Twister Outbreak: More Than Two Dozen Tornadoes Reported in Nebraska, Texas and Kansas

On Friday, April 26, a tumultuous twister outbreak has struck the Plains, with over two dozen reported tornadoes wreaking havoc in three states. A staggering twenty million Americans, spanning from Texas to Iowa, are under high alert as the cyclones, large hail and destructive winds are anticipated to ravage the Heartland through the weekend.

The most imminent tornado threat looms from the Dallas region, extending northward to Des Moines, Iowa. Reported tornadoes have reached at least 25 in Nebraska, Texas and Kansas, resulting in damage particularly in northeast Texas and central Nebraska. Tornado watches are actively in place for regions across six states, including Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, notably Dallas, as the day progresses into evening.

The National Weather Service in Omaha declared a tornado emergency for sections of east-central Nebraska on Friday afternoon following the sighting of a confirmed "large and destructive" tornado over Elkhorn, Nebraska. Two highly hazardous situation tornado warnings were also issued in Nebraska, near Omaha and near Norfolk.

A reported tornado caused severe damage to a building in Lancaster County, Nebraska, resulting in three injuries. The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office disclosed that the incident occurred at Garner Industries, where approximately 70 individuals were present at the time of the reported tornado. Three individuals were transported to nearby hospitals, although their condition is reported to be non-life-threatening.

Impending Severe Weather and Flash Flood Threat

On Saturday, April 27, the severe storms are anticipated to extend as far north as Chicago, Milwaukee, Green Bay in Wisconsin, and Traverse City in Michigan, mainly witnessing damaging winds along with some hail. Additionally, these thunderstorms may lead to heavy rain, potentially causing flash flooding, with Oklahoma, including cities like Oklahoma City and Tulsa, facing the highest risk. The threat of flash floods is also expected to extend into northern Texas and eastern Kansas, with the possibility of up to half a foot of rain within a short timeframe.

The highest threat of tornadoes on Saturday looms over the Plains, encompassing areas from Texas to Iowa, including Oklahoma City, Kansas City in Missouri, Wichita in Kansas, and Des Moines, particularly in the afternoon and evening. The tornado threat is anticipated to diminish but not dissolve on Sunday, with storms expected to reemerge from Texas to Missouri to Illinois, accompanied by severe weather, potentially featuring damaging winds, hail and isolated tornados. The risk of flash floods is projected to shift into Arkansas, including the city of Little Rock, on Sunday.

Previous Activity and Subsequent Weather

The current tornado threat follows reported landspouts and tornadoes in four states on Thursday, including Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, primarily in rural areas. Moreover, certain parts of Kansas experienced hail larger than a baseball and winds gusting up to 70 mph. Meanwhile, the Midwest and Northeast are expected to encounter a classic spring whiplash over the weekend, with temperatures forecasted to transition from freezing to summer-like 80s. Eleven states were under frost and freeze alerts on Friday morning, ranging from Michigan to Maryland, with several areas experiencing freezing temperatures or even lower.

A substantial warm-up is predicted from Saturday through Monday, with temperatures expected to surge into the 80s from Chicago to New York City. Chicago is slated to reach 80 degrees on Saturday, while New York City could achieve the same on Monday. Washington, D.C. could observe temperatures nearing 90 degrees, marking a considerable shift in climate compared to the preceding frost and freeze alerts.