Storm Briefings
Daily tornado outlooks, storm recaps, SPC risk analysis, and severe weather safety — written by the VORTEX Weather Desk and grounded in NWS and SPC data.
Marginal Risk Sunday: Hail Threat for Nebraska and South Dakota
Marginal Risk for western Nebraska and the Black Hills today: isolated storms capable of large hail this evening as moisture and lift converge over the High Plains.
Kansas Landspout and Scattered Severe Reports Close Out Friday
A landspout tornado touched down near Wilmore, Kansas Friday evening, part of a quiet severe weather day with just 6 total reports across three states.
What Is CAPE and Why Do Meteorologists Care So Much About It?
CAPE measures atmospheric instability—the fuel thunderstorms need to grow. Learn what the numbers mean, why forecasters watch it, and how it shapes severe weather outlooks.
North Dakota Tornado and Baseball Hail Cap Wednesday's Severe Weather
A brief tornado touched down near Bucyrus, North Dakota on Wednesday evening, accompanied by baseball-size hail and scattered severe reports across the Northern Plains.
Marginal Risk Wednesday: Western Dakotas and Appalachians
Marginal Risk for western Dakotas and southern Appalachians today: isolated severe hail and wind gusts this afternoon through early evening.
Marginal Severe Risk Tuesday: Isolated Storms for Rockies and Southeast
Marginal Risk for Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and the Southeast on September 22: isolated severe wind gusts the primary threat, with brief hail possible in the Rockies.
Marginal Risk Monday: Wind and Hail Threats from Texas to Virginia
Marginal Risk covers parts of the Southeast, Appalachians, and Texas South Plains today. Isolated damaging wind gusts and large hail possible through evening.
Three Tornadoes Touch Down in Florida and Utah on Friday
Three tornadoes confirmed Friday in Florida and Utah, including landspouts in Lighthouse Point and Naples. 88 wind reports and 13 hail reports across 12 states.
Brief Tornado Touches Down in Nebraska Panhandle Overnight
A brief tornado touched down near Chappell, Nebraska early Friday morning, part of a multi-state severe weather event that produced 17 hail reports and 9 wind events.
Marginal Risk Thursday: Scattered Severe Storms from Rockies to Ohio
Marginal Risk today for parts of the Intermountain West and central High Plains: isolated severe hail and wind gusts possible this afternoon and evening.
Marginal Risk Wednesday: Midwest and Ohio Valley See Scattered Storms
Marginal Risk for the Midwest and Ohio Valley today: isolated damaging winds possible through early evening, with additional storms developing over Utah and northwest Colorado.
Colorado Landspout and 60 Wind Reports Mark Active September Day
A landspout tornado touched down near Arboles, Colorado, while 60 damaging wind reports spanned eight states from the Plains to the Southeast on September 14.
Slight Risk Monday: Tornado Potential for Eastern Nebraska and Iowa
Slight Risk for eastern Nebraska and western Iowa today: tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds possible 4pm-midnight as supercells develop along cold front.
Upper Midwest Braces for Large Hail and Tornado Risk Tonight
Slight Risk for northeast South Dakota into western Minnesota tonight: scattered severe storms with 2+ inch hail, damaging winds, and a couple tornadoes possible 4pm-midnight CDT.
Marginal Risk Thursday: Wind Gusts and Hail from Plains to Mid-Atlantic
Marginal Risk covers the southern Plains to Mid-Atlantic today with sporadic damaging wind gusts and isolated hail. Peak activity this afternoon and evening.
North Dakota Tornado and 236 Wind Reports in Widespread Severe Day
A brief tornado touched down near Arnegard, North Dakota, while 236 wind reports and 41 hail reports marked a widespread severe weather day across 19 states.
Slight Risk Sunday: Southeast and Montana Face Severe Storms
Slight Risk for damaging winds in the Southeast this afternoon and large hail in Montana tonight. 337 wind reports yesterday as severe weather continues.
Slight Risk Saturday: Damaging Winds Target Carolinas and Ohio Valley
Slight Risk for damaging wind gusts across the Carolinas and Ohio Valley today, with isolated severe storms possible over the northern Plains through tonight.
Damaging Wind Threat from Ohio to Mid-Atlantic Friday
Slight Risk for damaging wind gusts from Ohio Valley through Mid-Atlantic today. Organized thunderstorm clusters expected across southern Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.
365 Wind Reports and Texas Landspout Cap Busy Severe Day
A landspout tornado touched down near Serenada, Texas, while 365 wind reports and 2-inch hail struck 13 states from the Great Lakes to the Mid-Atlantic on September 2, 2026.
Slight Risk Today: Severe Storms for Northeast and Central Plains
Slight Risk across Pennsylvania, New York, and the central Plains today: scattered severe storms with damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornado threat this afternoon through tonight.
Marginal Risk Today: Scattered Severe Storms for Great Lakes and Plains
Marginal Risk for the Great Lakes, central Plains, and Great Basin today. Isolated damaging winds and hail possible this afternoon into tonight across Wisconsin, Colorado, and Utah.
Damaging Wind Threat Across Northern Plains This Afternoon
Slight Risk for severe wind gusts across the Dakotas and Montana today as a strong cold front sweeps east. Storms peak 4pm–midnight CDT, strongest in central North Dakota.
Slight Risk for Great Basin and Northern Plains Saturday
Slight Risk covers eastern Nevada into northern Utah and parts of the northern Plains today. Damaging wind gusts are the primary threat, with isolated hail possible.
Colorado Tornado and 200 Wind Reports Cap Widespread Severe Day
One tornado touched down near Rosita, Colorado, while 200 wind reports and 25 hail reports spanned 22 states from the Rockies to the East Coast on August 27, 2026.
Slight Risk Across Northeast and Central Plains Thursday
Slight Risk today for Northeast and Central Plains: damaging winds and hail likely across NY and Mid-Atlantic; large hail possible in Nebraska and Kansas this afternoon.
Slight Risk Across Multiple Regions: Severe Storms Today
Slight Risk covers the Great Lakes, Midwest, Ozarks, and High Plains today. Damaging winds are the main threat, with hail possible. Storms begin mid-afternoon.
Brief Elephant Trunk Tornado Confirmed in South Dakota
Storm chasers confirmed a brief elephant trunk tornado 5 miles east-northeast of Sorum, South Dakota early Monday morning, part of a larger severe weather day.
Two Landspout Tornadoes Strike Near Buna, Texas
Two landspout tornadoes damaged structures near Buna, Texas on August 22, 2026. Part of a 289-wind-report severe weather day across 19 states.
Landspout in Arizona, Brief Tornado in Illinois Cap Widespread Wind Day
Two tornadoes touched down in Arizona and Illinois on August 21, 2026, while 238 wind reports and 29 hail reports spanned 16 states in a widespread severe weather event.
Two Tornadoes Touch Down in Alabama and Delaware
Two tornadoes were confirmed yesterday in Alabama and Delaware, part of a widespread severe weather outbreak that generated 200 wind reports across 22 states.
Four Tornadoes Reported Across Iowa, Kansas, and Kentucky
Four tornadoes touched down across Iowa, Kansas, and Kentucky on August 19, including a damaging tornado in Lowes, KY. 136 wind reports and 25 hail reports also confirmed.
Tornado Touches Down Near Saint Paris, Ohio Amid Widespread Wind Event
A tornado struck near Saint Paris, Ohio overnight while severe storms brought 55 wind reports across 17 states. Details on the Ohio twister and the multi-state wind event.
Landspout Tornado Near Denver and 145 Wind Reports Across U.S.
A landspout tornado touched down near Commerce City, Colorado Friday evening as severe storms produced 145 wind reports and large hail across 20 states.
Wyoming Tornado Damages Homes Near Reno Junction; Two More Touch Down
A tornado severely damaged multiple homes near Reno Junction, Wyoming on August 13, trapping and later rescuing occupants. Two additional tornadoes touched down in Nebraska and Colorado.
Four Tornadoes Strike Iowa and Illinois as Severe Storms Pummel Midwest
Four tornadoes touched down across Iowa and Illinois on August 12, including a high-end EF1 near Greeley, IA. Over 750 wind reports and baseball-sized hail documented.
Three Landspout Tornadoes Reported Across Plains and Arizona
Three brief landspout tornadoes touched down August 10 in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Arizona as severe storms produced 562 wind reports across 22 states.
Brief Tornado Touches Down Near Waverly, Iowa Friday Evening
A brief tornado touched down 2 miles north of Waverly, Iowa Friday evening, confirmed by video. Part of a widespread severe weather day with 261 wind reports across 23 states.
Scattered Severe Storms Across Upper Midwest and Southwest Today
Slight Risk for northern Minnesota and southeastern Arizona today: scattered severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornado threat this afternoon and evening.
Waterspout Moves Onshore as Tornado at Folly Beach, South Carolina
A waterspout moved onshore as a tornado at Folly Beach, SC on August 1, throwing beach furniture and tents. Two tornadoes reported statewide Saturday.
Landspout Tornado Reported in Nebraska Sandhills Thursday
A brief landspout tornado touched down north of Mullen, Nebraska on July 30, 2026. The tornado was one of 82 severe weather reports across 11 states Thursday.
Two Tornadoes Reported in Maryland and Utah Tuesday
Two tornadoes touched down Tuesday in Maryland and Utah amid a widespread severe weather outbreak that produced 330 wind reports across 26 states.
Six Tornadoes Reported Across Illinois and Wisconsin Monday
Six tornadoes touched down across Illinois and Wisconsin on July 27, 2026, with concentrated damage in Glen Ellyn and Appleton. Survey teams are still assessing the events.
Ten Tornadoes Reported Across Six States Tuesday Afternoon
Ten tornadoes touched down across Arizona, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia on July 21, 2026, alongside 348 wind damage reports in a widespread severe weather outbreak.
Seven Tornadoes Touch Down Across Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan
Seven tornadoes touched down across Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan on July 20, 2026, with one injury reported near Nora Springs. Full recap of the Upper Midwest severe weather event.
443 Wind Reports and Three Tornadoes Across 20 States Saturday
Saturday's severe weather outbreak produced 443 wind reports and 3 tornadoes across Pennsylvania and Texas, with widespread damage from the Mid-Atlantic to the Upper Midwest.
Four Landspout Tornadoes Reported in North Dakota Thursday
Four tornadoes touched down in rural North Dakota Thursday night near Wolford, Knox, Maddock, and Bremen. All were landspouts with no damage reports.
Tornado Confirmed West of San Antonio Early Thursday Morning
A tornado touched down 3 miles west of Shavano Park, Texas early Thursday morning, confirmed by video showing debris and power flashes along Loop 1604.
Waterspout Tornado Touches Down in Illinois Amid 174 Wind Reports
A brief waterspout tornado touched down at Moredock Lake near Valmeyer, Illinois Friday evening, while 174 damaging wind reports spanned 13 states across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
309 Wind Reports and Four Tornadoes Across 21 States Friday
A widespread severe weather event produced 309 wind reports and 4 tornadoes across 21 states Friday, with the heaviest damage concentrated in the Southeast.