Large destructive tornado crossed I-80 on the north side of Lincoln, Nebraska moments ago captured by @JordanHallWX #newx pic.twitter.com/hTk26Q28E4
— MyRadar Weather (@MyRadarWX) April 26, 2024
Jordan Hall captured this shocking footage of a tornado crossing Interstate 80 near Lincoln, Nebraska, on Friday afternoon. Read more about Friday’s tornadoes and Saturday’s outlook, below.
Severe storms for the central US
Severe weather – including tornadoes – churned up the Great Plains on Friday. And meteorologists predict more severe weather for Saturday and into Sunday. Nebraska was the focus of much of the severe weather on Friday (April 26, 2024), including a large tornado that crossed Interstate 80 just outside Lincoln, Nebraska. Some of the storm damage images near Lincoln show flipped cars and a train thrown from the tracks. In the western suburbs of Omaha – near Waterloo and Elkhorn – a destructive wedge tornado caused multiple injuries and extensive damage to property. At this time, there have been no reports of fatalities. The severe storms moved into Iowa, causing excessive damage there as well.
Heavy damage in Lincoln from a strong tornado. Train overturned pic.twitter.com/hYKnxdOHgI
— Scotthollinger1 ?????? (@ScottHollinger1) April 26, 2024
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Nebraska wedge tornadoes
The huge wedge tornado near Omaha may have been one of the strongest ever, according to early reports by meteorologists. Then later in the afternoon, another wedge tornado formed east of Omaha.
Local Omaha, NE resident Kyle Dodds has shot some of the most incredible tornado footage ever. pic.twitter.com/pbdRi7YMjK
— James Pettus (@PettusWX) April 26, 2024
Omaha, Nebraska may have just seen one of the strongest tornadoes in US history based on radar data. Wow. https://t.co/DwPrVrsAXo
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) April 26, 2024
SIGNIFICANT damage on the West side of Elkhorn, Nebraska. Multiple injuries. Some houses swept. #NEwx pic.twitter.com/zoyrFSyEoz
— Thomas Hinterdorfer (@hinto62) April 26, 2024
Another wedge tornado near Omaha!! #Omaha #severewx #Newx #Nebraska https://t.co/zNJ3JbVMz0 pic.twitter.com/ZRY90cAgJ8
— Stormyalert (@Stormyalert) April 26, 2024
“Chief, we have 30-40 houses gone. We need mass casualty resources..”#OmahaScanner #TornadoOmaha2024
— Omaha Scanner (@omaha_scanner) April 26, 2024
Friends video from Epply Airport in omaha #Tornado #Omaha pic.twitter.com/6wfmJoCcwT
— Starbugs Criminal Funhouse ? (@DutyProtect) April 26, 2024
Severe storms moved into Iowa
The storm system in Nebraska crossed the border into Iowa.
Harlan IA Tornado. pic.twitter.com/IfiOqK03wI
— Colorado Storm Chasers (@COStormChasers) April 26, 2024
Large tornado about to hit Tennet, IA. #iawx @NWSDesMoines @NWSOmaha pic.twitter.com/dgDjTydbFj
— Adam ??? (@adamorgler) April 26, 2024
LARGE tornado on the ground just moved through Minden, Iowa! Calling off the chase to help!
LSC/Matthew Smith pic.twitter.com/DiPlDGZ3IL
— Live Storm Chasers (@LiveStormChaser) April 26, 2024
Minden is gone pic.twitter.com/dyEpCIGPjB
— Storm Captures Pictures/Videos (@StormCaptures) April 26, 2024
Other Plains tornadoes
Also on Friday, a tornado spun up outside Waco, Texas. Plus, Kansas and Colorado also saw tornadoes.
FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY: Cayla Porter shared this footage of the Tornado as seen in the area near TSTC in Waco, Texas. LIVE: https://t.co/zXRphwcJau pic.twitter.com/Za5T38JD3K
— KWTX News 10 (@kwtx) April 26, 2024
Tornado confirmed near Fredonia, Kansas. @NWSNorman @NWSWichita Watch live as a Patreon supporter at: https://t.co/NYHSOgbcUn pic.twitter.com/RQPGwdMSrA
— Daniel Shaw (@DanielShawAU) April 26, 2024
Forecast for Saturday
Much of the central U.S. will again be under the gun for severe storms on Saturday. As of Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said:
Numerous severe thunderstorms are likely today and tonight across the southern and central Plains into the lower to mid Missouri Valley. The greatest potential for severe storms will be from north Texas into Oklahoma and southeast Kansas, where strong tornadoes, very large hail over two inches in diameter and widespread damaging winds (some over 70 mph), are expected to occur. A broader area of severe threat will extend from south-central Texas north-northeastward to the Great Lakes.
Keep up to date with the rapidly changing conditions by checking in with the National Weather Service.
5:31am CDT #SPC_MD 0537 , #okwx #txwx, https://t.co/qqMeHpZGk6 pic.twitter.com/qROkruQKeu
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) April 27, 2024
Bottom line: Severe storms with tornadoes caused destruction in the central U.S. on Friday. More severe storms are forecast for the middle of the country for Saturday.
Read more: Tornadoes hard to forecast, but predictions improving
Kelly Kizer Whitt
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About the Author:
Kelly Kizer Whitt has been a science writer specializing in astronomy for more than two decades. She began her career at Astronomy Magazine, and she has made regular contributions to AstronomyToday and the Sierra Club, among other outlets. Her children’s picture book, Solar System Forecast, was published in 2012. She has also written a young adult dystopian novel titled A Different Sky. When she is not reading or writing about astronomy and staring up at the stars, she enjoys traveling to the national parks, creating crossword puzzles, running, tennis, and paddleboarding. Kelly lives in Wisconsin.
