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Tornadoes rip through Omaha metro, leaving behind damage and destruction

Timeline of updates on friday’s severe weather.

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Severe weather raced through the Omaha area Friday, with heavy rain, large hail, strong winds, and several confirmed tornadoes leaving behind damage and destruction.

Updates on information as we receive them:

7:50 p.m. -- The American Red Cross has opened two shelters to assist victims of today’s storms. Volunteers are on hand at the Common Ground Community Center on Veterans Drive in Elkhorn, and the First Lutheran Church in Blair.

Nebraska’s junior U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts issued this statement following Friday’s tornadoes:

Susanne and I are praying for everyone impacted by today’s severe weather. My office is in touch with Governor Pillen and prepared to assist with requests for any federal resources that may be needed as we recover from today’s tornadoes. Statement from Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE)

Gov. Jim Pillen released this statement:

Suzanne and I extend our deepest prayers to all those impacted by today’s storms. I have ordered that state resources be made available to assist with the emergency response and to support local first responders as they assess the damage. Nebraskans are tough, resilient people, and our neighbors and communities will rally around affected families and businesses to assist them. Nebraskans are no strangers to severe weather and, as they have countless times before, Nebraskans will help Nebraskans to rebuild. Statement from Gov. Jim Pillen (R-NE)

7 p.m. -- The Tornado Watch that was in place for much of the area has been allowed to expire. A watch remains in place until 9 p.m. for the far eastern counties of the WOWT viewing area -- namely Cass, Adams, Taylor, Audubon, Crawford and Carroll Counties in Iowa, and Atchison, Holt and Nodaway Counties in Missouri.

A handful of Tornado Warnings remain effective to the east, affecting portions of Crawford, Carroll and Shelby counties in Iowa.

6:56 p.m. -- Brookside Church in Elkhorn tells 6 News it is open for anyone needing a place to go. Snacks and bottled water are available for victims and first responders.

The Omaha Airport Authority is reporting a tornado did touch down around 5:08 p.m. The airport was closed and passengers were directed to storm shelters. The passenger terminal was unaffected, but OAA says several buildings on the east side in the General Aviation area sustained damage. No injuries have been reported. The airport reopened just before 6 p.m. Delays are still anticipated Friday night; passengers are advised to check with their carrier for their flight status.

6:30 p.m. -- Omaha Police and Fire officials are set to provide an update on today’s weather and the response.

6:06 p.m. -- Eppley Airfield has reopened for airport operations. The terminal was not impacted, although delays are likely. Damage assessments continue in other areas of the airport.

A TORNADO EMERGENCY has been issued for Shelby County, including the City of Harlan. A LARGE, VIOLENT TORNADO is on the ground and lofting debris. Take shelter NOW!

The Omaha Storm Chasers have postponed tonight’s game at Werner Park against Indianapolis due to the weather. It will be made up as a single-admission doubleheader at 12:05 p.m. Sunday.

5:57 p.m. -- Pottawattamie County has been cleared from the Tornado Warning that was in effect. The warned storm has largely passed into Shelby County.

A LARGE, DANGEROUS TORNADO is on the ground between Harlan and Portsmouth in Shelby County. Take shelter now!

Damage is also being reported in the town of Pisgah.

The Omaha Community Playhouse has canceled its production of Chicken and Biscuits for tonight. The Omaha Children’s Museum will open one hour late Saturday.

OPPD outages now total 10,158 customers, the majority across Douglas and Washington Counties. In Iowa, MidAmerican Energy reports just over 5,000 customers in the dark in its Council Bluffs service area.

5:50 p.m. -- Reports of trees and wires down along Avenue E in Council Bluffs.

Residents are asked to submit damage reports via phone at 211.

Douglas County authorities report a reunification center is being established at Elkhorn Middle School for parents whose students were held during the earlier warnings.

A TORNADO WARNING is also in place for southeastern Montgomery and central Page counties in Iowa. College Springs, Villisca and Clarinda are in the path. Rotation is radar-indicated at this time.

5:45 p.m. -- A large tornado has likely just torn through Minden, Iowa. A TORNADO EMERGENCY is in place through 6 p.m. for northern Pottawattamie County as it crosses into southern Shelby County. The town of Shelby and Harlan are on deck. The tornado is estimated to be about one third of a mile wide at its base.

5:40 p.m. -- The Food Bank for the Heartland has canceled its Stuff the Truck event set for Saturday morning at the 168th and West Maple Walmart location.

5:30 p.m. -- The Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter for Elkhorn-area residents at Arbor View Elementary School near 208th and Fort Streets.

The National Weather Service says a “likely strong tornado” was briefly on the ground across eastern Monona County near the town of Soldier. A TORNADO WARNING remains in effect there until 6 p.m.

5:26 p.m. -- Beebeetown residents, shelter now -- a tight area of rotation is crossing Interstate 880 into Harrison County. Areas between Logan and Portsmouth need to take their tornado precautions.

A new SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING is now in place for the Omaha metro until 6:15 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Omaha NE, Council Bluffs IA and Carter Lake IA until 6:15 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/M4cOYWGCMP — NWS Omaha (@NWSOmaha) April 26, 2024

5:21 p.m. -- Omaha’s Eppley Airfield remains closed for damage assessment, but passengers that had been sheltering from the terminals are being allowed to come out. The terminal does not appear to be damaged.

5:18 p.m. -- A TORNADO WARNING continues for northern Pottawattamie and southern Harrison County. A CONFIRMED TORNADO is on the ground near Honey Creek.

5:12 p.m. -- Nebraska’s softball game set for tonight has been pushed back to 6 p.m. for first pitch. Nebraska’s baseball first pitch is pushed back to 6:45 p.m.

West Maple Road is CLOSED between 204th and 216th Streets due to heavy damage. Please avoid the area. West Dodge Road is also closed in both directions between Skyline Drive and Highway 275.

5:02 p.m. -- Eppley Airfield is CLOSED for the interim. Eppley is moving passengers in the terminal to storm shelters and delays are expected. A report has been received that Eppley Airfield was hit and sustained an unknown severity of damage.

Passengers in the OMA terminal are being moved to the storm shelters. Expect flight delays. Please contact your airline for flight information. https://t.co/MBwb53qOwu — Eppley Airfield (@OMAairport) April 26, 2024

4:57 p.m. -- Got pictures or videos? Submit here when you can do so safely.

4:54 p.m. -- A TORNADO WARNING has been extended through 5:45 p.m. for eastern Douglas, western Pottawattamie, and southern Harrison counties.

4:53 p.m. -- Heavy rainfall is descending on midtown Omaha, including WOWT’s studios. Also seeing small hail, perhaps marble size.

4:42 p.m. -- Bellevue Public Schools says the district is keeping kids safe inside until the tornado warning expires.

OPPD is reporting a spike in power outages across the metro -- up over 10,000 customers in total. [ CURRENT OUTAGE MAP ]

4:33 p.m. -- A FLASH FLOOD WARNING has been issued for Douglas, Sarpy, Pottawattamie, Mills and Washington Counties until 8 p.m. due to heavy rainfall.

A new TORNADO WARNING is in place through 5:15 p.m. for central Washington, southeastern Burt and west-central Harrison counties. This includes Blair, Kennard, Modale and Mondamin.

4:30 p.m. -- Check out this tornado video from Joe Bradley near Yutan.

WATCH -- Joe Bradley sent us this video of tornadic activity near Yutan. He said it was taken from Skyline Drive, about halfway between Pacific and Center. pic.twitter.com/GPAnxItmv7 — 6 News WOWT (@WOWT6News) April 26, 2024

4:27 p.m. -- A TORNADO WARNING has been issued for eastern Douglas, Sarpy, northern Cass, and western Pottawattamie Co. until 5:15 p.m. Radar-indicated rotation and up to 2″ hail are the main concerns.

FIRST ALERT: A Tornado Warning is in effect until Apr 26 5:15PM for Douglas, Sarpy, Pottawattamie, Cass counties. Tune to 6 News and the WOWT First Alert Weather app for more information. pic.twitter.com/NQxRFhqWl0 — Rusty Lord WOWT (@RustyLord) April 26, 2024

4:22 p.m. -- Damage reports from the area of 216th and West Maple Road indicate roofs being torn off homes.

A TORNADO WARNING has been extended into Harrison County until 5 p.m. This is a CONFIRMED TORNADO! Locations impacted include Modale, Mondamin, and Pisgah.

Another TORNADO WARNING has been issued for portions of Nemaha, Pawnee and Richardson Counties. Radar-indicated rotation and two-inch hail are the main concerns. Areas impacted include Auburn, Humboldt and Dawson.

4:20 p.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in place until 5 p.m. for parts of Douglas and Saunders Counties. Hail up to 1.5″ is the primary concern.

A TORNADO WARNING is in place for northeastern Otoe, eastern Cass, western Mills, and northwestern Fremont Counties until 5 p.m. Rotation is radar-indicated. This warning includes Plattsmouth, Glenwood, Silver City, Thurman, and Nebraska City.

4:15 p.m. -- Reports of several people trapped in some locales across northwestern Douglas County.

4:11 p.m. -- Some reports of several parties trapped near 253rd and West Center Road.

4:03 p.m. -- Tornado CONFIRMED ON THE GROUND near Blair Municipal Airport, headed northeast toward Blair, Ft. Calhoun.

Bennington has been cleared from the Tornado Warning for the interim.

3:59 p.m. -- National Weather Services reports the tornado is north of Bennington crossing into Washington County. Still on the ground, but may be weakening.

TORNADO WARNING has been extended through 4:45 p.m. for parts of Cass, Otoe and Sarpy Counties.

FIRST ALERT: A Tornado Warning is in effect until Apr 26 4:45PM for Cass, Otoe, Sarpy counties. Tune to 6 News and the WOWT First Alert Weather app for more information. pic.twitter.com/tfq0uqBw8R — Rusty Lord WOWT (@RustyLord) April 26, 2024

3:52 p.m. -- A wall cloud has been reported near NE-50 and NE-1 in Cass County, near Louisville.

Omaha Public Power District is reporting just over 6,500 customers without power, with a concentration in western Douglas and Sarpy Counties.

3:46 p.m. -- A TORNADO WARNING has been issued for much of Sarpy down into central and western Cass County. Radar-indicated rotation at this time.

FIRST ALERT: A Tornado Warning is in effect until Apr 26 4:30PM for Sarpy, Cass counties. Tune to 6 News and the WOWT First Alert Weather app for more information. pic.twitter.com/ZQdXEY8rWc — Rusty Lord WOWT (@RustyLord) April 26, 2024

The tornado on the ground has been reported north and east of West Dodge Road and Skyline Drive in Elkhorn.

3:42 p.m. -- A TORNADO EMERGENCY has been issued for the City of Elkhorn. The tornado is reportedly between Dodge and Maple near 240th Street.

3:36 p.m. -- A confirmed tornado has been spotted near 260th and Center in western Douglas County. Those in the western half of the Omaha metro need to be sheltering NOW. Multiple reports have been received of sirens sounding in the Omaha area.

Skyline and Dodge just to the southwest. Take the warning serious! pic.twitter.com/XPgZ5AKbvW — Ofc. Dan Fehrman (@OPDOfcFehrman) April 26, 2024

3:31 p.m. -- A new TORNADO WARNING has been issued for parts of Lancaster and Saunders Counties through 4:15 p.m. This includes Wahoo and Cedar Bluffs. A CONFIRMED TORNADO is headed north and east.

3:22 p.m. -- TORNADO WARNING extended into parts of Douglas and Sarpy Counties, including portions of the Omaha metro. A CONFIRMED TORNADO was spotted on the ground near Ashland and is headed northeast. Take your tornado precautions NOW!

FIRST ALERT: A Tornado Warning is in effect until Apr 26 3:45PM for Sarpy, Douglas, Saunders, Lancaster, Cass counties. Tune to 6 News and the WOWT First Alert Weather app for more information. pic.twitter.com/d3QWhzlbDu — Rusty Lord WOWT (@RustyLord) April 26, 2024

3:01 p.m. -- Emergency manager near David City has confirmed a tornado in that area.

2:52 p.m. -- Severe Studios chasers confirm tornado on the ground north of Lincoln, near Waverly. The tornado is just south of Interstate 80 at intersection of Highway 6, and is approaching I-80. Anyone traveling on the interstate in this area should exit immediately and take shelter.

2:45 p.m. -- Video update from Meteorologist David Koeller:

2:18 p.m. -- Lincoln Public Schools braces for severe weather. [TWEET]

2:03 p.m. -- A TORNADO WARNING has been extended to include portions of the City of Lincoln through 3 p.m. This includes western Lancaster, southwestern Saunders, eastern Seward, and the southeastern edge of Butler County.

FIRST ALERT: A Tornado Warning is in effect until Apr 26 3:00PM for Saunders, Lancaster, Seward, Butler counties. Tune to 6 News and the WOWT First Alert Weather app for more information. pic.twitter.com/Bc7TWtJkku — Rusty Lord WOWT (@RustyLord) April 26, 2024

1:25 p.m. -- Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are beginning to be issued southwest of the metro. Warnings are in effect for western Jefferson, southern Seward, and western Saline Counties until 2 p.m. Locations impacted include Milford, Friend, Utica, Beaver Crossing, and Fairbury.

1:12 p.m. -- Some Iowa school districts are dismissing early due to the severe weather threat. Glenwood Community Schools will dismiss one hour early, and all activities are canceled. Missouri Valley dismissed at 1 p.m. Tri-Center will dismiss at 1:30 p.m.

Sidney, Iowa schools will dismiss one hour early. South Page Community Schools will dismiss at 2 p.m.

In Omaha, the Hope Center for Kids is closed.

[COMPLETE CLOSING/DELAY LIST]

12:54 p.m. -- The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Watch through 7 p.m. for east-central Nebraska and western Iowa, as well as parts of Kansas and Missouri.

12:34 p.m. -- Senior Chief Meteorologist Rusty Lord checks in to say the timelines are still holding.

Everything is on track. Tornado watch should be out in the next hour or 2 and then it’s wait and watch as the storms develop and move thru. 2-6pm still the main window. — Rusty Lord WOWT (@RustyLord) April 26, 2024

10:24 a.m. -- Douglas County Emergency Management issues an advisory that two outdoor tornado warning sirens, both located in northwest Omaha, are not functioning .

Get the latest weather alerts for your area. Download the 6 First Alert Weather app.

Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.

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UNO follows travel policy based on Executive Memorandum No. 25.

This policy is a University of Nebraska systemwide policy that affects student, staff, and faculty travel. The policy governs international travel to countries based on their U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory level, and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Travel Health Notice levels.

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Severe spring storms put 21 million under threat of possible tornadoes and hail

Severe spring storms will bring heavy rain and thunder to the Plains and into the Mississippi Valley this weekend — including possible powerful tornadoes , large hail and flooding.

On Friday, 21 million people are at risk for severe storms stretching from northern Iowa to northeast Texas with the main threats including hail up to 4 inches in diameter and a couple of possible strong tornadoes in Kansas City, Missouri, and Omaha, Nebraska.

Tornadoes were reported but unconfirmed in Texas and Nebraska on Friday as the National Weather Service issued a rare "tornado emergency" statement for the area of Blair, Nebraska, a small city about 26 miles north of Omaha.

The emergency also applied to the city of Missouri Valley, Iowa, and nearby parts of Iowa along the Nebraska border. The service describes tornado emergency statements as "exceedingly rare" and says they're reserved for tornadoes confirmed by reliable sources or manifested via radar data and imagery.

The area covered by the statement faces "a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from an imminent or ongoing tornado," the service said on its online glossary.

The National Weather Service office in Valley, Nebraska, was unable to confirm reports of multiple tornadoes that appeared to touch down north of Omaha as it focused on handling a wave of incoming reports. Multiple social media videos verified by NBC News appeared to show tornadoes in the air and near or on the ground in or near Lincoln, Waverly, and Elba.

Nearly 16 million people were also under tornado watches that extended from central Texas to the top of Nebraska, but by late Friday night that number was reduced to about 1.3 million, according to the weather service.

Earlier in the day, Tornado warnings, which alert residents to imminent danger and urge them to take cover, were in effect for parts of eastern Kansas and eastern Nebraska as a line of thunderstorms battered the region.

Police and fire officials in Omaha said two people sustained minor injuries when a tornado touched down in the northwest area of the city.

"It appears that many houses are flattened and many houses also have significant damage," Omaha Fire Department Chief Kathy Bossman said at an early evening news conference.

Crews would starting searching the area for any potential injured residents tonight, she said. However, the area has homes under construction, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said, and may have been empty.

The city is experiencing power outages, gas leaks, and utility poles and tree limbs down in roadways, the fire chief said. Nearly 7,000 utility customers were without power in Nebraska, according to utility tracker PowerOutage.us. In neighboring Iowa, that figure was more than 15,000.

Schmaderer credited early warnings from the National Weather Service and others for the low number of injured people so far. "Warning systems were highly effective," he said.

In the area of Lincoln, a 115,00-square-foot facility that produces injection-molded parts used in manufacturing, was flattened by a reported tornado, the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office said in statements Friday afternoon.

Three people who were at the Garner Industries facility had non-life-threatening injuries, the office said. Nearly 70 others, some initially trapped, were able to exit the facility unharmed, the sheriff's office said.

The company's listing on Google says it's "temporarily closed." A representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The public school district in Lincoln warned parents planning to pick up their children Friday afternoon that students would be ordered to shelter on campus and unavailable temporarily if the area comes under a tornado warning.

Omaha's Eppley Airfield said would-be travelers were being moved to storm shelters as the storm caused flight delays.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Pottawattamie County, where a tornado reportedly struck the town of Minden, according to NBC affiliate WOWT of Omaha. The proclamation allows affected residents to apply for disaster relief.

Homes were damaged and two people suffered minor injuries when a tornado appeared to strike near Abbott, Texas, on Friday, the city's volunteer fire department chief, Doreen Strickland, said.

The injuries occurred when a semi-truck was blown off Interstate 35, Strickland said.

“The tornado did in fact lay it over on its side, and we’re waiting for equipment to get it back on its wheels," the chief said.

In Oklahoma, Altus Air Force Base prepared overnight by moving aircraft from the 97th Air Mobility Wing to the Sacramento McClellan Airport in McClellan Park, California, according to a statement.

The most intense storms are expected midafternoon to early evening, and some storms may continue overnight, affecting major cities of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Kansas City, Missouri; Omaha; and Des Moines, Iowa.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center had already issued an enhanced risk warning of severe thunderstorms for portions of eastern Nebraska, northeastern Kansas, northwestern Missouri and southwestern Iowa on Friday.

Friday night into Saturday, the system will move farther into the Plains, and heavy snow will develop in the Rockies.

Saturday is forecast to be the most volatile day of the outbreak, with 33 million people at risk from the storms across a large area from southern Texas to northern Michigan.

The main threats Saturday again include very large hail and numerous tornadoes, some of which could be strong and travel long distances — from Ames, Iowa, down to Wichita Falls, Texas.

Come Sunday, relentless storms continue over the Plains, and 20 million people from St. Louis to Dallas could see hazardous storms, though less severe than Saturday's weather.

There’s an increased risk for flash flooding especially across eastern Oklahoma, where downpours could produce over 6 inches of rainfall through Sunday.

Kathryn Prociv is a senior meteorologist and producer for NBC News. 

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Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 

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News & features, winter center, news / severe weather, high risk of tornadoes, powerful winds, hail and flash flooding for central us.

Tens of millions of people will be at risk for severe weather on a daily basis through Sunday over the central United States. The storms will pack tornadoes, large hail, high winds and torrential rainfall.

By Alex Sosnowski , AccuWeather senior meteorologist

Published Apr 26, 2024 7:49 AM PDT | Updated Apr 26, 2024 12:36 PM PDT

Storms may not have been as bad as they could have been on Thursday, but the risk for destructive weather will be higher in the days to come.

The risk to lives and property has increased over portions of the Great Plains as severe weather and the likelihood of tornadoes peaks into this weekend, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. In addition to the likelihood of tornadoes, many of the storms will bring damaging winds and large hail, as well as flash flooding.

In the first volley of severe weather during the multiday outbreak, dozens of severe thunderstorms erupted from Wyoming and South Dakota to Texas and Arkansas Thursday afternoon and night with a few of the storms producing tornadoes and hail to the size of baseballs.

Well ahead of the prime days of severe weather, AccuWeather meteorologists issued high-risk zones for severe weather into Saturday night. These zones could not only be affected by a few tornadoes, but some of the storms could evolve into strong and possibly long-track twisters in portions of well-traveled interstates 29, 35, and 44 over the central and southern Plains.

Violent storms likely into Friday night

"There could be more than a dozen tornadoes spawned into Friday night alone," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. "Into Friday night, the areas most likely to be strewn with intense, discrete thunderstorms -- the type that often produces strong tornadoes -- extends from northeastern Kansas and northwestern Missouri to southeastern Nebraska and southern and central Iowa."

Major metro areas that are very close to or within the high-risk area into Friday night include Kansas City , Missouri; Omaha , Nebraska; and Des Moines , Iowa.

Another pocket where a moderate risk of severe weather risks extends from northeastern Texas to southeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Arkansas.

The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ straight-line wind gust is 80 mph into Friday night and is stronger than that of the minimum threshold for a hurricane (74 mph).

Another round of volatile storms Saturday

The overall risk of severe weather into Friday night extends for at least 800 miles from southeastern South Dakota and southern Minnesota to northeastern Texas, home to 35 million people.

On Saturday afternoon and Saturday night, the storm system responsible for Friday's severe weather will race toward Ontario, Canada. Enough energy and fuel may remain in the atmosphere to set off locally severe thunderstorms packing high winds, hail and torrential downpours from Iowa to the northern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

Farther to the south, the high risk of severe weather will extend from central and eastern Kansas and southwestern Missouri to central and northeastern Oklahoma. The high risk of severe thunderstorms on Saturday includes the metro areas of Oklahoma City and Tulsa , Oklahoma, as well as Wichita , Kansas.

"This high-risk zone on Saturday afternoon and evening will be prime for powerful storms with damaging hail and high winds, as well as a few tornadoes," Rayno said. On Saturday, the AccuWeather Local StormMax™ straight-line wind gust is 90 mph. Gusts this strong outside of tornadoes can knock over utility poles and large trees and cause significant property damage.

More than 55 million people will be in the zone where severe weather may occur from Saturday to Saturday night.

Flash flooding risk should not be ignored

"There is also a substantial risk of dangerous flash flooding on Saturday, especially from eastern Kansas, western Missouri, eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas," Rayno added.

The flash flood risk into Sunday night extends over a large portion of the central and southern Plains states, including all of the Ozark Mountains. People planning weekend camping trips are urged to avoid setting up in flood-prone areas along small streams. Rushing high water could block secondary access roads to and from the campsites.

Severe weather risk to continue Sunday

On Sunday, the severe weather zone will extend for more than 800 miles from eastern Nebraska and Iowa to San Antonio. AccuWeather meteorologists have raised the severe weather threat to a moderate level on Sunday for much of Arkansas and parts of northeastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma and southern Missouri. A second area with a moderate risk will include parts of southeastern Nebraska, southwestern Iowa and northwestern Missouri.

The severe weather threats Sunday will range from high winds and large hail to tornadoes and flash flooding, with more than 35 million people at risk.

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People in the severe weather threat zones each day and night are encouraged to pay attention to the weather, take alerts and warnings seriously and have a plan of action in place in case violent conditions become imminent. A method to receive audible alerts when sleeping is strongly advised.

Storm risk to simmer Monday, but not disappear

There is the potential for severe weather to continue into Monday in parts of the South Central states. Heavy, gusty thunderstorms will likely extend from northeastern Texas to Louisiana, central and northern Mississipi, western Alabama, southern Arkansas and western Tennessee. Within this zone, some storms will carry the risk of damaging wind gusts and hail. It is possible the storms could reach all the way to the northwestern and central Gulf coast.

A separate pocket of heavy, gusty, and perhaps locally severe thunderstorms may also develop in parts of the Northeast from Monday to Tuesday.

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Watch: Tornado rips across highway in Nebraska

Storm chaser captures a huge twister in Nebraska, where much damage but few injuries are reported

A storm chaser in Nebraska has captured the moment a massive tornado ripped across a highway on Friday. Injuries have been reported in the US Plains state.

The big twister, which was moving at about 40mph, crossed Interstate 80, northeast of Lincoln, the state capital.

Multiple tornadoes have been reported across the state but the most destructive storm moved from a largely rural area into suburbs northwest of Omaha, a city of 485,000 people. 

One tornado plowed through suburban Omaha, damaging hundreds of homes and other structures as the twister tore for miles along farmland and into subdivisions. Some injuries were reported but there were no immediate reports that anyone was killed.

A clip shared on social media appears to show that one tornado was strong enough to flip a large articulated truck onto its side.

In a clip shared online by Bryce Shelton, a videographer who records tornadoes and other storms, drivers can be seen pulling over to the side of the 80 to escape the path of the colossal twister.

Tornado just crossed i-80 Northeast of Lincoln, Nebraska. pic.twitter.com/mOgknDcCvF — Bryce Shelton (@BryceShelton01) April 26, 2024

TORNADO INTERCEPT from the LIVE stream moments ago Northeast of Lincoln, Nebraska. As the tornado crosses over i-80. I am still LIVE on YouTube - https://t.co/Qwvmm5rdmm pic.twitter.com/RJYzMnXBaz — Bryce Shelton (@BryceShelton01) April 26, 2024

In another clip by videographer Aaron Jayjack, a truck appears to have been overturned on a highway.

VIOLENT tornado just crossed the interstate 80 Lincoln, NE @RadarOmega #newx pic.twitter.com/bQM5UVLyrJ — Aaron Jayjack (@aaronjayjack) April 26, 2024

Photos on social media showed heavily damaged homes and shredded trees. Video showed homes with roofs stripped of shingles, in a rural area near Omaha. Law enforcement were blocking off roads in the area.

KETV-TV video showed one woman being removed from a demolished home on a stretcher in Blair, a city just north of Omaha.

Hundreds of houses sustained damage in Omaha, mostly in the Elkhorn area in the western part of the city, Omaha police lieutenant Neal Bonacci said.

Police and firefighters are now going door-to-door helping people who are trapped. Omaha Fire Chief Kathy Bossman said crews had gone to the “hardest hit area” and had a plan to search anywhere someone could be trapped.

“They’re going to be putting together a strategic plan for a detailed search of the area, starting with the properties with most damage,” Ms Bossman said. “We’ll be looking throughout properties in debris piles, we’ll be looking in basements, trying to find any victims and make sure everybody is rescued who needs assistance.”

Lt. Bonacci said many homes were destroyed or severely damaged. “You definitely see the path of the tornado,” he said.

In one area of Elkhorn, dozens of newly built, large homes were damaged. At least six were wrecked, including one that was leveled, while others had the top half ripped off. There were dozens of emergency vehicles in the area.

“We watched it touch down like 200 yards over there and then we took shelter,” said Pat Woods, who lives in Elkhorn. “We could hear it coming through. When we came up our fence was gone and we looked to the northwest and the whole neighbourhood’s gone.”

His wife, Kim Woods added, “The whole neighbourhood just to the north of us is pretty flattened.”

KETV-TV video showed one woman being removed from a wrecked home on a stretcher in Blair, a city just north of Omaha.

Lt. Bonacci said only two people have been transported for treatment, both with minor injuries.

He said crews are now doing a second search of homes. He said fire crews would work throughout the night to check all the unsafe structures and make sure no one is inside.

“People had warnings of this and that saved lives,” Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said, of the few serious injuries.

Severe weather can make great photos, but dangerous travel. If traveling this afternoon or this evening, check the weather forecast. If you come across a tornado, pull over and find shelter, if there is no shelter, go to a ditch or low laying area. Never try to out run a tornado! pic.twitter.com/0RXN4tmhYB — Nebraska DOT (@NebraskaDOT) April 26, 2024

Before the tornado hit the Omaha area, three workers were injured on Friday afternoon when a tornado struck an industrial plant in Lancaster County, sheriff’s officials said in an update on the damage.

The building just northeast of the state capital of Lincoln had collapsed with about 70 employees inside and several people trapped, sheriff’s officials said. Everyone was evacuated, and three people had injuries that were considered not life-threatening, authorities said.

Officials say they also had reports of a tipped-over train near Waverly, also in Lancaster County, about 12 miles north east of Lincoln.

The Omaha Public Power District reported that nearly 10,000 customers were without power in the Omaha area.

Daniel Fienhold, manager of the Pink Poodle Steakhouse in Crescent, Iowa, said he was outside watching the weather with his daughter and restaurant employees. He said “it looked like a pretty big tornado was forming” northeast of town.

“It started raining, and then it started hailing, and then all the clouds started to kind of swirl and come together, and as soon as the wind started to pick up, that’s when I headed for the basement, but we never saw it,” Mr Fienhold said.

The forecast for Saturday was ominous. The Weather Service also issued tornado watches across parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. And forecasters warned that large hail and strong wind gusts were possible.

The tornado warning was issued in the Omaha area on Friday afternoon just as children were due to be released from school. Many schools had students shelter in place until the storm passed. Hours later, buses were still transporting students home.

“Was it one long track tornado or was it several tornadoes?” said Becky Kern, the warning co-ordination meteorologist in the National Weather Service’s Omaha office.

She said the agency planned to send out multiple crews over the next several days to determine the number of tornadoes and their strength, and that it could take up to two weeks to finish the evaluation.

“It does look like a big outbreak again tomorrow,” Ms Kern said on Friday. “Maybe slightly farther south.”

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Where is Minden, Iowa? What we know on the Iowa tornado that caused significant destruction

Minden, a small town in Pottawattamie County, suffered significant damage Friday night as severe storms and several tornadoes touched down across the state.

The town of about 600 reported damage to homes, cars and trees .

Four injuries had been reported by Saturday afternoon, according to a news release from Pottawattamie County emergency management. One person remains hospitalized in stable condition.

Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for the county in response, which activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program .

The Disaster Case Advocacy program provides up to $5,000 in grants for households with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level.

More: Tiny Minden, Iowa, riddled with debris after tornado smashes through town Friday

Where is Minden, Iowa?

Minden is located on the western side of Iowa. It’s about a 30-mile drive from Omaha, Nebraska, depending on the route taken, according to Google Maps. The town was settled in 1875 by German immigrants, according to Travel Iowa .

More: 'Large and extremely dangerous' tornadoes sweep across Iowa. Minden hit hard.

What damage occurred in the Minden, Iowa tornado?

About 120 homes and businesses in Pottawattamie County have experienced varying degrees of damage, according to a news release from emergency management.

Further damage to residential and business properties should be reported to the Emergency Management’s website at pcema-ia.org .

How can I help Minden, Iowa?

Officials aren’t seeking outside volunteer assistance at this time, but they will announce opportunities in the coming days, according to the news release. The Neola Area Community Center is accepting donations, according to its Facebook page .

Neola Fire and Rescue’s Facebook page also has information about specific donations the community center is seeking.

Neola is a town west of Minden.

Minden's Facebook page and the Tri-Center Community School's Facebook page have more information, according to the news release.

How many tornadoes occurred in Iowa yesterday, April 26?

The National Weather Service in Des Moines posted on social media Saturday that, according to preliminary reports, at least 10 tornadoes touched down in central Iowa on April 26. Determining a final tornado count will take days to a few weeks, according to NWS Des Moines.

NWS Omaha issued 42 tornado warnings on Friday, the weather service reported. Teams from NWS Des Moines will evaluate the damage to rate the severity of the tornadoes and will report on the survey results later Saturday, according to a social media post.

Where in Iowa did tornadoes hit?

The NWS confirmed several tornadoes throughout Iowa on Friday , including a large tornado over Pleasant Hill, a tornado over Creston Municipal Airport and Mt Ayr Municipal Airport, a tornado near Afton and a tornado near Irwin. A tornado was also reported to have touched the ground in Tingley and Redding in Ringgold County.

Has Iowa had an EF5 tornado?

Six EF5 tornadoes have occurred in Iowa in since 1950, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .

This is the highest rating that can be assigned to a tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

The last EF5 in Iowa was in 2008 in Parkersburg, according to NOAA.

Paris Barraza is a trending and general assignment reporter at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at  [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.