2026 Weather Thread

[Brad]

The latest HRRR sows it forming right near Omaha and out of here by 6PM.

1PM

Screenshot 2026-04-23 080824.jpg

2PM

Screenshot 2026-04-23 080843.jpg

3PM

Screenshot 2026-04-23 080918.jpg

4PM

Screenshot 2026-04-23 080933.jpg

5PM

Screenshot 2026-04-23 080955.jpg

6PM

Screenshot 2026-04-23 081024.jpg

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[almighty_tuna]

MD501 gives us an 80% chances of a tornado watch getting issued soon.

[Brad]

MD501 gives us an 80% chances of a tornado watch getting issued soon.

Already Severe Thunderstorms out between Fremont and Columbus too...

[Brad]

MD501 gives us an 80% chances of a tornado watch getting issued soon.

There it is:

[nativeomahan]

A nice heavy rain with a smattering of pea sized hail mid city that gave way to sunshine a half hour later.

[nativeomahan]

Watching KETV at 6 pm prattling on and on and on about this storm front, and caught the on screen meteorologist admitting that the communities currently affected by severe weather are outside their viewing area.
In other words, everyone who might be impacted by this storm cannot view their coverage. And everyone who is forced to view it while watching KETV absolutely won’t be impacted.

[damonhynes]

Watching KETV at 6 pm prattling on and on and on about this storm front, and caught the on screen meteorologist admitting that the communities currently affected by severe weather are outside their viewing area.
In other words, everyone who might be impacted by this storm cannot view their coverage. And everyone who is forced to view it while watching KETV absolutely won’t be impacted.

Earlier, Wild Bill and Vic Lukery were calling every random piece of scud a 'lOwErInG!!!111!!!'. Smack my darn head.

[Cermak]

A nice heavy rain with a smattering of pea sized hail mid city that gave way to sunshine a half hour later.

Agree, just a brief few minutes of pea sized hail, no high winds. A good spring rain.

[nativeomahan]

I’m old enough to recall when the TV stations merely ran a “crawl” at the bottom of the screen announcing a particular watch or warning, then maybe had a small box in the corner of the screen with a radar image or notification of the specific weather watch. That was it. No wall to wall “the sky is falling (or lowering )” coverage when 80 or 90% of the residents in their viewing area had perfectly quiet weather conditions.
Somewhere along the line these TV stations each hired enough meteorologists for a game of bridge and decided they needed to stick at least two of them on their TV screens nonstop for an hour or three to discuss either potential severe weather or less than ideal driving conditions due to rain or fog or what-have-you. And they wonder why the public is abandoning local TV channels for streaming. Streaming or “screaming”, take your choice.

[Busguy2010]

This one coming now looks worse for wind impact. Watching channel 6 and no cut in yet. Im out west and see a shelf cloud coming out. Some weak mammatus too.

[Busguy2010]

What severe portion that was headed right for us dissipated. What was looking like 60mph gusts and a recipe for tree damage, turned into just rain, hence OmaDome. You get two descriptions of the OmaDome. Obviously the round reflectivity dome on radar. But the OmaDome has always been to me when a storm literally, not just on radar, breaks up before hitting Omaha. I thought thats what everybody thought. I think all the meteorologists got it wrong when they explained it away as the radar. The real OmaDome is the superstition thats developed over the years, as the number of storms directly headed toward Omaha dissipated or split without hitting us has been crazy enough, there has to be a protective dome out there. Its just a joke, obviously.

Did som conspiracy theorists get a hold of it or something?

[Busguy2010]

I've really savored these last two days. Been perfect in my book. It's not too often you get sunny skies, highs around 60, combined with the long day. Usually if its 50's in May, its cloudy and raining.

[skinzfan23]

I've really savored these last two days. Been perfect in my book. It's not too often you get sunny skies, highs around 60, combined with the long day. Usually if its 50's in May, its cloudy and raining.

I agree, it has been beautiful!

[Busguy2010]

Today was funny. Got up to the 80's, and when that strong cold front came through, with the winds, clouds, and temperature drop, it felt more like ushering in fall rather than one of the last tastes of spring.

[thenewguy]

Today was funny. Got up to the 80's, and when that strong cold front came through, with the winds, clouds, and temperature drop, it felt more like ushering in fall rather than one of the last tastes of spring.

i thought the same thing. Definitely didn't feel like spring- virtually no humidity and it got kind of brisk out

[Cermak]

I've really savored these last two days. Been perfect in my book. It's not too often you get sunny skies, highs around 60, combined with the long day. Usually if its 50's in May, its cloudy and raining.

I agree, it has been beautiful!

This past weekend was fantastic weather, two picture perfect days back to back. Could be the nicest weekend we have all year.

[stormchaser]

The severe weather threat is expected to increase again in parts of our area this weekend - especially on Sunday for the Omaha area. Otherwise Saturday the main threat is depicted to remain south of us (based on the SPC outlooks currently anyway) but that obviously could change.

Both days will include a threat for supercells including potential for damaging wind, hail, and tornadoes.

Current Day 5/Saturday outlook:




Current Day 6/Sunday outlook:

[almighty_tuna]

It's about time we get some rumbles of thunder around here! Though, this recent stretch of weather is about as perfect as one could ask for.

[Brad]

Just heard the NAM computer model is going away in August. Being Replaced with the RRFS computer model.

[stormchaser]

Just heard the NAM computer model is going away in August. Being Replaced with the RRFS computer model.

Probably a good thing - it's usually pretty unreliable...

[stormchaser]

Multiple days of severe weather are coming up for our area including the potential for a multi-day severe weather/tornado outbreak over a fairly large portion of our area with enhanced risks already issued for these days.

Today/tonight: most storms should remain south of our area into KS.

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Friday: strong to severe storms will be possible but should be primarily southeast of Omaha but at least some risk here too depending on timing/where the boundary ends up. These storms will pose mainly a damaging wind/large hail threat.



----------------------------

Saturday: strong to severe storms will be possible over much of our area including Omaha. This risk will include damaging wind, large hail, and at least some isolated tornado threat as the warm front starts lifting more into our area.



----------------------------

Sunday: this is when the risk for supercells/tornadoes really starts to increase with an enhanced risk already issued for parts of the area. The SPC is warning of a severe weather outbreak with multiple supercells and potential tornadoes this day. This "could be" a particularly dangerous day for the local area - especially areas west/northwest of Omaha where the enhanced risk is. Wouldn't shock me if there ends up being a threat for strong/long track tornadoes this day but it's too far out to know yet.



----------------------------

Monday: very similar to Sunday, the SPC is warning of a severe weather outbreak with multiple supercells and potential tornadoes this day - basically centered right over Lincoln/Omaha. This "could be" a particularly dangerous day for the local area. Wouldn't shock me if there ends up being a threat for strong/long track tornadoes this day but it's too far out to know yet.

[skinzfan23]

Wow, we need the rain, but could do without the severe storms.

[Busguy2010]

What I'm liking about these upcoming storms is they aren't overnight, according to Bo Fogle. So much of our severe weather his come through in the early AM in recent years. Not only do you miss the enjoyment of a more benign storm, but you're more at danger in a more formidable one.

[djc311]

Wow, we need the rain, but could do without the severe storms.

Right - that's one thing I could certainly live without in our area... tornadoes scare the heck out of our youngest daughter, and one of our neighbors lost their home in Elkhorn two years ago.

The winds, in general, I feel have been much higher than in decades past. I'm assuming it has something to do with global shift, warming, etc.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Wow, we need the rain, but could do without the severe storms.

Right - that's one thing I could certainly live without in our area... tornadoes scare the heck out of our youngest daughter, and one of our neighbors lost their home in Elkhorn two years ago.

The winds, in general, I feel have been much higher than in decades past. I'm assuming it has something to do with global shift, warming, etc.

I’ll 3rd these sentiments. Give us the rain, minus the severe storm risk…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Omaha Cowboy]

Multiple days of severe weather are coming up for our area including the potential for a multi-day severe weather/tornado outbreak over a fairly large portion of our area with enhanced risks already issued for these days.

Today/tonight: most storms should remain south of our area into KS.

----------------------------

Friday: strong to severe storms will be possible but should be primarily southeast of Omaha but at least some risk here too depending on timing/where the boundary ends up. These storms will pose mainly a damaging wind/large hail threat.



----------------------------

Saturday: strong to severe storms will be possible over much of our area including Omaha. This risk will include damaging wind, large hail, and at least some isolated tornado threat as the warm front starts lifting more into our area.



----------------------------

Sunday: this is when the risk for supercells/tornadoes really starts to increase with an enhanced risk already issued for parts of the area. The SPC is warning of a severe weather outbreak with multiple supercells and potential tornadoes this day. This "could be" a particularly dangerous day for the local area - especially areas west/northwest of Omaha where the enhanced risk is. Wouldn't shock me if there ends up being a threat for strong/long track tornadoes this day but it's too far out to know yet.



----------------------------

Monday: very similar to Sunday, the SPC is warning of a severe weather outbreak with multiple supercells and potential tornadoes this day - basically centered right over Lincoln/Omaha. This "could be" a particularly dangerous day for the local area. Wouldn't shock me if there ends up being a threat for strong/long track tornadoes this day but it's too far out to know yet.

Thank you very much for the detail and updates…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[GenX]

Wow, we need the rain, but could do without the severe storms.

The winds, in general, I feel have been much higher than in decades past. I'm assuming it has something to do with global shift, warming, etc.

While the reason may be debatable, there is absolutely zero doubt that the climate is changing.

[stormchaser]

I see the SPC is now using "strong tornado" potential in their text (as expected really):

"A strong 50 kt low-level jet will ramp up into the evening, which may support a continuing potential for tornadoes, some of which may be strong."

That said, these storms on Sunday/Monday will probably grow upscale in spots and consequently pose more of a damaging wind threat in the areas that they do. It's the isolated storms/supercells and also the storms early in development that will have the main tornado threat.

[Brad]

The latest run of the HRRR shows storms firing up west of Fremont around 6pm and moving in to Western Douglas County by 7pm.

Here is the 7pm simulated radar:

Screenshot 2026-05-15 131344.jpg

[Brad]

Storms now rolling in from the boundary left behind the earlier storms. Intense Cloud to ground lightning tonight.

Looks like possibly 6 planes holding for the storms or diverting from Omaha to Lincoln.

Screenshot 2026-05-15 231132.jpg

.

[Busguy2010]

Amazing storm! I watched it come in for over an hour, and I say I must have seen a hundred CG strikes. Luckily I live not far from a hill that gives you a wide open view to the north, and given the combination of rarity for storms to come in almost directly from the north, and the speechless amount of CG lighting, this couldnt have been more perfect! Equally awe inspiring is how long it took to get here, ultimately to dissolve right on our doorstep. I questioned if we'd even get any rain out of it, but we got a little.

[Flyer14]

That was the most intense lightning storm I have witnessed. I was on my way to Eppley to pick up a guest, and I felt like I had a front row seat! Unfortunately the plane was diverted to KC, but I would say watching the lighting was worth the trip.

[Brad]

Unfortunately the plane was diverted to KC, but I would say watching the lighting was worth the trip.

That's too bad. Eppley had re-opened to arrivals before that plane even landed in KC.

[stormchaser]

Supercell and potential tornado development seems to be increasing in an east/west line from around Lincoln over into southwest IA with highest potential this afternoon around Red Oak (roughly) before things cluster and turn into a heavy rain mess.

Additional severe weather with a bow/destructive wind event is possible moving across southern NE along I-80 tonight including possibly the Omaha area.

[almighty_tuna]

One thing I haven't seen is an as-it-is-happening mesoscale discussion for a bow echo!
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0744.html

[Brad]

One thing I haven't seen is an as-it-is-happening mesoscale discussion for a bow echo!
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0744.html

Let’s hop that stays to the south.

[stormchaser]

A potentially dangerous day is about to unfold today (and probably tomorrow) in parts of the area. Pretty unusual for a 15%-29% tornado risk area which includes potential for strong/violent tornadoes.

[nativeomahan]

Saturday evening we experienced a bit of lightning and thunder late evening in our mid city neighborhood, but what followed was a much needed gentle overnight rain. I don’t own a rain gauge but it was definitely on the high side of one inch. But no flooding, and no downed tree branches. Just what the lawns needed.

[Busguy2010]

I walked outside this morning and said oof, this is gonna be bad later (all the moisture from last night with the sun).

[stormchaser]

Updated outlook has Omaha in the 15% tornado risk area for today.