Earth

Tornadoes ravage central US, more expected today

Posted by
Kelly Kizer Whitt
and
April 27, 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.

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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.

Severe storms moved into Iowa

The storm system in Nebraska crossed the border into Iowa.

Other Plains tornadoes

Also on Friday, a tornado spun up outside Waco, Texas. Plus, Kansas and Colorado also saw tornadoes.

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.

Map of US with areas of green to a smaller area of red showing severe weather centered on Oklahoma.
The National Weather Service says that strong storms are possible in much of the central US on Saturday, stretching from Michigan and Wisconsin down to Texas. An area centered around Oklahoma will see the biggest threat. Image via NOAA/ NWS Storm Prediction Center.

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

Posted 
April 27, 2024
 in 
Earth

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.

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