Tornadoes · United States · Nebraska · 2026
EF1 tornado, Salem to (Fnb)Brener Fld Fall, Nebraska, May 18, 2026
From Salem to (Fnb)Brener Fld Fall, this EF1 tornado ran 3.1 miles across Richardson County on May 18, 2026, touching down at 4:55 PM CDT and reaching 200 yards wide. It killed nobody.
Preliminary. This is NWS OAX's damage survey, filed in the Damage Assessment Toolkit as 8 SW Salem. The rating, the path and the casualties are the survey's and can change while it is revised. The Storm Prediction Center compiles the official record of 2026 from these surveys and publishes it in the spring of 2027; this page moves to that tornado's permanent address when it does.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The survey
- Rating, as surveyed
- EF1, preliminary
- Date
- May 18, 2026
- Touchdown
- 4:55 PM CDT (21:55 UTC)
- Lifted
- 4:59 PM CDT (21:59 UTC)
- On the ground
- 4 minutes
- Path length
- 3.1 miles (5.0 km)
- Path width
- 200 yards (183 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Richardson County
- Touchdown point
- 40.001, -95.838
- Lift-off point
- 40.017, -95.784
- Highest wind the damage implies
- 100 mph
- Surveyed by
- NWS OAX
- The office's name for it
- 8 SW Salem
- Survey last edited
- May 21, 2026
- Record number
- None yet. SPC numbers 2026 in the spring of 2027.
What the survey found
At approximately 4:55 PM, a tornado developed near the Nebraska/Kansas border just west of 639 Boulevard, damaging some trees. It continued northeast, crossing 639 Boulevard and producing significant damage to the roof of a large metal outbuilding. The tornado then crossed US Highway 75 just northwest of the intersection with 641 Avenue, causing further tree damage and impacting a second metal outbuilding in the area. Additional tree damage occurred near Rock Creek and 642 Avenue, where the tornado came to an end.
Written by NWS OAX in the NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit. A survey is revised as better evidence arrives.
The damage survey
44 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS OAX and NWS TOP, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 107 mph.
- Barn in poor condition collapsed
- Old barn lost 30-40% of roof and wall
- Large trunk snapped lower bound but still around 90 so low end EF1
- Small barn completely destroyed debris carried about 1/4 mile ENE
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
What the Weather Service recorded
On the afternoon of May 18, severe thunderstorms produced tornadoes, damaging winds gusts, hail and flash flooding across southeast Nebraska. a strong shortwave trough ejected eastward across the region, providing robust forcing for large-scale ascent. Despite lingering morning cloud cover, very steep mid-level lapse rates combined with the daytime heating of a moist low-level airmass to generate strong instability south of an advancing cold front. Mesoanalysis revealed strong theta-e advection extending from central Kansas through southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa, highlighting the rapid return of a highly volatile environment. Thunderstorms initially initiated on the warm side of the boundary over northwest Kansas before additional development began over far southeast Nebraska by 2:00 PM CST. This convection initially exhibited discrete supercell characteristics before eventually transitioning into a broader multicell cluster. Additional cells developed north of the cold front across eastern Nebraska, bringing primarily an isolated hail threat. ||The system dropped large hail up to golf ball size (1.75 inches) and generated destructive straight-line winds, including a measured peak gust of 90 mph. The initial supercell storm mode was particularly prolific for tornadogenesis, resulting in 8 tornado across southeast Nebraska. While several of these tornadoes were brief, others caused concentrated damage to trees, farm outbuildings, and irrigation pivots���most notably in Johnson, Nemaha, and Richardson counties. In several instances, these tornadoes were embedded within even broader swaths of intense 80 to 95 mph downburst winds. As the storms transitioned into a messy multicell cluster, torrential downpours also triggered isolated reports of flash flooding.
At approximately 3:46 PM CST, a tornado developed 4 miles east of Bern, KS, and tracked northeast before crossing into Richardson county, Nebraska (see Storm Data for Kansas for more information on the beginning portion of this tornado in Kansas). The tornado continued west of 639 Boulevard, damaging some trees. It continued northeast, crossing 639 Boulevard and producing significant damage to the roof of a large metal outbuilding. The tornado then crossed US Highway 75 just northwest of the intersection with 641 Avenue, causing further tree damage and impacting a second metal outbuilding in the area. Additional tree damage occurred near Rock Creek and 642 Avenue. Maximum estimated wind speeds peaked at 100 mph.
A tornado developed at approximately 4:07 PM CST near the intersection of 646 Avenue and 708 Road, about 1 mile northeast of Salem. Intermittent damage to trees and farm outbuildings was noted between 646 and 647 Avenues. The tornado continued northeast, damaging more trees and breaking power poles along 650 Avenue. Additional damage to trees and farm outbuildings was noted near the intersection of 651 Avenue and 710 Road. The tornado then crossed US Highway 73 and lifted the roof off another farm outbuilding east of 652 Avenue before dissipating shortly thereafter. Maximum wind speeds were estimated at 107 mph.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
3 minutes of warning. NWS OAX issued a tornado warning for this county at 21:52 UTC, 3 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 22:45 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 17:51 UTC and running to 01:00 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17:51 UTC | 01:00 UTC | Tornado Watch | OAX |
| 21:02 UTC | 21:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX |
| 21:39 UTC | 22:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX |
| 21:41 UTC | 22:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX |
| 21:52 UTC | 22:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | OAX |
| 22:02 UTC | 03:00 UTC | Flood Advisory | OAX |
| 22:12 UTC | 23:00 UTC | Tornado Warning | OAX |
| 22:51 UTC | 03:00 UTC | Flood Advisory | OAX |
| 22:57 UTC | 23:15 UTC | Tornado Warning | OAX |
| 23:02 UTC | 02:30 UTC | Flood Advisory | OAX |
| 23:23 UTC | 02:30 UTC | Flood Advisory | OAX |
| 23:32 UTC | 23:52 UTC | Tornado Warning | OAX |
| 23:48 UTC | 00:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | OAX |
| 00:12 UTC | 00:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OAX |
| 00:26 UTC | 00:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | OAX |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Moderate Risk, with a 0.15 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 20:05 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at May 18, 12:47 PM CDT, 4 hours 8 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, 4 hours 8 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, 3 hours 59 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, 4:15 PM CDT, 40 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
415 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0414 PM Flash Flood Beatrice 40.27N 96.74W
05/18/2026 Gage NE Law Enforcement
Several intersections flooded in Beatrice,
with one to two foot water depths reported.
Several cars reported stranded.
&&
PearsonLocal storm report, May 18, 4:18 PM CDT, 37 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
418 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0412 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 5 SSW Johnson 40.35N 96.05W
05/18/2026 E90 MPH Nemaha NE Public
Personal Weather Station.
&&
DACLocal storm report, May 18, 4:20 PM CDT, 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
420 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0411 PM Hail 4 SE Lewiston 40.21N 96.35W
05/18/2026 M1.00 Inch Pawnee NE Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
&&
DACLocal storm report, May 18, 4:39 PM CDT, 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
439 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0434 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NNW Auburn 40.41N 95.86W
05/18/2026 M62 MPH Nemaha NE Mesonet
Personal weather station gusted to 62 mph.
&&
JCLocal storm report, May 18, 4:46 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
446 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM Tornado 6 SW Pawnee City 40.05N 96.24W
05/18/2026 Pawnee NE Emergency Mngr
Report of multi-vortex tornado east of Hwy
99 and Hwy 8.
&&
DACLocal storm report, May 18, 4:54 PM CDT, 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
454 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SE Peru 40.45N 95.70W
05/18/2026 M59 MPH Nemaha NE Public
Personal Weather Station.
&&
DACThe air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Topeka, KS (KTOP), 12:00Z
9.9 hours before the tornado, 113 km from the path. May 18, 2026.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -7134 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 963 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 56 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 13 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 71 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 271 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 4.7
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 3.4 K/km
Topeka, KS (KTOP), 00:00Z
2.1 hours after it, 113 km from the path. May 19, 2026.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 3248 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -7 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2804 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1108 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 39 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 26 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 209 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 370 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 4.1
- Supercell composite
- 22.8
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.0 K/km
The radar
The Topeka radar (KTWX), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 21:57 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:47 UTC | TSTM WND GST 81 | 3 Ese Lewiston | Pawnee, NE | Caller reported an 81 mph wind gust measured from a personal weather station. Also reported 6 to 8 inch diameter tree limbs broken. |
| 21:01 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Tecumseh | Johnson, NE | Lots of large tree limbs down. Time is estimated. |
| 21:05 UTC | TORNADO | 4 Nne Elk Creek | Johnson, NE | A tornado developed in open fields near the intersection of 625 Avenue and 725 Road, and moved quickly east. The tornado damaged many trees, flipped pivots, and destroyed at least two large farm sheds. The damage along t |
| 21:08 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 E Tecumseh | Johnson, NE | Downed trees, damage to grain bins, and damaged farm outbuildings. Possible tornado damage. Time estimated from radar. |
| 21:11 UTC | HAIL 1 | 4 Se Lewiston | Pawnee, NE | Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.). |
| 21:12 UTC | TSTM WND GST 90 | 5 Ssw Johnson | Nemaha, NE | Corrects previous tstm wnd gst report from 5 SSW Johnson. Personal Weather Station. |
| 21:12 UTC | TSTM WND GST 90 | 5 Ssw Johnson | Nemaha, NE | Personal Weather Station. |
| 21:20 UTC | TORNADO | 3 W Auburn | Nemaha, NE | A tornado developed just south of Highway 136 and west of 636 Avenue, and moved east northeast to the area near Highway 136 and just east of 637 Avenue. This tornado caused sporadic tree damage and uprooting, and impacte |
| 21:25 UTC | HAIL 1.5 | Auburn | Nemaha, NE | Delayed report received via social media of hail estimated up to golf ball sized in Auburn, NE. Timed estimated with radar. |
| 21:27 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Auburn | Nemaha, NE | Reports of extensive damage in Auburn. Possible people trapped in homes. Possible tornado damage. Time is estimated. |
| 21:27 UTC | TORNADO | 3 S Julian | Nemaha, NE | Video from broadcast media showed a small, rain-wrapped tornado moving generally eastward just south of Road 733A and Highway 75. Damage consisted of a small cluster of large downed tree branches, with estimated maximum |
| 21:30 UTC | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Wnw Tecumseh | Johnson, NE | Localized flooding reported in town. |
| 21:34 UTC | TSTM WND GST 62 | 2 Nnw Auburn | Nemaha, NE | Personal weather station gusted to 62 mph. |
| 21:43 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 2 Se Julian | Nemaha, NE | Public report of golf ball size hail north of Auburn. Location and time are estimated from radar. |
| 21:45 UTC | TSTM WND GST 59 | 3 Se Peru | Nemaha, NE | Personal Weather Station. |
| 21:45 UTC | TORNADO | 6 Sw Pawnee City | Pawnee, NE | Report of multi-vortex tornado east of Hwy 99 and Hwy 8. |
| 22:00 UTC | HAIL 1.5 | 4 W Humboldt | Pawnee, NE | Corrects time from previous hail report from 4 W Humboldt. Report from mPING: Ping Pong Ball (1.50 in.). |
| 22:00 UTC | TORNADO | 5 S Dawson | Richardson, NE | Photo of a cone tornado ongoing south of Dawson. |
| 22:05 UTC | HAIL 1.5 | Humboldt | Richardson, NE | Delayed report received via social media of hail estimated up to 1.5 inches in diameter. Social media report displayed multiple pictures of the hail. |
| 22:07 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Ne Salem | Richardson, NE | A tornado developed at approximately 5:07 PM near the intersection of 646 Avenue and 708 Road, about 1 mile northeast of Salem. Intermittent damage to trees and farm outbuildings was noted between 646 and 647 Avenues. Th |
| 22:08 UTC | HAIL 1.5 | 4 W Humboldt | Pawnee, NE | Report from mPING: Ping Pong Ball (1.50 in.). |
| 22:15 UTC | TORNADO | 4 Ssw Barada | Richardson, NE | Multi-vortex tornado reported north of Falls City. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2026 tornado in NebraskaEvery tornado in Nebraska since 1950Warnings in force in Nebraska nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of May 18, 2026
19 more have been surveyed in the United States that day, so far.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 18 | 10:25 AM CDT | EF0 | Ford, IL | 1.0 | 80 | |||
| May 18 | 2:33 PM EDT | EF0 | Otsego, MI | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| May 18 | 2:46 PM CDT | Unrated | Jefferson, NE | 0.3 | 15 | |||
| May 18 | 2:57 PM CDT | Unrated | Gage, NE | 0.6 | 20 | |||
| May 18 | 3:27 PM CDT | Unrated | Cloud, KS | 1.2 | 30 | |||
| May 18 | 4:03 PM CDT | Unrated | Washington, KS | 2.7 | 50 | |||
| May 18 | 4:05 PM CDT | EF1 | Johnson, NE | 3.8 | 200 | |||
| May 18 | 4:20 PM CDT | EF1 | Nemaha, NE | 1.9 | 80 | |||
| May 18 | 4:27 PM CDT | EF0 | Nemaha, NE | 0.6 | 20 | |||
| May 18 | 4:34 PM CDT | Unrated | Pawnee, NE | 0.6 | 50 | |||
| May 18 | 4:46 PM CDT | EF1 | Nemaha, KS | 4.2 | 100 | |||
| May 18 | 5:07 PM CDT | EF1 | Richardson, NE | 6.5 | 250 | |||
| May 18 | 5:27 PM CDT | EF1 | Marshall, KS | 15.2 | 100 | |||
| May 18 | 5:33 PM CDT | Unrated | Clay, KS | 1.5 | 0 | |||
| May 18 | 6:54 PM CDT | EF0 | Ringgold, IA | 6.1 | 30 | |||
| May 18 | 7:16 PM CDT | EF1 | Jackson, KS | 8.2 | 75 | |||
| May 18 | 7:44 PM CDT | EF1 | Morris, KS | 15.1 | 50 | |||
| May 18 | 8:11 PM CDT | EF0 | Andrew, MO | 4.9 | 75 | |||
| May 18 | 9:47 PM CDT | EF1 | Ray, MO | 17.4 | 100 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. A survey can be revised, so the rating, the path and the casualties can all still change.
Sources
NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit, the record the survey teams file from the damage, and NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports. Neither is the official database for 2026, which SPC publishes in the spring of 2027.