Alert archive / Nebraska / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 52, NWS Omaha, NE
NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at Aug 19, 2026, 1:57 PM CDT for Fremont County, Iowa; Cass County, Otoe County, Nebraska. It was in force for 14 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
- Aug 19, 2026, 1:57 PM CDT (18:57 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 19, 2026, 2:11 PM CDT
- In force
- 14 min
- Issued by
- NWS Omaha, NE
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.0 in
Counties Fremont County, IA, Cass County, NE, Otoe County, NE
The radar
The Omaha radar (KOAX), 76 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:01 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 19, 9:53 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 76 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
- 819 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -60 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 838 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 46 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 1 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 33 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- -0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.2
The text
As transmitted.
928
WFUS53 KOAX 191857
TOROAX
IAC071-NEC025-131-191930-
/O.NEW.KOAX.TO.W.0052.260819T1857Z-260819T1930Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
157 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026
The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northwestern Fremont County in southwestern Iowa...
Northeastern Otoe County in southeastern Nebraska...
Southeastern Cass County in southeastern Nebraska...
* Until 230 PM CDT.
* At 156 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 4 miles north of Nebraska City, moving south at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Weather spotters reported funnel clouds near Lake Waconda
and near Interstate 29 .
IMPACT...If one of these funnel clouds contacts the ground. 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...
Nebraska City, Union, Thurman, and Camp Catron.
This includes Interstate 29 between mile markers 12 and 20.
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 4082 9595 4084 9580 4083 9565 4074 9567
4069 9578 4069 9595
TIME...MOT...LOC 1856Z 014DEG 8KT 4074 9584
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
BLB1 follow-up statement
536
WWUS53 KOAX 191911
SVSOAX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
211 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026
IAC071-NEC025-131-191921-
/O.CAN.KOAX.TO.W.0052.000000T0000Z-260819T1930Z/
Fremont IA-Otoe NE-Cass NE-
211 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN FREMONT...NORTHEASTERN OTOE
AND SOUTHEASTERN CASS COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado. Funnel
clouds have dissipated Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 400 PM CDT for
southwestern Iowa...and southeastern Nebraska.
&&
LAT...LON 4082 9595 4084 9580 4083 9565 4074 9567
4069 9578 4069 9595
TIME...MOT...LOC 1910Z 014DEG 8KT 4071 9585
$$
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 Aug 19, 12:14 PM CDT, 1 hour 43 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- A cluster or thunderstorms is expected to push southward across the area into the afternoon. The strongest storms may pose a risk for isolated damaging wind gusts and hail.
- Fog development is expected overnight, with patchy dense fog Thursday morning.
- Near-daily storm chances persist through the week, with additional strong to severe storms possible. However, dry periods are expected to outnumber wet ones.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 19, 12:14 PM CDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 1214 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - A cluster or thunderstorms is expected to push southward across the area into the afternoon. The strongest storms may pose a risk for isolated damaging wind gusts and hail. - Fog development is expected overnight, with patchy dense fog Thursday morning. - Near-daily storm chances persist through the week, with additional strong to severe storms possible. However, dry periods are expected to outnumber wet ones. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 725 AM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 Today and Tomorrow... Water vapor imagery and objective analysis this morning depict an amplifying ridge over the western CONUS, bringing northwesterly flow aloft to much of the area. A train of shortwave disturbances passing through the flow will bring near daily storm chances, the first of which is passing through this morning/afternoon. Storm development has trended later than initial CAM guidance this morning, allowing for additional (though still not overly impressive) instability, with pockets of 1500-2000 J/kg of MUCAPE in place. An additional delayed trend will bring more instability to work with. A cluster of thunderstorms is expected to develop across southeast SD/northeast NE later this morning before pushing southward across eastern NE/far western IA through the remainder of the morning and early afternoon. Sufficient bulk shear (40-50 kts) will be in place with model hodographs being long and generally straight. However, 0-3 km shear remains weaker (~15 kts), bringing the potential for an initial hail threat before storms gust out and transition to more of a damaging wind threat with pockets of 60-70 mph gusts possible. The cluster of thunderstorms is expected to exit to the south by mid- afternoon. CAM guidance indicates some potential for storms to redevelop across eastern Nebraska during the late afternoon and early evening, though this potential will hinder on the amount of destabilization that is able to occur behind the initial cluster of thunderstorms. Cloud cover will break up and improve through the evening, setting the stage for fog development overnight. Model soundings indicate calm winds and a saturated surface layer, though somewhat shallow, it should allow for fairly widespread fog with patchy areas of dense fog Thursday morning before gradually burning up after sunrise. High temperatures on Thursday will be near seasonal norms, peaking in the mid 80s. Later Thursday, surface low pressure will develop over Minnesota, draping a cold front southwestward into northeast Nebraska. Destabilization through the afternoon will bring a corridor of ample instability (MLCAPE > 2500 J/kg) ahead of the front in northeast NE. Coupled with sufficient bulk shear, strong to severe storm development will be possible along the front during the late afternoon and evening. The primary question will be how widespread development along the front is, with the better forcing for ascent to the northeast and a weak cap in place. If storms are able to initiate in the area, model soundings indicate steep lapse rates and a favorable environment for isolated pockets of large hail and strong wind gusts. For the time being, PoPs are capped at 20% given the lower confidence in convective initiation and likely more isolated nature of development. Friday and Beyond... Friday into early next week, the large scale pattern will remain generally unchanged, with ridging centered over the Four Corners region and a stream of shortwave disturbances embedded in the northwesterly flow aloft bringing periodic precipitation chances. High temperatures on Friday are expected in the mid to upper 80s before storm chances return again during the evening. An unstable airmass will develop through the afternoon before an incoming shortwave disturbance and surface trough initiate a round of strong to severe storms over western Nebraska, gradually pushing into the area through the evening and early overnight period. Questions remain regarding storm coverage, with PoPs of 30-45% in place. High temperatures through the weekend and early next week will oscillate from the upper 70s to the mid 80s as daily precipitation chances and cloud cover occasionally hinder daytime heating. Near- daily PoPs of 15-30% are in place, with additional strong to severe storms possible. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1207 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 Strong to severe storms are expected to continue southeast into eastern Nebraska this afternoon, bringing a few rumbles of thunder to KOFK and KLNK between 18-21Z. Scattered MVFR cloud cover will clear out behind the storms, with light easterly winds prevailing. Fog will likely develop late tonight into Thursday morning. The best chance for MVFR to IFR visibilities will be over northeast NE from 10-14Z, though some patchy fog could creep into KLNK and KOMA. && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. IA...None. && DISCUSSION...Wood AVIATION...KG
In the hours before
Local storm report, Aug 19, 12:56 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1256 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1253 PM Hail 4 S Bellwood 41.29N 97.24W
08/19/2026 M0.88 Inch Butler NE Public
&&
BLBLocal storm report, Aug 19, 1:14 PM CDT, 43 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
114 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0111 PM Hail 3 NNW Garrison 41.21N 97.19W
08/19/2026 E0.88 Inch Butler NE Public
&&
BLBLocal storm report, Aug 19, 1:17 PM CDT, 40 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
117 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0116 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Utica 40.89N 97.35W
08/19/2026 E60 MPH Seward NE Trained Spotter
&&
BLBSpecial weather statement, Aug 19, 1:52 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 152 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 IAZ079-080-090-091-NEZ067-068-090>093-192100- Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page-Cass-Otoe-Johnson-Nemaha-Pawnee- Richardson- Including the cities of Glenwood, Red Oak, Sidney, Hamburg, Tabor, Farragut, Clarinda, Shenandoah, Plattsmouth, Nebraska City, Tecumseh, Sterling, Auburn, Pawnee City, Table Rock, and Falls City 152 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026 ...CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FUNNEL CLOUDS... WHAT...Conditions are favorable for the development of weak, brief funnel clouds. This type of funnel cloud is typically harmless, but on rare occasions they briefly touch down and produce wind gusts over 50 mph and some damage. WHERE...Southeast Nebraska and southwest. WHEN...Until 4 PM. PREPAREDNESS AND PRECAUTIONARY ACTIONS... If a funnel cloud is spotted, move indoors and report your sighting to the National Weather Service. If a tornado warning becomes necessary, take appropriate action.
Local storm report, Aug 19, 1:56 PM CDT, 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
156 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0149 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 5 SSW Friend 40.59N 97.31W
08/19/2026 M69 MPH Saline NE Mesonet
&&
LMThe office that day
Everything else NWS Omaha, NE issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 19, 2:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Fremont | 52 min |
| Aug 19, 2:35 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Fremont | 4 hr |
| Aug 19, 3:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Fremont, Page | 32 min |
| Aug 19, 11:06 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Boone | 54 min |
| Aug 19, 12:02 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OAX | Boone | 3 hr |
| Aug 19, 12:41 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Butler | 49 min |
| Aug 19, 12:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Butler, Saline, Seward | 49 min |
| Aug 19, 1:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Butler, Lancaster, Saunders, Seward | 54 min |
| Aug 19, 1:41 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson, Lancaster, Saline, Seward | 49 min |
| Aug 19, 2:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee | 47 min |
| Aug 19, 2:48 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Lancaster, Seward | 4 hr |
| Aug 19, 3:08 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Gage, Jefferson, Pawnee | 37 min |
| Aug 19, 3:13 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Lancaster, Otoe | 4 hr |
| Aug 19, 3:18 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson | 42 min |
| Aug 19, 3:33 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Otoe | 3 hr |
| Aug 19, 3:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX | Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson | 44 min |
| Aug 19, 3:55 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OAX | Nemaha | 3 hr |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Nebraska, 2026Tornado 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.