Tornado Warning 29, NWS Omaha, NE

500 
WWUS53 KOAX 182143
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
443 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

NEC133-182230-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260518T2230Z/
Pawnee NE-
443 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN PAWNEE COUNTY...

At 443 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Pawnee City, moving northeast at 40 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
southeastern Pawnee 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.

&&

LAT...LON 4016 9607 4016 9601 4001 9601 4000 9603
      4000 9635 4011 9627
TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 238DEG 35KT 4009 9617 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN

$$

BLB

547 
WWUS53 KOAX 182145
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
445 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

NEC133-182230-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260518T2230Z/
Pawnee NE-
445 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR PAWNEE CITY...

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN PAWNEE COUNTY...

At 444 PM CDT, a confirmed large and destructive tornado was located
over Pawnee City, moving northeast at 40 mph.

TORNADO EMERGENCY for Pawnee City. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS 
SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Deadly tornado.

SOURCE...Emergency management confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may 
         be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes 
         will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, 
         businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction 
         is possible.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southeastern Pawnee County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous, and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW! Move
to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid
windows. If in a mobile home, a vehicle or outdoors, move to the
closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4002 9601 4002 9627 4013 9619 4016 9607
      4016 9601
TIME...MOT...LOC 2144Z 238DEG 35KT 4009 9616 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN

$$

BLB

729 
WWUS53 KOAX 182154 RRA
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
454 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

NEC133-182230-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260518T2230Z/
Pawnee NE-
454 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN PAWNEE COUNTY...

At 454 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located 5 miles north of Du Bois, or 7 miles east of Pawnee City,
moving east at 50 mph.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Emergency management confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may 
         be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes 
         will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, 
         businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction 
         is possible.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southeastern Pawnee County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, 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 4002 9601 4004 9609 4015 9613 4016 9607
      4016 9601
TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 255DEG 42KT 4011 9601 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

BLB

826 
WWUS53 KOAX 182204
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
504 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

NEC133-182214-
/O.CAN.KOAX.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260518T2230Z/
Pawnee NE-
504 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN PAWNEE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

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 800 PM CDT for southeastern
Nebraska.

&&

LAT...LON 4002 9601 4004 9609 4015 9613 4016 9607
      4016 9601
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 231DEG 22KT 4015 9595 

$$

BLB

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1247 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Potential for more severe weather today, mainly across
  southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Large hail, damaging
  winds, strong tornadoes, and flash flooding will all be
  possible.

- Cooler weather moves in on Tuesday with potential for morning
  frost for northeast Nebraska on Wednesday.

- Another active pattern may set up going into next weekend with
  chances for more storms, and possibly severe weather.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1155 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

Today and Tonight...

We had a deceivingly cool, cloudy start to the day.  Temperatures
this morning started off in the 50s at 9 AM, and dipped into the
upper 40s over northeast Nebraska. Farther south, however, Falls
City had already warmed to 70 degrees, on the warm side of a cold
front draped from Beatrice, to Offutt AFB, towards Shelby, IA.
Spotty showers and a few rumbles of thunder developed behind the
boundary this morning. A strong shortwave trough will continue to
eject eastward this afternoon, bringing forcing for large-scale
ascent. Despite the lingering cloud cover, very steep lapse rates
aloft and daytime heating of a moist low-level airmass will likely
support strong instability south of the cold front. Mesoanalysis
depicting strong thetaE advection from central Kansas through
southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa depicted the abrupt resurgence
of a volatile airmass. Storms have already begun to fire on the warm
side of the boundary over northwest Kansas, and are expected to
develop over far southeast Nebraska by 2 PM this afternoon. Initial
isolated supercells will have the greatest potential for producing
strong, potentially violent tornadoes, very large hail, and damaging
winds, with the greatest risk in far southeast Nebraska. By 4 or 5
PM, CAMS depict more widespread clusters of storms developing, with
the potential for supercell structures. While not as extreme as the
possible intensity over far southeast Nebraska, these storms,
primarily along and southeast of a line from Lincoln to Omaha will
still be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and
perhaps a tornado or two.

In addition to hail, winds, and a chance for tornadoes, heavy rain
will also become an issue overnight. Last night's round of
convection brought around 0.5" to 1" of rain across the forecast
area. The potential for a few training storms with 3"+ per hour
rates on top of the already saturated soils will create the
potential for flash flooding across parts of far southeast Nebraska
and southwest Iowa tonight. Therefore, a Flood Watch remains in
effect until 7 AM Tuesday for southeast Nebraska and parts of
southwest Iowa.

Tuesday and Beyond...

We'll see the cold front clear well to the south and east of our
area by Tuesday, putting a cooler Canadian air mass in place
across the region. Tuesday will start out cloudy once again, but
really clear by the afternoon as high pressure builds over our
area. High temperatures on Tuesday will only reach into the
upper 50s to mid 60s. With clear skies and nearly calm winds,
this lends to potential for frost early Wednesday. Overnight
lows will drop into the mid 30s for northeast Nebraska to low
40s across southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Cooler weather
holds into Wednesday though we do see a reversal to southerly
winds and start to advect moisture back into the region. An
upper-level shortwave could potentially bring a few showers to
the area Wednesday afternoon and evening, but the ensembles
haven't picked up on this latest change in the deterministic
guidance. In any case, this wouldn't be anything impactful.

A better chance for showers and storms moves in Thursday as the
longwave trough that's been nearly stationary over the western
US shifts eastward toward our area. With temperatures still in
the sixties for highs, I wouldn't anticipate much of a severe
weather threat with this system for our area.

Temperatures start to rebound on Friday though as we see
enhanced warm air advection ahead of a deepening surface low
which develops on the lee side of the Rockies over eastern
Colorado and western Nebraska. Depending on the track of this
system, we could potentially see more active weather next
weekend with several chances for storms.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 1244 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

Widespread IFR/MVFR ceilings are observed across terminals this
afternoon. Will see an area of scattered showers and storms
overspread KLNK and KOMA after 21z. Have refined timing a bit with
this issuance, but expect further refinements and adjustments.
Storms that affect terminals will likely become severe with strong
winds, very large hail, and the potential for a tornado. Have added
a transition to -SHRA at KOMA and KLNK after 01/02z. Ceilings will
bounce between MVFR/IFR overnight, before largely becoming MVFR late
in the TAF period. Winds from the north northeast will turn to the
north northwest this evening, with gusts gradually increasing to 25
to 30 kts, persisting for the rest of the TAF cycle.

&&

.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for NEZ065-066-068-078-
     088>093.
IA...Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for IAZ090-091.

&&

DISCUSSION...KG/McCoy
AVIATION...Castillo

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1256 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-191800-
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-
1256 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Additional strong to severe storms are forecast this afternoon, with
an increased threat for large hail (2-4+ inches) and strong
tornadoes. Additional chances for heavy rainfall on top of what has
already fallen since Friday night will result in a potential for
flash flooding, particularly for portions of southeastern Nebraska.
Chances to see severe storm activity is maximized over southeast
Nebraska.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed this afternoon and evening.

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
351 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

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

0349 PM     Hail             4 N Clarkson            41.79N 97.14W
05/18/2026  E1.75 Inch       Stanton            NE   Emergency Mngr

&&

DAC

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
356 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

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

0347 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 ESE Lewiston          40.22N 96.35W
05/18/2026  M81 MPH          Pawnee             NE   Public

            Caller reported an 81 mph wind gust measured
            from a personal weather station. Also
            reported 6 to 8 inch diameter tree limbs
            broken.

&&

JC

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
359 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

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

0356 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 NE Crab Orchard       40.36N 96.39W
05/18/2026  M66 MPH          Johnson            NE   Public

            Personal Weather Station.

&&

DAC

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
415 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

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

0414 PM     Flash Flood      Beatrice                40.27N 96.74W
05/18/2026                   Gage               NE   Law Enforcement

            Several intersections flooded in Beatrice,
            with one to two foot water depths reported.
            Several cars reported stranded.

&&

Pearson

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
418 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

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

0412 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 SSW Johnson           40.35N 96.05W
05/18/2026  E90 MPH          Nemaha             NE   Public

            Personal Weather Station.

&&

DAC

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
420 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

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

0411 PM     Hail             4 SE Lewiston           40.21N 96.35W
05/18/2026  M1.00 Inch       Pawnee             NE   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

&&

DAC