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Plains Braces for Major Storms: Tornadoes, Hail Expected
18 May
Summary
- Over a dozen tornadoes and hundreds of hail/wind reports occurred Sunday.
- Intense tornadoes and baseball-size hail threaten Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska.
- A level 4 out of 5 threat impacts parts of Kansas and Nebraska.
Developing storms across the Plains brought severe weather on Sunday, May 17, with significant threats expected to persist through Monday, May 18, and Tuesday, May 19. Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota experienced varied conditions including hail, strong winds, and tornadoes. Over a dozen tornado reports and more than 100 hail reports were documented, primarily across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
As of Monday, May 18, the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center forecasts severe thunderstorms for the south-central Plains and mid-Missouri Valley. Tornadoes, potentially intense, coupled with damaging winds and widespread baseball-size hail, are predicted for Iowa, central and eastern Kansas, northwest Missouri, southeast Nebraska, and northern Oklahoma. Specific areas in Kansas and Nebraska face a level 4 out of 5 threat, with surrounding regions under a level 3 threat. Residents are advised to monitor weather watches and warnings and seek immediate shelter if a tornado warning is issued.
