During the afternoon and evening of June 5, 2026, a stalled frontal boundary draped from southeast Nebraska into southwest Iowa served as the focal point for thunderstorm development. As an approaching shortwave disturbance provided forcing for ascent, storms initiated along the boundary.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS OAX wrote it up.
During the afternoon and evening of June 5, 2026, a stalled frontal boundary draped from southeast Nebraska into southwest Iowa served as the focal point for thunderstorm development. As an approaching shortwave disturbance provided forcing for ascent, storms initiated along the boundary. The surrounding environment was characterized by strong deep-layer shear and robust instability, capable of supporting all severe hazards. High atmospheric moisture content situated over saturated soils also created efficient rainfall processes, elevating flash flooding concerns. These storms initially erupted as brief, discrete cells before rapidly undergoing upscale growth into a larger convective complex as they moved into southwest Iowa.
As the severe complex traversed southwest Iowa, it produced several areas of severe weather. Isolated large hail up to quarter-size (1.00 inch) was reported. However, as the storms merged and grew upscale, straight-line winds quickly became the dominant threat. Multiple stations measured severe wind gusts peaking at 69 mph, which resulted in significant and widespread tree damage. Notable impacts included uprooted trees in Elliott, a mature walnut tree completely uprooted near Macedonia, and numerous large tree limbs snapped in Carson and Essex before the complex eventually tracked east and weakened.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jun 5, 8:46 PM CST, 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
946 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Strong to severe thunderstorms continue tonight as a front
moves through the region. Large hail, damaging winds, an
isolated tornado, and heavy rainfall resulting in flash
flooding will be possible with any thunderstorms that develop.
- Saturday's highs will reach the upper 80s and lower 90s with
isolated showers and thunderstorms, before a slight cooldown
and more widespread thunderstorms on Sunday.
- A pattern shift over the weekend will result in several
disturbances moving through the region heading into next week.
Daily chances for precipitation are expected for at least a
portion of the area each day. Additionally, temperatures climb
well into the 90s with potential excessive heat concerns.
&&
.UPDATE...
Issued at 945 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2026
General lack of thunderstorm reports suggest storms so far have
mostly underperformed. As storm coverage increases, storm
interactions have been detrimental. Expect to see fewer severe
warnings over the next few hours as flood concerns continue to
grow.
Slow storm motions have left some areas with accumulations of
2-5" so far across parts of southern Lancaster and southwestern
Seward County. The complex as a whole is meandering east with a
slight northern component to its motion. As a result, flooding
concerns for the Omaha metro are increasing.
Guidance continues to suggest this complex lasting through much
of the night before dissipating around sunrise.
Have added some patchy fog to river valleys, especially in
western Iowa by sunrise.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 109 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2026
Several inches of rainfall occurred across portions of Southeast
Nebraska and Southwest Iowa Thursday afternoon into early this
morning. This system is now moving east of the region, but has
slowly pushed a front into the area. This front becomes the
focal point for our weather this evening and tonight. In the
meantime, a few elevated showers and thunderstorms linger over
Northeast Nebraska and west-central Iowa early this afternoon.
Impacts from these should be limited with perhaps a brief
downpour possible. Subsidence increases this afternoon behind
the aforementioned system, resulting in clearing skies. Highs
rise well into the 80s under the plentiful sunshine. With a cap
in place, instability builds through the afternoon, likely
exceeding 3000 J/Kg by evening. This instability, coupled with
the front, and increasing westerlies with a passing disturbance
support thunderstorm development by late evening.
With plenty of instability and sufficient shear an all severe
hazards threat is expected. This threat should gradually lessen
tonight as thunderstorm clustering and low-level stability
increase. The threat transitions to more of a flash flooding
concern. Many areas across Southeast Nebraska and Southwest Iowa
received 2-4" of rainfall already. An addition 1-2" appears
likely for much of these same areas with perhaps locally higher
amounts of 2-4" possible. A Flash Flood Watch has been issued
through tonight with this expectation. Other areas, including
Beatrice, up through Omaha, and into Pottawatomie County may
also see significant rainfall, but lingering uncertainty on the
heaviest band of thunderstorms and more limited rainfall
yesterday casts doubt on widespread flooding potential at this
time.
Heading into Saturday, a mostly dry day is expected for many as
temperatures warm through the upper 80s and low 90s. A few
widely scattered showers and thunderstorms may sneak into
Southeast Nebraska and Southwest Iowa later in the afternoon
into the evening. Temperatures cool slightly on Sunday as more
widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected in association
with a trough lifting through the Plains into the Mississippi
River Valley.
Beyond this weekend, a pattern shift takes hold. Mid-level
ridging overspreads much of the central and eastern CONUS with
troughing over the western CONUS. These changes support an
increase in temperatures well into the 90s by the middle of next
week, perhaps near 100 for some. This may lead to excessive heat
concerns and will be monitored closely. With the trough to the
west, a series of disturbances round the ridge and should
support daily shower and thunderstorm potential for at least
some of the area. As a result, it may feel closer to July then
mid-June next week.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 529 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2026
Light southeasterly winds are forecast this evening with the
exception of where strong thunderstorm winds develop. Storms are
most likely in the Lincoln and Omaha areas. Have kept KOFK dry
through the TAF period. Expect the storms to be slow to move
away from LNK and OMA once they develop. The 3-4 hour windows
currently highlighting the threat of TSRA at LNK and OMA may not
be long enough as the threat of storms will continue until at
least midnight.
&&
.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT Saturday for NEZ050>053-065>068-078-
088>093.
IA...Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT Saturday for IAZ069-079-080-090-091.
&&
UPDATE...Nicolaisen
DISCUSSION...Chehak
AVIATION...NicolaisenPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
900 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0847 PM Rain 1 NE Hickman 40.63N 96.62W
06/05/2026 M4.00 Inch Lancaster NE Public
&&
tsnPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
908 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0856 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 WSW Bennet 40.67N 96.55W
06/05/2026 E58 MPH Lancaster NE Public
Personal Weather Station.
&&
tsnPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1000 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0954 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 W Millard 41.21N 96.23W
06/05/2026 M59 MPH Douglas NE Public
Personal weather station.
&&
tsnPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1006 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1005 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 WSW Wilber 40.47N 96.99W
06/05/2026 M60 MPH Saline NE Public
Personal weather station.
&&
tsnPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1008 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1004 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 W Western 40.38N 97.27W
06/05/2026 M66 MPH Saline NE Public
Personal weather station.
&&
tsnPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1013 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1008 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 5 WSW Plymouth 40.29N 97.07W
06/05/2026 M65 MPH Jefferson NE Public
Personal weather station.
&&
tsnThe Omaha radar (KOAX), 55 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:20 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Public report of thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated at 60-70 mph along with no power at a truckstop near Glenwood, IA.
Public report of hail estimated up to 1.00 inch in diameter.
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 64 mph.
Mesonet measured wind gust of 59 mph.
Mesonet measured wind gust of 59 mph.
Public photo of mature walnut tree uprooted west of Macedonia, IA. Time is estimated from radar. Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph.
Mesonet measured wind gust of 60 mph.
Mesonet measured wind gust of 69 mph.
Public report of several large tree branches down. Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph.
Mesonet measured wind gust of 59 mph.
Emergency management report of wind gust estimated at 60 mph.
Public report of trees uprooted near Elliott, IA. Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph.
Mesonet measured wind gust of 60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, June 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1341542, 1341543, 1341538, 1341539, 1341541, 1341544, 1341540, 1341550, 1341551, 1341546, 1341545, 1341548, 1341547.