Tornado forms under giant mesocyclone in Nebraska
AccuWeather video shows the tornado near St. Rivoli, Nebraska spinning beneath a large, well-defined mesocyclone as the intense storm moves through the area.
More than 40 million people from Texas to Michigan face an increased threat of severe weather that could bring severe storms, hail, and tornadoes into the afternoon and evening of May 18.
Severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and flooding are expected in parts of the south-central Plains and mid-Missouri Valley during the afternoon and evening hours, according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center.
The threat continues into May 19, with preliminary forecasts saying more than 60 million people could be at risk of severe weather from Texas to parts of New England.
The storm followed active weather on May 17, and National Weather Service officials were called out on Monday to conduct an investigation into a possible tornado. Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota all experienced varying degrees of hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes, and the threat of severe thunderstorms was rated 3 out of 5 across much of the central United States. The National Weather Service received more than a dozen reports of hail and 180 reports of strong winds, as well as more than a dozen reports of tornadoes, according to preliminary information available from the agency.
Which states have the highest risk of severe weather on Monday?
The Storm Prediction Center said parts of Iowa, central and eastern Kansas, northwestern Missouri, southeastern Nebraska and northern Oklahoma could see damaging winds, widespread baseball-sized hail and the potential for severe tornadoes in some areas on May 18.
“A supercell capable of producing very large to large hail and multiple strong to intense tornadoes is most likely to develop from central Kansas and southeastern Nebraska to Iowa and northwestern Missouri,” the center said.
The area roughly between Wichita, Kansas, and the borders of southeastern Nebraska and northwest Missouri is most at risk, with a severe weather threat level of 4 out of 5. The threat level, called “moderate,” is unusual and is designated by the Storm Prediction Center only about 14 times a year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This means that “widespread severe weather, including several tornadoes and numerous severe thunderstorms, some of which will be severe,” is likely.
Other locations, stretching roughly from Enid, Oklahoma, to Fort Dodge, Kansas, face a threat of 3 out of 5.
“Major cities at risk for dangerous and severe thunderstorms include Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Missouri, Omaha, Nebraska, Des Moines, Iowa, and Minneapolis,” AccuWeather reported.
What to do if a tornado is imminent
According to the SPC, residents in these areas should always be aware of the weather and pay attention to watches and warnings.
A tornado watch means conditions are likely for tornadoes to form in the next few hours. According to the SPC, if a tornado warning is issued for your area, move to a safe location, ideally a basement or indoors on the bottom floor of a research building.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Gabe Hauari is USA TODAY’s national trends news reporter. You can follow him at X @gabehauari Or email Gdhauari@gannett.com.
