Devastating tornadoes hit parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas on Friday as a severe, multi-day storm intensified across the central United States.
Storms began to rage across parts of the Plains and South on Friday afternoon, and multiple tornadoes were observed in Nebraska by mid-afternoon, including at least one that approached Lincoln and west of Omaha. The National Weather Service then issued a tornado emergency as the storm moved just west of Omaha, the strongest type of tornado warning that means a deadly tornado is confirmed.
A tornado hit the outskirts of Lincoln, kicking up debris and crossing part of I-80 in the process. An overturned tractor-trailer, blown over by storms, slowly slowed traffic on I-80 northeast of the city, Nebraska. Traffic cameras showed.
At least two tornadoes were observed in Texas on Friday afternoon, one northeast of Waco. Tornado video posted on social media showed him fluttering across a large field.
The tornado threat will continue to increase overnight.
It’s all part of the classic spring setup for inclement weather conditions. Moist air from the Gulf of Mexico is flowing toward the central United States as heat increases in the region, preparing the atmosphere for strong storms.
Some locations are facing a severe storm threat that will last for two or three consecutive days.
Dallas; Kansas City, Missouri; Des Moines, Iowa; and Omaha, Nebraska, are just some of the cities that could be affected by multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms through Sunday.
Here is where you can expect these dangerous storms each day:
Friday: Plains, Mississippi Valley, Midwest
A new round of severe thunderstorms roared to life Friday morning across parts of the Plains, prompting tornado warnings in Texas.
The rapidly developing storms led the Storm Prediction Center to raise the severe risk in the region.
A Level 3 of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri expanded south into Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas early Friday afternoon.
Storms in Texas are likely to increase in range and strength throughout the afternoon and evening, eventually reaching Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Strong storms occurred in eastern Nebraska early in the afternoon and later in Kansas. Storms will move east toward Iowa and Missouri during the afternoon and evening.
Damaging wind gusts, hail the size of baseballs, and strong tornadoes (at least EF2 strength) are possible with any storm in the Level 3 of 5 risk area.
“Several factors appear to support a significant tornado today,” the prediction center warned Friday morning. Tornado risk will continue to increase late into the night.
Heavy rain at rates of up to 2 inches per hour could cause flooding in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri.
Parts of Missouri were inundated with rain Thursday, prompting flash flood warnings in the Springfield area, where more than half a month of rain fell. Additional heavy rain on Friday could allow flooding to rise faster and pose an even greater danger.
Saturday: potential to be the most dangerous day
Saturday could be the most dangerous day of the four if certain atmospheric conditions align. The potential strength of the storms depends on how Friday night’s storms evolve and persist into Saturday morning.
“A complex but potentially significant severe weather event is expected on Saturday,” the prediction center warned on Friday.
If storms persist into the morning hours, the atmosphere will not be able to fully recharge to deliver widespread, dangerous storms. Damaging storms are still likely in this scenario, but they may simply not reach their full potential strength.
But if the storms disappear quickly Saturday morning, there won’t be much limit to how strong they could become.
Major storms are possible beginning in the afternoon in parts of the southern and central Plains, where there is a level 3 of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms. The storms are widespread, damaging wind gusts, hail the size of baseballs, and strong tornadoes. main dangers.
The tornado threat could increase significantly during the late afternoon and evening hours with “multiple strong tornadoes” possible, according to the prediction center.
Damaging storms are possible outside the highest risk zone over a huge area of the country from the Great Lakes to southern Texas.
A “major rain event” could occur on Saturday, the Weather Prediction Center warned. Some locations could see up to 5 inches of rain in a short period and dangerous flash flooding could occur. A handful of places caught under multiple rounds of heavy rain could see totals near the 8-inch mark.
There is a level 3 of 4 risk of excessive rainfall for a large portion of Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City and Tulsa, and smaller parts of Kansas and Texas. Heavy rain could force streams to overflow and flood roads.
Sunday: Plains, Mississippi Valley, Midwest
Damaging storms are possible from Texas to Wisconsin on Sunday. But the exact timing, range and strength of these storms will largely depend on how Saturday night’s storms behave.
If the atmosphere manages to recharge after the morning storms, new severe storms will begin to emerge in the afternoon. Areas from northeast Texas to southern Iowa and western Illinois face the highest chances of damaging storms.
The storms could unleash damaging wind gusts and large hail, but one or two isolated tornadoes are also possible.
Some storms, especially in the southern part of the risk area, could remain severe as they move east on Sunday night.
Heavy rain and flooding are possible, especially in parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley.
By Monday, the severe weather is forecast to be much more isolated. Any storm that develops may be limited to the Gulf Coast.
CNN meteorologist Robert Shackelford contributed to this report.