2026 Weather Thread

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Sat Mar 21, 2026 6:01 pm

Its 6pm. I think we've reached the peak, it hasn't dropped below 8%, Lincoln reached 7%

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sat Mar 21, 2026 9:57 pm

I’m a big fan of warm weather, but there is a time and a place for everything and this is most definitely NOT the time or the place for 90+f weather on the very first full day of spring, I was walking around the Old Market late this afternoon and my car thermometer had read a solid 97f for the entire 20 minute ride downtown. At 6:15 pm when I left it showed 100f for the first 2 miles heading home.
Our temperature gauge built into our heat pump also read 100f at 4 pm. We’ve had that setup for 15 years and it has never topped 100f before the month of May in all of those years.

I also checked and the temperature in our other home, Puerto Vallarta, was 28c (82f) at 6 pm this evening. I think that might have been the first time Omaha was warmer than PV during the month of March. Today it wasn’t even close.

stormchaser · Post by **stormchaser** » Fri Apr 03, 2026 6:59 am

If storms can remain discrete enough, tornado potential exists later this afternoon in parts of southwest IA and adjacent parts of northwest MO right where the low pressure/warm front converge. Somewhere around shenandoah to Clarinda IA and adjacent parts of northwest MO with the risk gradually increasing as storms mature and push off to the east/northeast towards I-35, etc into the evening.

Thats probably the closest area at risk today for potential tornadic storms anyway. No widespread severe weather is expected in Omaha itself though some hail can't be ruled out. Otherwise just some rain/thunder later today for our area.

Flyer14 · Post by **Flyer14** » Fri Apr 03, 2026 7:43 am

It seems we have finally entered into a spring weather pattern. It was like we were stuck bouncing between summer or winter for a long while there.

stormchaser · Post by **stormchaser** » Mon Apr 06, 2026 1:36 pm

Winter weather advisory has been issued that includes Omaha for tonight. 2-4 inches of snow with localized amounts of 6 inches of snow.

DUMB!!!

https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx. ... n=-95.9721

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Mon Apr 06, 2026 1:39 pm

stormchaser wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2026 1:36 pm Winter weather advisory has been issued that includes Omaha for tonight. 2-4 inches of snow with localized amounts of 6 inches of snow.

DUMB!!!

https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx. ... n=-95.9721

Dumb as in unnecessary advisory or dumb cause its april?

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Mon Apr 06, 2026 2:12 pm

At least its something to talk about. In all the years we've had a yearly weather thread, I wanna say this has been the slowest one so far.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Apr 06, 2026 2:40 pm

stormchaser wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2026 1:36 pm Winter weather advisory has been issued that includes Omaha for tonight. 2-4 inches of snow with localized amounts of 6 inches of snow.

DUMB!!!

Nice thing about April snow, it will be gone in a day or two...

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Mon Apr 06, 2026 3:50 pm

It's about time to consider the last freeze. It could be tonight. But recent years have seen a random late freeze after all indications pointed to the last freeze being in the first week of April.

I think last year there was a freeze on April 6th, then not another until April 26th, so it kinda threw us for a loop. I remember in my early record keeping, the last freeze was very reliably in the 14th to 18th range. You could pretty well count on it getting below 32 every night leading up to mid April. In recent years its actually been late enough to change the average last freeze date. IIRC all the last freezes since 2020 or so have been in the last week of April after a false "last freeze" in the first week. So the data is a little misconstrued as the last freeze has technically been late in recent years, but the temperature leading up to the last freeze has been much warmer.

From a gardeners point of view, I'd just say it's been very unreliable. Hard to predict.

Post by **BRoss** » Mon Apr 06, 2026 5:18 pm

Busguy2010 wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2026 3:50 pm I think last year there was a freeze on April 6th, then not another until April 26th, so it kinda threw us for a loop.

Last year the last freeze was on the 8th with it getting really close on the 11th (and likely some parts of town did drop down enough). The 26th had a low of 44. I remember last year unexpectedly being a much earlier end than normal, which I was happy about.

I am not happy however about getting 1-3" of snow tonight though. I'm over it for the season, especially with how warm March was.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Mon Apr 06, 2026 5:31 pm

BRoss wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2026 5:18 pm
Busguy2010 wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2026 3:50 pm I think last year there was a freeze on April 6th, then not another until April 26th, so it kinda threw us for a loop.
Last year the last freeze was on the 8th with it getting really close on the 11th (and likely some parts of town did drop down enough). The 26th had a low of 44. I remember last year unexpectedly being a much earlier end than normal, which I was happy about.

I am not happy however about getting 1-3" of snow tonight though. I'm over it for the season, especially with how warm March was.

As much as I like snow, I dont want it now either. Winter was so non-existent, it ought to |expletive| or get off the pot already lol. Don't hook a fish when he starts to swim away.

stormchaser · Post by **stormchaser** » Mon Apr 06, 2026 9:11 pm

Based on model trends, I think a dusting up to 2 inches of snow is a more likely scenario for Omaha but I guess we’ll see.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Mon Apr 06, 2026 10:15 pm

The local news is making a deal out of it, but its funny theyre out in their car driving around. And yes, its raining. O M G.

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Tue Apr 07, 2026 4:09 am

This is the kind of snow that melts immediately as the ground is far too warm for accumulation

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Tue Apr 07, 2026 7:41 am

Our local news always makes such a big deal, so much for the 4 inches of snow that we were predicted to get.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Tue Apr 07, 2026 8:26 am

This storm didn’t amount to much. Pretty much over-hyped. Maybe some areas in Iowa saw more.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Tue Apr 07, 2026 8:30 am

Cermak wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2026 8:26 am This storm didn’t amount to much. Pretty much over-hyped. Maybe some areas in Iowa saw more.

I think some areas in IA did, but our weather people seem to do this with every storm. Even last week, they were saying we were going to get 2.5-3" of rain and I think officially between the 2 days we got 0.99".

Post by **Brad** » Tue Apr 07, 2026 8:47 am

skinzfan23 wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2026 8:30 am
Cermak wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2026 8:26 am This storm didn’t amount to much. Pretty much over-hyped. Maybe some areas in Iowa saw more.
I think some areas in IA did, but our weather people seem to do this with every storm. Even last week, they were saying we were going to get 2.5-3" of rain and I think officially between the 2 days we got 0.99".

Part of the problem is they cover such a huge area and try to cover it with a single forecast. Yes, they always show maps, but everyone fixates on the 1-3 or whatever. You live on one far extreme southeast end of the metro. There has been many time you post on here that you got X" at your house and I am only 11.5 miles away and I have had completely different results.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Tue Apr 07, 2026 9:06 am

Completely agree, about the varying totals. I just laugh bc our forecasts seem to always overdo everything most of the time (although I would rather have that and be prepared than the opposite) but in eastern Iowa where my wife is from, their forecasts are the exact opposite. They will predict 2" of snow and end up with 6-8" (its literally happened at least 3 times this season alone) So again, I only kid about our forecasts, but I am glad to be better prepared.

stormchaser · Post by **stormchaser** » Thu Apr 09, 2026 8:29 am

The risk for severe weather will start increasing in parts of the area early next week (as well as today but mostly to our south along the KS/NE border - though we'll get some storms here as well).

The SPC has a day 5 and day 6 outlook that includes Omaha:

Day 5:

Day 6:

Padre · Post by **Padre** » Thu Apr 09, 2026 5:25 pm

Pea sized hail in Benson.

stormchaser · Post by **stormchaser** » Thu Apr 09, 2026 8:22 pm

Padre wrote: Thu Apr 09, 2026 5:25 pm Pea sized hail in Benson.

Yeah, here in CB too. Looked like a bunch of the metro got some small hail with the various rounds of storms

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Thu Apr 09, 2026 10:46 pm

A pretty good amount of rain today, but nothing severe gotta like that. The grass should really start to grow now.

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:00 pm

We got hail here in central-West omaha, though it was smaller than pea sized

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Fri Apr 10, 2026 6:07 pm

I got some jelly belly size hail on three occasions yesterday. What struck me was how it just kept on. Doing things inside and forgetting it had rained, to come outside to another torrent. Some very dangerously close CG lightning to me too out of nowhere. I'm sure it ended up a nice amount of water, but I haven't checked. It would be just fantastic if the ground weren't already so dry. My garden really just got surface flooded instead of it soaking in. So the numbers would suggest a drought buster, but it probably wasnt very effective rain.

stormchaser · Post by **stormchaser** » Tue Apr 14, 2026 10:26 am

Just a heads up that based on the 12z HRRR, tomorrow could be a bit of a "sleeper" severe weather and tornado setup in the local area specifically. Yes I realize the main threat will be east of here towards Des Moines/eastern IA (just like today). However, based on model guidance, a secondary area of potential supercells will develop in or very close to Omaha (depending on the boundary location) tomorrow afternoon/early evening. If they do form, large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes will be possible.

Currently the SPC has Omaha on the edge of a marginal risk. Don't be surprised if that risk is upgraded if model trends on the HRRR continue for tomorrow. It looks like a 5% tornado setup to me based on this run of the HRRR anyway.

For today, I'd be a bit surprised if much of anything happens in Omaha itself (in case anyone is wondering) even though we are technically on the edge of a slight risk. Most everything will probably end up east of here but I guess we'll see. Areas around Waterloo, IA and northeast IA in particular today look to have a fairly decent chance for tornadoes and then into adjacent states as things track east.

stormchaser · Post by **stormchaser** » Tue Apr 14, 2026 2:40 pm

I hate "knowing" when something bad is about to happen (or potentially anyway) and I have a bad feeling Waterloo, IA is going to be in some serious trouble soon as there is a supercell developing west/southwest of town moving directly toward town (I mentioned Waterloo this morning too as a specific area at risk). I'd be shocked if this storm doesn't become a tornado producer - possibly strong tornadoes by the time it reaches Waterloo (probably before it reaches there even).

Hopefully I'm wrong...or maybe it'll turn and move enough that it misses town to the north. But that storm in particular is going to be a dangerous one based on everything I'm seeing.

I know this doesn't technically affect us here in Omaha but this is a Nebraska/Iowa section in case people are confused.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Tue Apr 14, 2026 3:33 pm

Well, it's tornado warned...

stormchaser · Post by **stormchaser** » Tue Apr 14, 2026 3:38 pm

almighty_tuna wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2026 3:33 pm Well, it's tornado warned...

Yep - (though the storm was just developing when I made the post above just to clarify so no warnings at all). Seems to be struggling with getting organized some though now. Already at least 1 confirmed tornado with it so far. Hopefully it stays disorganized as it moves into the Waterloo area but we'll see. I'm assuming it's a cyclic supercell though so one of these next "cycles" as it organizes again will probably produce a strong tornado (if it organizes).

Also it's turned more easterly so the most dangerous part of the storm may pass just south of Waterloo now.

stormchaser · Post by **stormchaser** » Wed Apr 15, 2026 7:01 am

Looking at the latest HRRR this morning, the threat depicted in our local area has decreased some though I do believe the SPC has added us to a slight risk anyway. Primary threat still looks to be somewhere around Des Moines today with a 5% tornado risk east of Omaha starting around Atlantic, IA on east.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Wed Apr 15, 2026 12:52 pm

Well, we just got a severe tstorm watch!

Post by **Brad** » Wed Apr 15, 2026 1:39 pm

Warned Cell near Valparaiso, heading this way if it holds together.

GenX · Post by **GenX** » Wed Apr 15, 2026 6:31 pm

Brad wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 1:39 pm Warned Cell near Valparaiso, heading this way if it holds together.

Even had a TVS for awhile, but weakened considerably as it clipped NW Douglas county.

stormchaser · Post by **stormchaser** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 6:48 am

Brad wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 1:39 pm Warned Cell near Valparaiso, heading this way if it holds together.

Yeah, I was on that storm west and then north of Valparaiso. It kept showing signs of rotation but was ultimately way to outflowy to produce anything tornadic. Ended up getting caught in some hail north of Valpraso - some of it slightly larger than golf ball sized but it was A LOT of hail so my car got dinged up pretty good. Oh well though. Lots of hail fog in the area from it.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 12:15 pm

We hit 32 this morning. Most likely our last freeze till next fall.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 6:45 pm

I was gonna say Im tempted to call it.

The NWS had us at 33 actually, so according to them the last one was April 7th. Though some other spots easily could have gotten down, so I didn’t personally risk it, as thats close enough.

Still always a chance for a rando freeze between the last week of April and first week of May. Hopefully not, it would make my life easier.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 6:46 pm

Confident enough to leave tomatoes and peppers out with mid 30's.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Tue Apr 21, 2026 3:17 pm

Nuts. We'll be close to another record high today. I think we've seen 5 record highs drop already this year? I lost count. Plus a few others within a degree or two.

I'm feeling pretty sure we had our last freeze on the 7th. I've seen some wild |expletive|, but I'd be really surprised if not.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Tue Apr 21, 2026 3:27 pm

It's six record highs so far. Keep an eye on that high today. The record is 90.

stormchaser · Post by **stormchaser** » Wed Apr 22, 2026 12:27 pm

At least some tornado threat tomorrow in the local area if the 12z HRRR verifies.

Storms should grow upscale into more wind producers but for the first couple hours after development, they will likely be supercellular and potentially tornadic (probably early to mid-afternoon tomorrow) which currently looks to occur in or very close to the Omaha area specifically. Ultimately it will just come down to the timing/location of the boundary though and it very easily could be most storms end up just east of us. Only time will tell.