Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 30, NWS Omaha, NE

May 18, 2026Richardson County, Nebraska

NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at May 18, 2026, 4:52 PM CDT for Richardson County, Nebraska. It was in force for 53 min. 4 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
May 18, 2026, 4:52 PM CDT (21:52 UTC)
Expired
May 18, 2026, 5:45 PM CDT
In force
53 min
Issued by
NWS Omaha, NE
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Observed
Hail
1.25 in

County Richardson County, NE

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 127 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:52 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 18, 5:00 PM CDTTORNADO5 S Dawson, NEPhoto of a cone tornado ongoing south of Dawson.
May 18, 5:05 PM CDTHAIL 1.5Humboldt, NEDelayed report received via social media of hail estimated up to 1.5 inches in diameter. Social media report displayed multiple pictures of the hail.
May 18, 5:07 PM CDTTORNADO1 Ne Salem, NEA tornado developed at approximately 5:07 PM near the intersection of 646 Avenue and 708 Road, about 1 mile northeast of Salem. Intermittent damage to trees and farm outbuildings was noted between 646 and 647 Avenues. The tornado continued northeast, damaging
May 18, 5:15 PM CDTTORNADO4 Ssw Barada, NEMulti-vortex tornado reported north of Falls City.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 4 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 3 minutes after it went out.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 18, 12:50 PM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 123 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, Topeka, KS at 12:00Z on 2026-05-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Topeka, KS at 12:00Z on 2026-05-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 71 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
963 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
271 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

334 
WFUS53 KOAX 182152
TOROAX
NEC147-182245-
/O.NEW.KOAX.TO.W.0030.260518T2152Z-260518T2245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
452 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Western Richardson County in southeastern Nebraska...

* Until 545 PM CDT.

* At 451 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located 4 miles east of 
  Pawnee City, moving east at 40 mph. A second possible tornado was 
  located 4 miles east southeast of Du Bois, also moving east at 40 
  mph.

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado and half dollar size hail.

  SOURCE...Emergency management confirmed tornado.

  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.

* The tornado will be near...
  Humboldt around 455 PM CDT.
  Dawson around 505 PM CDT.
  Verdon and Stella around 515 PM CDT.
  Shubert around 520 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Camp
Cornhusker, The Highway 75 And 8 Junction, and Kirkmans Cove
Recreation Area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. 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 4018 9601 4027 9568 4026 9560
      4004 9559 4000 9582 4000 9590
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 253DEG 34KT 4011 9607 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN

$$

BLB
5 follow-up statements
967 
WWUS53 KOAX 182203
SVSOAX

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

NEC147-182245-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0030.000000T0000Z-260518T2245Z/
Richardson NE-
503 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CDT FOR WESTERN
RICHARDSON COUNTY...

At 502 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located over Salem, or 8 miles west of Falls City, moving northeast 
at 40 mph. A second area of rotation capable of producing a tornado 
was located 2 miles west of Humboldt, moving east at 40 mph.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed a tornado 2 miles southeast of 
         Salem.

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.

Locations impacted include...
Falls City, Humboldt, Verdon, Stella, Shubert, Dawson, Salem, The
Highway 75 And 8 Junction, and Kirkmans Cove Recreation Area.

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 4003 9600 4018 9600 4027 9568 4026 9560
      4005 9559 4001 9581 4001 9589
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 235DEG 36KT 4009 9576 

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

$$

BLB
819 
WWUS53 KOAX 182209
SVSOAX

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

NEC147-182245-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0030.000000T0000Z-260518T2245Z/
Richardson NE-
509 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CDT FOR WESTERN
RICHARDSON COUNTY...

At 509 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located 3 miles southeast of Verdon, or 5 miles northwest of Falls 
City, moving northeast at 35 mph. A second area of rotation capable 
of producing a tornado was located 3 miles southeast of Humboldt, 
moving east at 35 mph.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado two miles northeast of 
         Salem.

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.

Locations impacted include...
Falls City, Humboldt, Verdon, Stella, Shubert, Dawson, Salem, and The
Highway 75 And 8 Junction.

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 4003 9598 4019 9598 4027 9568 4026 9560
      4006 9559 4002 9579 4002 9587
TIME...MOT...LOC 2209Z 244DEG 32KT 4011 9568 

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

$$

BLB
585 
WWUS53 KOAX 182220
SVSOAX

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

NEC147-182245-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0030.000000T0000Z-260518T2245Z/
Richardson NE-
520 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL RICHARDSON COUNTY...

At 520 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Stella, or 12 miles southeast of Auburn, moving east
at 40 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.

Locations impacted include...
Verdon, Stella, and Shubert.

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 4013 9580 4023 9582 4027 9568 4026 9560
      4015 9559 4014 9572
TIME...MOT...LOC 2220Z 249DEG 34KT 4023 9573 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

BLB
931 
WWUS53 KOAX 182231
SVSOAX

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

NEC147-182245-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0030.000000T0000Z-260518T2245Z/
Richardson NE-
531 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL RICHARDSON COUNTY...

At 531 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 3 miles southeast of Shubert, or 10 miles north of Falls
City, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

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...
Verdon and Shubert.

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 4014 9571 4024 9573 4027 9564 4026 9560
      4015 9559 4015 9563 4014 9569
TIME...MOT...LOC 2231Z 256DEG 33KT 4021 9561 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

BLB
789 
WWUS53 KOAX 182238
SVSOAX

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

NEC147-182248-
/O.EXP.KOAX.TO.W.0030.000000T0000Z-260518T2245Z/
Richardson NE-
538 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL RICHARDSON COUNTY WILL
EXPIRE AT 545 PM CDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for southeastern
Nebraska.

&&

LAT...LON 4014 9571 4024 9573 4027 9564 4026 9560
      4015 9559 4015 9563 4014 9569
TIME...MOT...LOC 2238Z 253DEG 34KT 4022 9555 

$$

BLB

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 18, 12:47 PM CDT, 4 hours 5 minutes earlier. Its 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.
Area forecast discussion, May 18, 12:47 PM CDT, 4 hours 5 minutes before
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, May 18, 12:56 PM CDT, 3 hours 56 minutes before
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.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 18, 3:59 PM CDT, 53 minutes before
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
Local storm report, May 18, 4:15 PM CDT, 37 minutes before
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
Local storm report, May 18, 4:18 PM CDT, 34 minutes before
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
Local storm report, May 18, 4:20 PM CDT, 32 minutes before
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
Local storm report, May 18, 4:39 PM CDT, 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
439 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

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

0434 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 NNW Auburn            40.41N 95.86W
05/18/2026  M62 MPH          Nemaha             NE   Mesonet

            Personal weather station gusted to 62 mph.

&&

JC
Local storm report, May 18, 4:46 PM CDT, 6 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
446 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

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

0445 PM     Tornado          6 SW Pawnee City        40.05N 96.24W
05/18/2026                   Pawnee             NE   Emergency Mngr

            Report of multi-vortex tornado east of Hwy
            99 and Hwy 8.

&&

DAC

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 17, 7:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXSaunders42 min
May 17, 7:08 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXJefferson, Saline32 min
May 17, 7:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXJefferson, Saline, Seward44 min
May 17, 7:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Jefferson40 min
May 17, 7:22 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXThurston11 min
May 17, 7:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXBurt, Cuming, Dodge, Thurston, Washington48 min
May 17, 7:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXDodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders, Washington45 min
May 17, 7:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXCass, Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy, Saunders59 min
May 17, 7:32 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOAXLancaster119 min
May 17, 7:33 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXGage, Jefferson, Lancaster, Saline29 min
May 17, 7:47 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXCass, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders43 min
May 17, 7:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Otoe, Pawnee49 min
May 17, 8:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXBurt, Dodge, Washington45 min
May 17, 8:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXLancaster, Saunders44 min
May 17, 8:04 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXWashington26 min
May 17, 8:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXCass, Douglas, Sarpy, Washington64 min
May 17, 8:14 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXDouglas, Sarpy29 min
May 17, 8:17 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXCass, Lancaster, Otoe27 min
May 17, 8:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXCass, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders50 min
May 17, 8:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXCass, Gage, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe46 min
May 17, 8:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee47 min
May 17, 8:46 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXCass29 min
May 17, 9:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXCass, Otoe, Sarpy72 min
May 17, 9:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXJohnson, Nemaha, Otoe46 min
May 17, 9:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXGage, Pawnee39 min
May 17, 9:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXNemaha, Pawnee, Richardson46 min
May 17, 10:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXJohnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson30 min
May 18, 2:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Jefferson52 min
May 18, 2:26 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXGage, Jefferson49 min
May 18, 2:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXGage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Pawnee66 min
May 18, 2:57 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningOAXGage, Jefferson5 hr
May 18, 3:00 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedOAXGage60 min
May 18, 3:07 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXGage, Jefferson38 min
May 18, 3:38 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXJohnson, Pawnee50 min
May 18, 3:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXGage, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee51 min
May 18, 3:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXColfax, Cuming, Stanton42 min
May 18, 3:49 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningOAXGage, Johnson, Pawnee4 hr
May 18, 3:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXColfax, Cuming, Stanton38 min
May 18, 3:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXButler, Dodge, Saunders47 min
May 18, 4:00 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXNemaha60 min
May 18, 4:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXJohnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson43 min
May 18, 4:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXButler, Seward42 min
May 18, 4:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXThurston, Wayne24 min
May 18, 4:25 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyOAXPawnee39 min
May 18, 4:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXBurt, Cuming, Dodge, Washington63 min
May 18, 4:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXColfax, Dodge39 min
May 18, 4:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXNemaha, Otoe, Richardson66 min
May 18, 4:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXPawnee, Richardson64 min
May 18, 4:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Jefferson, Saline46 min
May 18, 4:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXLancaster, Saline, Seward41 min
May 18, 4:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXBurt, Thurston21 min
May 18, 5:02 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOAXJohnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson5 hr
May 18, 5:12 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatOAXRichardson48 min
May 18, 5:21 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXGage, Pawnee39 min
May 18, 5:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOAXCuming, Stanton, Wayne26 min
May 18, 5:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXSaline, Seward52 min
May 18, 5:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXButler, Saunders42 min
May 18, 5:51 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOAXNemaha, Richardson4 hr
May 18, 5:57 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXNemaha, Pawnee, Richardson18 min
May 18, 6:02 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOAXGage, Pawnee, Richardson3 hr
May 18, 6:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXJefferson, Saline48 min
May 18, 6:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Johnson, Otoe20 min
May 18, 6:14 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXNemaha20 min
May 18, 6:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXCass, Otoe31 min
May 18, 6:23 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOAXRichardson3 hr
May 18, 6:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Lancaster47 min
May 18, 6:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOAXGage, Jefferson43 min
May 18, 6:32 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXNemaha, Richardson20 min
May 18, 6:48 PM CDTTornado WarningOAXRichardson42 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.