Tornado Warning 3, NWS Omaha, NE

613 
WWUS53 KOAX 231947
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
247 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

NEC151-231956-
/O.CAN.KOAX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260423T2015Z/
Saline NE-
247 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

The tornadic part of the thunderstorm which prompted the warning 
should move south of Saline County. Therefore, the warning has been 
cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for southeastern
Nebraska.

&&

LAT...LON 4016 9700 4025 9703 4041 9684 4027 9668
TIME...MOT...LOC 1946Z 227DEG 28KT 4022 9696 

$$

NEC067-095-232015-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260423T2015Z/
Jefferson NE-Gage NE-
247 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL JEFFERSON AND WEST CENTRAL GAGE COUNTIES...

At 246 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Harbine, or 11 miles west of Beatrice, moving
northeast at 30 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.

Locations impacted 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 4016 9700 4025 9703 4041 9684 4027 9668
TIME...MOT...LOC 1946Z 227DEG 28KT 4022 9696 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

CA

898 
WWUS53 KOAX 232003
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
303 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

NEC095-232012-
/O.CAN.KOAX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260423T2015Z/
Jefferson NE-
303 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for southeastern
Nebraska.

&&

LAT...LON 4030 9691 4041 9684 4033 9675 4023 9691
TIME...MOT...LOC 2002Z 220DEG 29KT 4029 9687 

$$

NEC067-232015-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260423T2015Z/
Gage NE-
303 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL GAGE COUNTY...

At 302 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 6 miles west of Beatrice, moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong 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.

Locations impacted include...
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.

&&

LAT...LON 4030 9691 4041 9684 4033 9675 4023 9691
TIME...MOT...LOC 2002Z 220DEG 29KT 4029 9687 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

CA

877 
WWUS53 KOAX 232012
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
312 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

NEC067-232021-
/O.EXP.KOAX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260423T2015Z/
Gage NE-
312 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL GAGE COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
315 PM CDT...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning will be 
allowed to expire. 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 700 PM CDT for southeastern
Nebraska.

&&

LAT...LON 4030 9691 4041 9684 4033 9675 4023 9691
TIME...MOT...LOC 2011Z 220DEG 31KT 4034 9681 

$$

CA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1235 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Strong to severe thunderstorm potential will continue through
  afternoon and evening (15% chance of severe for any given
  storm), with the greatest risk between 2 PM and 8 PM.

- Dry conditions behind the front are driving extreme fire
  danger for areas of northeast Nebraska, with a Red Flag
  Warning in effect.

- Cooler temperatures this weekend with additional chances for
  showers and thunderstorms on Saturday (30-60%) and Sunday
  (60-90%).

- Near normal temperatures into next week with on and off
  shower and thunderstorm chances.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1137 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

Today:

Water vapor imagery this afternoon features a broad mid/upper trough
pushing to the south and east with forcing for ascent apparent
already over eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Recent surface
observations show the front draped from south-central Nebraska into
northeast Nebraska and northwest Iowa with a slow move to the east
set through the afternoon. This system has brought with it strong
winds throughout the vertical column, helping to increase shear
while lapse rates to work along with steep lapse rates to provide a
favorable environment for severe storms. Even now, increasing
vertical development is occurring over northeast Nebraska,
where updrafts aided by mid/upper height falls and frontal
convergence.

Just to keep things organized, I'll set out the main expectations
for the day and get further into the hazard. Initial showers and
storms are ongoing across northeast Nebraska, as updrafts fight
weak capping at 850-700 mb. These showers and storms are
expected to be strong to marginally severe, with only a handful
of storms being able to make it past the inhibition to reach a
stronger level. This area will generally be limited to areas
north of a line from Columbus to Wahoo through 1 PM. Between 1
and 3 PM, stronger storm development will become likely. Strong
to severe storms will begin to initiate, and be more isolated at
first as weaker updrafts fail fail to break through. Those
cells will be more likely the farther north you move along the
front, and this semi-isolated storm regime will continue until 5
PM. Those cells will initiate generally east of a line From
there, further erosion of any capping inversion will occur and
the largely in-line component of deeper-shear vectors will help
dive upscale growth, and transition storm mode into a liner/QLCS
character as it pushes east and out of the forecast area by 8
PM.

Getting into hazards, the more isolated storms will hold the
greatest threat for hail, as they will be able to maintain rotating
mid/level mesocyclones and tap into the steep lapse rates. Hail
analogs up and down the line show plenty potential for 2+ inch hail,
with some curvature in the lower hodograph to support an isolated
tornado threat. As storms grow upscale, hail would become less
favored, transitioning to wind, QLCS tornado, and marginal hail as
the hazards. The best tornado potential will be associated with
storms that can bend back a bit to be northwest, or where remnants
of any supercells remain embedded in the line. This QLCS regime will
then push eastward, limiting the training that could occur and limit
the overall flood threat.

Not to be forgotten, very dry conditions will fall into place behind
the front with RH values between 10-25% and winds increasing to 20-
30 mph. A wind shift will push through late this evening and
increase to 40 mph gusts, but with increasing RH at that point.
Those factors are pushing fire danger into the extreme category for
northeast Nebraska, and a Red Flag Warning is in effect through 8 PM
for the threat.

Friday and Beyond:

A generally busy pattern is on tap entering the weekend into next
week. Numerous chances for rainfall will move through the area,
driven first by the leftover low spinning over southern Canada
before it gets kicked out by a deepening shortwave that pushes east
from the Pacific Coast later next week. The main period to watch for
will be Sunday into early Monday, where widespread rainfall is set
to move into the area, and potentially some strong storms as well
based on latest machine-learning output. The timing of that system
will entirely dictate if severe weather occurs; a late arrival that
delays most of the rainfall until nighttime would greatly hamper
severe potential. Nevertheless, we should do some good work to make
back some much-needed rainfall to the area as temperatures in the
50s and 60s continue.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1230 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

VFR conditions are forecast through the period at KOFK, while
KOMA and KLNK deal with strong to severe storms shortly. A line
of storms is building to the west of these locations, set to
arrive 1930-2000z lasting for 1-2 hours. As the move through,
potentially strong winds will be possible (greater than 35 kts)
along with hail, and possibly a tornado. Ceilings will dip into
MVFR territory, with visibilities following suit or staying just
above at 6 miles. Once it passes through, winds will become
somewhat variable and then turn northwesterly once the larger
wind shift arrives. There will likely be some increase in gusts
as it arrives for a few hours, before dissipating overnight
while staying out of the north.

&&

.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...Red Flag Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for NEZ011-012-
     016-017-030-031-042.
IA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Petersen
AVIATION...Petersen

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1143 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-241645-
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-
1143 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 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.

Strong to severe thunderstorms are developing and will continue into
the evening (15% chance of severe for any given storm), with the
greatest risk between 2 PM and 8 PM. Large hail and damaging winds
are the primary hazards, though a tornado or two is possible.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect through 8 PM this evening across
northeast Nebraska, driven by dry conditions and gusty winds.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

High to very high fire danger is possible for parts of northeast
Nebraska through Friday.

There is a low (15%) chance of severe thunderstorms on Sunday near
the Kansas-Nebraska border.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
219 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0211 PM     Hail             4 WSW Kennard           41.45N 96.27W
04/23/2026  E1.75 Inch       Washington         NE   Law Enforcement

            Reported by law enforcement, east of town.
            Time estimated based on radar.

&&

DMP

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
220 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0218 PM     Hail             1 SSE Fairbury          40.13N 97.17W
04/23/2026  E1.00 Inch       Jefferson          NE   Emergency Mngr

            Reported by emergency management.

&&

DMP

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
222 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0217 PM     Hail             Pleasant Dale           40.79N 96.93W
04/23/2026  M1.75 Inch       Seward             NE   Public

            Public report of golf balls in Pleasant
            Dale.

&&

JC

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
226 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0224 PM     Hail             1 SSE Fairbury          40.13N 97.17W
04/23/2026  E1.75 Inch       Jefferson          NE   Public

            Report from EM.

&&

DMP

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
229 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0225 PM     Hail             2 ESE Pleasant Dale     40.78N 96.89W
04/23/2026  E1.75 Inch       Lancaster          NE   Trained Spotter

            Reported through emergency management.

&&

DMP

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
234 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0146 PM     Tornado          2 NW Little Sioux       41.83N 96.05W
04/23/2026                   Harrison           IA   Emergency Mngr

            EM reported a tornado touchdown.

&&

JC/CLF