Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 36, NWS Omaha, NE
NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at May 18, 2026, 6:32 PM CDT for Nemaha County, Richardson County, Nebraska. It was in force for 20 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
- May 18, 2026, 6:32 PM CDT (23:32 UTC)
- Expired
- May 18, 2026, 6:52 PM CDT
- In force
- 20 min
- Issued by
- NWS Omaha, NE
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Nemaha County, NE, Richardson County, NE
The radar
The Omaha radar (KOAX), 133 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 12:50 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 133 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
- 871 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 49 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 271 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 220 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
835
WFUS53 KOAX 182332
TOROAX
NEC127-147-190015-
/O.NEW.KOAX.TO.W.0036.260518T2332Z-260519T0015Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
632 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southeastern Nemaha County in southeastern Nebraska...
North central Richardson County in southeastern Nebraska...
* Until 715 PM CDT.
* At 632 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Stella, or 12 miles south of Auburn, moving
northeast at 30 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.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Shubert around 640 PM CDT.
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 4025 9583 4036 9563 4034 9562 4032 9566
4031 9565 4032 9561 4029 9555 4026 9555
4025 9552 4025 9549 4023 9547 4022 9547
4014 9581
TIME...MOT...LOC 2332Z 240DEG 27KT 4022 9576
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
BLB1 follow-up statement
799
WWUS53 KOAX 182352
SVSOAX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
652 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
NEC127-147-190000-
/O.CAN.KOAX.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-260519T0015Z/
Nemaha NE-Richardson NE-
652 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN NEMAHA AND NORTH CENTRAL
RICHARDSON COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. However, heavy rain is
still possible with this thunderstorm.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for southeastern
Nebraska.
Remember, a Tornado Warning still remains in effect for southern
Richardson County.
&&
LAT...LON 4025 9583 4036 9563 4034 9562 4032 9566
4031 9565 4032 9561 4029 9555 4026 9555
4025 9552 4025 9549 4023 9547 4022 9547
4014 9581
TIME...MOT...LOC 2348Z 240DEG 27KT 4029 9560
$$
BLBWhat 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, 5 hours 45 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, 5 hours 45 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...CastilloHazardous weather outlook, May 18, 12:56 PM CDT, 5 hours 36 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, 5:58 PM CDT, 34 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
558 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0551 PM Hail Clarinda 40.74N 95.04W
05/18/2026 M1.00 Inch Page IA Public
&&
DACLocal storm report, May 18, 5:59 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
559 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0557 PM Hail Clarinda 40.73N 95.03W
05/18/2026 E1.00 Inch Page IA Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
&&
JCLocal storm report, May 18, 6:01 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
601 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0552 PM Hail 4 W Wakefield 42.26N 96.94W
05/18/2026 E1.00 Inch Wayne NE Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
&&
DACLocal storm report, May 18, 6:14 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
614 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0612 PM Hail 6 W Fairbury 40.14N 97.29W
05/18/2026 M1.25 Inch Jefferson NE Trained Spotter
Trained spotter reported half dollar size
hail.
&&
JCLocal storm report, May 18, 6:22 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
622 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0621 PM Hail 5 NNW Valparaiso 41.15N 96.85W
05/18/2026 M1.00 Inch Saunders NE Trained Spotter
&&
JCLocal storm report, May 18, 6:25 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
625 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0619 PM Hail 1 NW Fairbury 40.15N 97.19W
05/18/2026 M1.25 Inch Jefferson NE Public
Public report of half dollar size hail.
&&
JCThe office that day
Everything else NWS Omaha, NE issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 7:03 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Saunders | 42 min |
| May 17, 7:08 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Jefferson, Saline | 32 min |
| May 17, 7:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Jefferson, Saline, Seward | 44 min |
| May 17, 7:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson | 40 min |
| May 17, 7:22 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Thurston | 11 min |
| May 17, 7:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Burt, Cuming, Dodge, Thurston, Washington | 48 min |
| May 17, 7:30 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders, Washington | 45 min |
| May 17, 7:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Cass, Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy, Saunders | 59 min |
| May 17, 7:32 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Lancaster | 119 min |
| May 17, 7:33 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson, Lancaster, Saline | 29 min |
| May 17, 7:47 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Cass, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders | 43 min |
| May 17, 7:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Otoe, Pawnee | 49 min |
| May 17, 8:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Burt, Dodge, Washington | 45 min |
| May 17, 8:01 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Lancaster, Saunders | 44 min |
| May 17, 8:04 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Washington | 26 min |
| May 17, 8:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Cass, Douglas, Sarpy, Washington | 64 min |
| May 17, 8:14 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Douglas, Sarpy | 29 min |
| May 17, 8:17 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Cass, Lancaster, Otoe | 27 min |
| May 17, 8:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Cass, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders | 50 min |
| May 17, 8:29 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Cass, Gage, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe | 46 min |
| May 17, 8:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee | 47 min |
| May 17, 8:46 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Cass | 29 min |
| May 17, 9:03 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Cass, Otoe, Sarpy | 72 min |
| May 17, 9:14 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe | 46 min |
| May 17, 9:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Pawnee | 39 min |
| May 17, 9:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson | 46 min |
| May 17, 10:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson | 30 min |
| May 18, 2:08 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson | 52 min |
| May 18, 2:26 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson | 49 min |
| May 18, 2:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Pawnee | 66 min |
| May 18, 2:57 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson | 5 hr |
| May 18, 3:00 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Gage | 60 min |
| May 18, 3:07 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson | 38 min |
| May 18, 3:38 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Johnson, Pawnee | 50 min |
| May 18, 3:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee | 51 min |
| May 18, 3:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Colfax, Cuming, Stanton | 42 min |
| May 18, 3:49 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OAX | Gage, Johnson, Pawnee | 4 hr |
| May 18, 3:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Colfax, Cuming, Stanton | 38 min |
| May 18, 3:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Butler, Dodge, Saunders | 47 min |
| May 18, 4:00 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Nemaha | 60 min |
| May 18, 4:02 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson | 43 min |
| May 18, 4:03 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Butler, Seward | 42 min |
| May 18, 4:06 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Thurston, Wayne | 24 min |
| May 18, 4:25 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Pawnee | 39 min |
| May 18, 4:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Burt, Cuming, Dodge, Washington | 63 min |
| May 18, 4:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Colfax, Dodge | 39 min |
| May 18, 4:39 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Nemaha, Otoe, Richardson | 66 min |
| May 18, 4:41 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Pawnee, Richardson | 64 min |
| May 18, 4:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson, Saline | 46 min |
| May 18, 4:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Lancaster, Saline, Seward | 41 min |
| May 18, 4:52 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Richardson | 53 min |
| May 18, 4:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Burt, Thurston | 21 min |
| May 18, 5:02 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson | 5 hr |
| May 18, 5:12 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Richardson | 48 min |
| May 18, 5:21 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Gage, Pawnee | 39 min |
| May 18, 5:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Cuming, Stanton, Wayne | 26 min |
| May 18, 5:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Saline, Seward | 52 min |
| May 18, 5:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Butler, Saunders | 42 min |
| May 18, 5:51 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Nemaha, Richardson | 4 hr |
| May 18, 5:57 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson | 18 min |
| May 18, 6:02 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Gage, Pawnee, Richardson | 3 hr |
| May 18, 6:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Jefferson, Saline | 48 min |
| May 18, 6:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Johnson, Otoe | 20 min |
| May 18, 6:14 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Nemaha | 20 min |
| May 18, 6:18 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Cass, Otoe | 31 min |
| May 18, 6:23 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Richardson | 3 hr |
| May 18, 6:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Lancaster | 47 min |
| May 18, 6:32 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson | 43 min |
| May 18, 6:48 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Richardson | 42 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.