Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 48, NWS Omaha, NE
NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at Jul 8, 2026, 9:45 PM CDT for Harrison County, Pottawattamie County, Shelby County, Iowa. It was in force for 25 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
- Jul 8, 2026, 9:45 PM CDT (02:45 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 8, 2026, 10:10 PM CDT
- In force
- 25 min
- Issued by
- NWS Omaha, NE
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Harrison County, IA, Pottawattamie County, IA, Shelby County, IA
The radar
The Omaha radar (KOAX), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:46 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 8, 5:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 2.8 hours before the alert went out and 79 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
- 3058 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -9 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1287 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 21 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 75 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 129 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.7
- Supercell composite
- 5.4
The text
As transmitted.
055
WFUS53 KOAX 090245
TOROAX
IAC085-155-165-090330-
/O.NEW.KOAX.TO.W.0048.260709T0245Z-260709T0330Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
945 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northeastern Pottawattamie County in southwestern Iowa...
Southeastern Harrison County in southwestern Iowa...
Southwestern Shelby County in southwestern Iowa...
* Until 1030 PM CDT.
* At 945 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 3 miles southeast of Persia, or 12 miles southwest of
Harlan, moving east at 15 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...
Shelby around 950 PM CDT.
Avoca around 1005 PM CDT.
This includes Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 29 and 43.
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.
Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 4149 9558 4159 9559 4159 9522 4139 9531
TIME...MOT...LOC 0245Z 290DEG 15KT 4154 9553
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
Petersen2 follow-up statements
218
WWUS53 KOAX 090302
SVSOAX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
1002 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
IAC085-090311-
/O.CAN.KOAX.TO.W.0048.000000T0000Z-260709T0330Z/
Harrison IA-
1002 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN HARRISON COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for
southwestern Iowa.
&&
LAT...LON 4146 9550 4155 9549 4157 9523 4139 9531
TIME...MOT...LOC 0301Z 295DEG 15KT 4151 9545
$$
IAC155-165-090330-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0048.000000T0000Z-260709T0330Z/
Pottawattamie IA-Shelby IA-
1002 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN POTTAWATTAMIE AND SOUTH CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTIES...
At 1001 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Shelby, or 11 miles southwest of Harlan, moving
southeast at 15 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...
Avoca and Shelby around 1005 PM CDT.
This includes Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 34 and 43.
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.
Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 4146 9550 4155 9549 4157 9523 4139 9531
TIME...MOT...LOC 0301Z 295DEG 15KT 4151 9545
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
Petersen466 WWUS53 KOAX 090310 SVSOAX Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska 1010 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 IAC155-165-090320- /O.CAN.KOAX.TO.W.0048.000000T0000Z-260709T0330Z/ Pottawattamie IA-Shelby IA- 1010 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN POTTAWATTAMIE AND SOUTH CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTIES IS CANCELLED... The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been cancelled. However, damaging winds remain likely and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for southwestern Iowa. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service Omaha. && LAT...LON 4146 9550 4155 9549 4157 9523 4139 9531 TIME...MOT...LOC 0308Z 290DEG 15KT 4150 9540 $$ Petersen
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 Jul 8, 5:27 PM CDT, 4 hours 18 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- |Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible this evening into tonight. The main hazards will be strong winds, hail, and localized flooding due to heavy rainfall.
- A few showers and thunderstorms are expected each day through Friday across the region.
- A pattern shift Saturday will bring a return of the heat on Sunday and into the extended forecast. Widespread highs in the 90s and lows in the 60s and 70s are expected.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 8, 5:27 PM CDT, 4 hours 18 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 527 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - |Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible this evening into tonight. The main hazards will be strong winds, hail, and localized flooding due to heavy rainfall. - A few showers and thunderstorms are expected each day through Friday across the region. - A pattern shift Saturday will bring a return of the heat on Sunday and into the extended forecast. Widespread highs in the 90s and lows in the 60s and 70s are expected. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 135 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 Showers and a few weak thunderstorms have fired up along a cold front and are currently moving across northeastern Nebraska/northwestern Iowa. This activity is expected to continue over the next few hours. Heading into the evening, models are showing a line of thunderstorms developing along the cold front. MLCAPE values of 2500+ are expected along with DCAPE values of 1000+, particularly for areas extending from along and south of a line from Fremont to Utica. A few single thunderstorms will eventually congeal into a line as it moves southeast. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected with wind, hail, and localized flooding be the main concerns. Precipitable water values are in the 1.4-1.7" range, so any storms that are able to get going could be efficient rain makers. Right now, the best chance for strong storms will be after 7pm. Thunderstorm chances will continue overnight. A few showers/storms may linger into the morning Thursday, before tapering off by early afternoon. Enjoy the cooler temperatures as highs reach the mid-80s for most locations. Afternoon high temperatures will be dependent on how soon the rain and clouds clear out. A quicker exit would allow us to warm slightly higher than forecasted temperatures, while a delayed exit would result in cooler temps. Despite the slightly cooler temperatures, dewpoints will be in the 60s and 70s, so it will feel pretty muggy. A shortwave trough moves across the region Thursday afternoon/evening, bringing a chance for a few additional showers and storms. Friday will bring more relief from the heat as highs climb into the low to mid-80s. However, dewpoints will once again be in the 60s and 70s, so it will feel pretty muggy. Another shortwave trough slides across eastern Nebraska Friday afternoon, bringing another chance for showers and thunderstorms. Saturday through the rest of the extended forecast: An upper ridge builds over the region with surface high pressure centered over Iowa and Illinois. While we will have a break from the thunderstorms, the heat is expected to return. The CPC is showing that there is a good chance of above normal temperatures occurring across the Midwest and Great Plains in the 6-10 and 8-14 day outlooks. Sunday highs will reach into the 80s and low 90s. Heading into the start of next week, widespread 90s will return. Lows will be in the low 70s several nights. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 522 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 Thunderstorm development is underway along a front draped across northeast Nebraska this evening. Storms will quickly grow into a larger cluster that slowly pushes southward into the overnight period. Confidence is high (80%) that each terminal will see thunderstorms tonight, with some amendments/refinements likely needed in exact timing. Patchy MVFR to IFR conditions are possible under any heavier thunderstorms. Strong to severe storms will also be possible, with pockets of damaging wind gusts (up to 50 kts) and hail (up to 1.50 inches). Severe weather potential will gradually diminish into the overnight period. Storms will clear from north to south during the early morning hours Thursday, with patchy MVFR ceilings possible into the morning hours behind the clearing showers. Winds will remain out of the south ahead of the front, quickly shifting to northerly behind the front. Winds will remain at 8-12 kts, besides when augmented by thunderstorm gusts. && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. IA...None. && DISCUSSION...ANW AVIATION...Wood
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 8, 7:28 PM CDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
728 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0722 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 W Columbus 41.43N 97.37W
07/08/2026 E60 MPH Platte NE Public
&&
mwLocal storm report, Jul 8, 7:42 PM CDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
742 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0727 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 WSW Richland 41.42N 97.28W
07/08/2026 M61 MPH Platte NE Mesonet
Personal Weather Station.
&&
LmLocal storm report, Jul 8, 8:26 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
826 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0820 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NW Fremont 41.46N 96.52W
07/08/2026 E60 MPH Dodge NE NWS Employee
&&
mwLocal storm report, Jul 8, 8:31 PM CDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
831 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0817 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 E Fremont 41.44N 96.44W
07/08/2026 M58 MPH Dodge NE Public
Personal weather station measured wind gust.
&&
mwLocal storm report, Jul 8, 8:52 PM CDT, 53 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
852 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0839 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 W Blair 41.55N 96.19W
07/08/2026 M60 MPH Washington NE Public
Personal weather station measured wind gust.
&&
mwThe office that day
Everything else NWS Omaha, NE issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 8, 8:08 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Harrison | 52 min |
| Jul 8, 8:32 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Harrison, Shelby | 26 min |
| Jul 8, 8:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Harrison, Pottawattamie | 29 min |
| Jul 8, 8:53 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Harrison | 24 min |
| Jul 8, 8:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Harrison, Mills, Pottawattamie | 46 min |
| Jul 8, 9:29 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Harrison, Shelby | 3 hr |
| Jul 8, 9:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Harrison, Pottawattamie, Shelby | 49 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 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.