Severe Tornado Outbreak Hits Central US: Multiple States Affected

Devastating tornadoes wreaked havoc across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas on Friday as a severe weather event unfolded in the central United States.

Storms first appeared in the Plains and South on Friday afternoon, with multiple tornadoes spotted in Nebraska by mid-afternoon, including one near Lincoln and west of Omaha.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency as a storm moved just west of Omaha, signifying a life-threatening tornado was confirmed. In Lincoln, a tornado struck the outskirts, crossing part of I-80 and causing an overturned tractor-trailer, slowing traffic on I-80 northeast of the city.

Texas also experienced at least two tornadoes on Friday, with one observed northeast of Waco, captured in social media footage.

The severe weather threat continued to escalate through the evening, fueled by moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and increasing heat in the region.

Cities at risk of severe thunderstorms spanned across multiple days include Dallas, Kansas City, Des Moines, and Omaha, among others.

Friday saw a surge of severe thunderstorms in the Plains, leading to tornado warnings in Texas. Rapidly developing storms prompted an elevation of the severe risk in the area.

Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri faced a Level 3 of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms, which later expanded to Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas on Friday afternoon.

Heavy rainfall, with rates up to 2 inches per hour, posed flood threats in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri.

Saturday could bring the most dangerous conditions of the multi-day event, depending on atmospheric conditions following Friday night’s storms.

The storm’s intensity on Saturday could lead to widespread damaging wind gusts, large hail, and potentially strong tornadoes.

The Weather Prediction Center warned of a ‘significant rainfall event,’ with some areas potentially receiving close to 5 inches of rain.

On Sunday, damaging storms were possible from Texas to Wisconsin, with concerns about flash flooding in the Lower Mississippi Valley.

By Monday, the severe weather was expected to become isolated, with any storms likely confined to the Gulf Coast region.

CNN Meteorologist Robert Shackelford contributed to this report.