Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 49, NWS Omaha, NE
NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at Aug 13, 2026, 2:41 AM CDT for 4 counties in Nebraska. It was in force for 34 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
- Aug 13, 2026, 2:41 AM CDT (07:41 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 13, 2026, 3:15 AM CDT
- In force
- 34 min
- Issued by
- NWS Omaha, NE
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Colfax County, NE, Madison County, NE, Platte County, NE, Stanton County, NE
The radar
The Omaha radar (KOAX), 99 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:42 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 2:50 AM CDT | TORNADO | 3 Se Humphrey, NE | NWS storm survey confirmed an EF-0 tornado with maximum estimated wind speeds of 65 mph. The tornado touched down east of Highway 81 to the southeast of Humphrey, NE near 250 Ave and flattened corn in a field and took down some small branches. The tornado cont |
| Aug 13, 2:56 AM CDT | TORNADO | 3 Wsw Leigh, NE | NWS storm survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado with maximum estimated wind speeds of 110 mph. The tornado touched down west of a cemetery near 130 Ave southwest of Leigh, NE. The tornado did significant tree damage to the cemetery, snapping 10-12 trees and damagin |
| Aug 13, 3:04 AM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sw Leigh, NE | Local EM passing along tree and power line damage that has closed Church street. Time estimated from radar data. |
| Aug 13, 3:04 AM CDT | TORNADO | 1 Sw Leigh, NE | NWS storm survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado with maximum estimated wind speeds of 95 mph. The short-track tornado touched down on the west side of the Club 91 Golf Course and moved northeast across Road V where concentrated tree damage occurred. The tornado con |
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 3 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 9 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 1:31 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 7.7 hours before the alert went out and 99 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
- 2691 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -151 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1336 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 28 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 64 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 129 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.1
- Supercell composite
- 1.5
The text
As transmitted.
636
WFUS53 KOAX 130741
TOROAX
NEC037-119-141-167-130815-
/O.NEW.KOAX.TO.W.0049.260813T0741Z-260813T0815Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
241 AM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026
The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southeastern Madison County in northeastern Nebraska...
Northwestern Colfax County in northeastern Nebraska...
Northeastern Platte County in northeastern Nebraska...
Southwestern Stanton County in northeastern Nebraska...
* Until 315 AM CDT.
* At 240 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 5 miles southeast of Lindsay, or 20 miles northwest of
Columbus, 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.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Humphrey around 245 AM CDT.
Creston around 255 AM CDT.
Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Leigh.
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.
Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 4182 9734 4178 9723 4168 9718 4160 9763
4163 9766 4168 9769
TIME...MOT...LOC 0740Z 247DEG 34KT 4166 9760
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
KG2 follow-up statements
515
WWUS53 KOAX 130747
SVSOAX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
247 AM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026
NEC037-119-141-167-130815-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-260813T0815Z/
Madison NE-Colfax NE-Platte NE-Stanton NE-
247 AM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 AM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN MADISON...NORTHWESTERN COLFAX...NORTHEASTERN PLATTE AND
SOUTHWESTERN STANTON COUNTIES...
At 247 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Humphrey, or 19 miles northwest of Columbus, moving
northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This dangerous storm will be near...
Creston around 255 AM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 4182 9734 4178 9723 4168 9718 4161 9753
4164 9756 4169 9759
TIME...MOT...LOC 0747Z 247DEG 34KT 4169 9751
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
KG576
WWUS53 KOAX 130757
SVSOAX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
257 AM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026
NEC119-130807-
/O.CAN.KOAX.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-260813T0815Z/
Madison NE-
257 AM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN MADISON 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 800 AM CDT for
northeastern Nebraska.
&&
LAT...LON 4179 9728 4178 9723 4168 9718 4164 9738
4167 9741 4171 9742
TIME...MOT...LOC 0757Z 247DEG 34KT 4173 9739
$$
NEC037-141-167-130815-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-260813T0815Z/
Colfax NE-Platte NE-Stanton NE-
257 AM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 AM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN COLFAX...NORTHEASTERN PLATTE AND SOUTH CENTRAL STANTON
COUNTIES...
At 257 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Creston, or 20 miles north of Columbus, moving
northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This dangerous storm will be near...
Creston around 300 AM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 4179 9728 4178 9723 4168 9718 4164 9738
4167 9741 4171 9742
TIME...MOT...LOC 0757Z 247DEG 34KT 4173 9739
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
KGWhat 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 Aug 13, 12:22 AM CDT, 2 hours 19 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- There is a 60 to 100% chance for showers and storms for areas along and north of Interstate 80 after midnight tonight. Storms will likely be severe with damaging wind gusts, some of which could be significant (65-80 mph), and heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding.
- More showers and storms develop Thursday evening into Friday morning (30 chance south, 80% north). Some storms could be strong.
- Periodic shower and storm chances continue through the weekend into early next week.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 13, 12:22 AM CDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 1222 AM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - There is a 60 to 100% chance for showers and storms for areas along and north of Interstate 80 after midnight tonight. Storms will likely be severe with damaging wind gusts, some of which could be significant (65-80 mph), and heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding. - More showers and storms develop Thursday evening into Friday morning (30 chance south, 80% north). Some storms could be strong. - Periodic shower and storm chances continue through the weekend into early next week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1215 AM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026 Ridging is evident over the south central CONUS on this evening's water vapor imagery. Overshooting tops in western Nebraska are running -85C. The KLNX radar is lit up with severe convection that's headed this way. It's tied to an upper level shortwave. Upscale growth has been observed in the western half of Nebraska. Model guidance has been consistent in keeping the resultant MCV chugging into the eastern part of the state after midnight tonight and bringing a swath of damaging winds. Some gusts of 75mph+ are possible (5% at any given point). Large hail and a QLCS type tornado can't be ruled out (2%), but flash flooding due to heavy rain is much more likely (15%+). Guidance does have the strongest winds tending to fizzle out before the storms hit the Missouri River. The warm front continues to lie along the KS/NE border and another LLJ is ramping up and transporting plenty of moisture over the cooler air in place. Our 00Z balloon showed 1.6" of PWAT which is over the 90th percentile. Warm cloud depths of 4,000 meters means the rain will be efficient. The HREF has probability of 3"+ of rain in three hours at 30-50% for all areas north of the Platte River / I-680. It's closer to 50-80% for 1"+ of precip in 3 hours. Current FFG suggests 2-3" in three hours would be about all soil could handle. Thankfully, the system looks progressive enough that there won't be much for training / repeating rounds of rain. Still, I expect a ribbon of 3-5" rainfall reports. .THURSDAY... The last of the strongest storms should be out of the area by 8am although some wrap around showers could linger through mid- morning around the SD state line. Temps will have a wide range from north (77F) to the south (95F) where dewpoints in the 70s will push heat indices past the 100F mark. Should the forecast pan out, a heat advisory may be necessary in the southern tier of counties, but confidence is low with convective debris / outflow as possible flies in the ointment. A 15-20% chance of thunderstorms redevelops in the afternoon as instability peaks near 4000 J/kg. Convection is conditional, meaning it's most likely to never develop, but if it is able to bust through the inhibition, a supercell is possible which suggests wind and hail damage is possible. Again, this is less than likely (20%). Better chances of precip wait again until after dark for the approach of another MCV/MCS that originates in the Front Range. We'll also watch PoPs climb as the LLJ ramps up again. The HREF suggest rainfall rates will be less than those of early Thursday morning, but should another 2-3" fall on tonight's soggiest locations, flash flooding would once again be an issue. .FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND... Temps on Friday and Saturday will again have a 15-20 degree discrepancy from north (70s) to south (90s). Regular opportunities for showers remain (40-60% Friday) and (60-70%) for Saturday as monsoonal moisture continues to stream around the high pressure ridge over TX. PoPs peak overnight thanks to that nocturnal summer jet. Saturday night brings a strong cold front through the area leaving Sunday the coolest day of the week so far. With the sfc high settling into the area, skies will clear from north to south and the day should be mostly dry. .BEYOND... Global models tend to diverge in solutions for next week with the Euro bringing a trof through the area, the Canadian a ridge, and the GFS splitting the difference. Will keep regular 20% PoPs in the forecast for next week, which isn't far from August climatology. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1220 AM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026 Storms will move out of central Nebraska this evening, and effect the TAF sites overnight and into early Thursday morning. A few of the stronger storms will be capable of damaging winds and very heavy rain fall. The best chance for severe weather to impact KOFK will be between 08-10Z, and KOMA could see impacts between 09-12Z. A few storms may graze KLNK between 10-13Z. Expect conditions to deteriorate to MVFR, perhaps IFR, as storms roll through. VFR conditions should return around 16Z Thursday, with winds remaining out of the northeast. && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. IA...None. && DISCUSSION...Nicolaisen AVIATION...Cage
The office that day
Everything else NWS Omaha, NE issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 1:36 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Boone | 39 min |
| Aug 13, 2:09 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Antelope, Boone, Madison, Platte | 51 min |
| Aug 13, 2:34 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Antelope, Boone, Colfax, Madison, Pierce, Platte and 2 more | 41 min |
| Aug 13, 3:02 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | OAX | Colfax, Cuming, Dodge, Platte, Stanton | 28 min |
| Aug 13, 3:09 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Burt, Colfax, Cuming, Dodge, Madison, Platte and 1 more | 51 min |
| Aug 13, 3:43 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Burt, Cuming, Dodge, Washington | 47 min |
| Aug 13, 4:21 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Burt, Cuming, Stanton, Thurston, Wayne | 3 hr |
| Aug 13, 4:32 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Colfax, Dodge | 118 min |
| Aug 13, 4:49 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Douglas | 116 min |
| Aug 13, 5:01 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Burt, Thurston, Wayne | 2 hr |
| Aug 13, 5:25 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OAX | Thurston | 2 hr |
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.