT Sat May 16 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Strong to severe storm chances expected for the afternoon
  (30%) and evening hours, with more storms possible in the late
  evening and overnight (70-90%).

- Continued threat for severe storms Sunday and Monday with all
  hazards possible.

- Temperatures cool down for Tuesday through Thursday in the 50s
  and 60s, warming back up toward the end of the week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 138 PM CDT Sat May 16 2026

Satellite gives a good idea of where the upper-level warm front
is located this afternoon, with partly cloudy skies along and
north of the boundary from Lincoln to Plattsmouth. Skies to the
south are mostly clear. We have the surface front to the south,
closer to the Kansas-Nebraska state line. We're going to be
watching this surface front push north into southeast Nebraska
over the next few hours, with an isolated storm or two possibly
developing later this afternoon. The upper-level shortwave
pushes into north-central Kansas around 7pm this evening,
kicking off storms in northeastern Kansas. A line of these
storms will move north into southeast Nebraska around 8-9pm
getting into Lincoln/Omaha around 10-11pm. This line of storms
will lift into northeast Nebraska after midnight. The second
round of storms develop near the Nebraska Panhandle this evening
and develop into a bowing line that will push into our area
around 1-2AM. Significant wind threat with this line of storms,
with potential for 70+ mph winds.

Sunday will start off with lingering cooler and cloudy
conditions from the overnight storms. It's going to take some
time for our environment to recover, with clouds maybe not
burning off until early afternoon. The developing surface low
has trended farther north, deepening which will strengthen the
surface pressure gradient across our area. Because of this
we'll see stronger winds develop out of the south, with gusts 35
to 45 mph expected starting mid-morning through the afternoon.
The first storms will develop either over northeast Nebraska or
southeast South Dakota around 6pm. CAPE values of around 3500
J/kg pooling along the warm front as well as 0-6km bulk shear
values of 35-40 kt should support discrete supercells
initially. Later in the evening closer to 9pm the low-level jet
intensifies, bringing stronger winds at 850mb into southeast
Nebraska. This should light up storms all along the cold front
from around Red Cloud northeast through Columbus and Thurston.
500-mb winds show steering flow pushing these storms east off
the frontal boundary. the best low-level shear will be over
northeast Nebraska into southeast South Dakota and northwest
Iowa Sunday evening, lending to the greatest potential for
embedded supercells and strong tornadoes in this area. However,
there will still be enough shear for a few supercells farther
south along the line of storms after 9pm for a tornado or two to
develop as far south as I-80. This line of strong to severe
storms clears east of our area by around 3-4am.

While the storms moved off to the east, the front does not
follow, staying put across our area into Monday acting as a
focus for more strong-to-severe storms on Monday. There are
differences in the CAMs on where exactly the front will be
Monday morning, with the HRRR keeping it just north of the
Omaha-Lincoln metros. Other hi-res models have it farther south,
closer to Nebraska City. It's location will greatly influence
the areas with severe weather potential on Monday. Storms are
expected to develop initially over north-central Kansas
potentially during the early afternoon, moving into southeast
Nebraska mid-afternoon into the early evening. All modes of
severe weather will again be possible, with tornadoes, large
hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding. These storms should
clear out of our area by 10-11pm.

Tuesday and beyond we finally get a break! The front shifts
south pushing the severe threat south and east of our area and
bringing in a cooler Canadian air mass for mid-week next week.
Tuesday will be much cooler with highs in the mid 50s to mid 60s
across our area, with highs moderating back up to solidly in the
mid 60s on Wednesday. Our next chances for rain hold off until
later next week with temperatures warming back up toward next
weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 537 PM CDT Sat May 16 2026

Storms have developed in southwest Iowa and central Nebraska.
Watching for this line to potentially fill in impacting KLNK,
but confidence in timing is low (30%). Better chance for storms
to impact KLNK and KOMA later this evening starting with a surge
of development northward into these two terminals around
03-04Z. This line of storms will hang over the the terminals
until a north-south line of storms moves in from the west around
06-07Z. KOFK remains north of the warm front and may not see any
storms until the north-south line arrives closer to 07Z (only a
60% chance storms impact KOFK). Once the storms clear east, MVFR
cigs appear likely to develop over northeast Nebraska impacting
KOFK primarily. A 40% chance low stratus makes it as far south
as KOMA. Clouds will be slow to clear Sunday, clearing around
17-18Z. Additional storms likely starting Sunday afternoon, but
may only see an isolated storm or two until chances increase
around 00Z.

Winds will remain out of the east this evening, shifting to the
southeast Sunday morning, then more southerly toward the
afternoon. Expect strong winds on Sunday (not generated by
storms) with gusts 25-35kt. A few gusts 40kt+ possible.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...McCoy
AVIATION...McCoy
Hazardous weather outlook, May 16, 8:21 PM CDT, 48 minutes before
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In the hours before

Local storm report, May 16, 8:36 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 16, 8:37 PM CDT, 32 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 16, 8:40 PM CDT, 29 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 16, 8:41 PM CDT, 28 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 16, 8:55 PM CDT, 14 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 16, 8:58 PM CDT, 11 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 16, 7:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXBoone44 min
May 16, 7:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Jefferson, Saline43 min
May 16, 7:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXButler58 min
May 16, 7:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXGage, Jefferson, Lancaster, Saline47 min
May 16, 8:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXLancaster, Saline, Seward54 min
May 16, 8:12 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXGage33 min
May 16, 8:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXMadison, Pierce, Stanton, Wayne24 min
May 16, 8:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXButler, Saunders41 min
May 16, 8:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXJefferson, Saline50 min
May 16, 8:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXGage45 min
May 16, 8:43 PM CDTFlood WatchOAXButler, Cass, Douglas, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson and 9 more6 hr
May 16, 9:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatOAXGage, Lancaster, Saline44 min
May 16, 9:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXButler, Lancaster, Saunders, Seward35 min
May 16, 9:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXGage, Johnson, Pawnee48 min
May 16, 9:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXSaline56 min
May 16, 9:22 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningOAXGage4 hr
May 16, 9:22 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXGage21 min
May 16, 9:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXSaunders16 min
May 16, 9:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXDouglas, Sarpy, Saunders33 min
May 16, 9:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXLancaster, Saunders26 min
May 16, 9:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Johnson49 min
May 16, 10:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXButler, Jefferson, Saline, Seward48 min
May 16, 10:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXJefferson13 min
May 16, 10:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXJohnson, Nemaha, Otoe62 min
May 16, 10:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXLancaster, Saunders24 min
May 16, 10:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Jefferson, Saline53 min
May 16, 11:08 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningOAXGage, Johnson, Otoe3 hr
May 16, 11:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXSaline, Seward60 min
May 16, 11:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXGage, Jefferson58 min
May 16, 11:30 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningOAXSaline3 hr
May 16, 11:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXNemaha, Otoe47 min
May 16, 11:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXGage, Jefferson, Johnson, Pawnee59 min
May 16, 11:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatOAXGage, Jefferson, Johnson, Pawnee46 min
May 17, 12:03 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Jefferson, Johnson, Otoe, Saline57 min
May 17, 12:09 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOAXGage, Jefferson, Saline114 min
May 17, 12:41 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson79 min
May 17, 12:54 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOAXJohnson, Nemaha, Otoe93 min
May 17, 11:52 AM CDTFlood WatchOAXCass, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha and 5 more34 hr
May 17, 2:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXKnox50 min
May 17, 5:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXBoone, Platte56 min
May 17, 5:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXAntelope, Boone, Madison, Platte43 min
May 17, 6:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatOAXMadison, Platte, Stanton44 min
May 17, 6:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXMadison, Stanton, Wayne45 min
May 17, 6:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXPlatte42 min
May 17, 6:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXSaline, Seward53 min
May 17, 6:23 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXColfax, Platte, Stanton25 min
May 17, 6:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXColfax, Cuming, Stanton49 min
May 17, 6:30 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXColfax, Platte18 min
May 17, 6:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXBurt, Cuming, Dodge, Stanton, Thurston, Wayne66 min
May 17, 6:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXLancaster, Saline, Saunders, Seward42 min
May 17, 6:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXButler, Colfax, Platte51 min
May 16, 7:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXFremont34 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.