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.
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.
Slight Risk for Midwest and Great Lakes: Damaging Winds Expected
Slight Risk across the Midwest today: scattered damaging winds from Minnesota to Ohio, peaking this afternoon and evening. Northern Illinois faces the highest threat.
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.
Mid-Atlantic Severe Threat and Overnight Hail Risk in the Plains
Slight Risk for Mid-Atlantic today: scattered damaging winds this afternoon along I-95. Overnight hail threat for Nebraska and South Dakota as supercells develop.
Slight Risk for Ozarks and Central Plains: Severe Winds Tonight
Slight Risk for northeast Oklahoma, southeast Kansas, and the Missouri Ozarks tonight. Isolated to scattered severe wind gusts expected mid-afternoon through early evening.
Marginal Risk for Mid-Mississippi Valley: Isolated Severe Storms Today
Marginal Risk for the mid-Mississippi Valley today: isolated severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts possible this afternoon and evening across Iowa and Missouri.
Slight Risk for Southeast Arizona: Strong Wind Gusts Expected
Slight Risk for southeast Arizona today with scattered severe wind gusts 60-80 mph possible late afternoon through evening. Isolated severe storms also possible in western Carolinas.
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.
Severe Storms Target Ohio and Tennessee Valleys This Afternoon
Slight Risk for Ohio and Tennessee Valleys today: damaging winds and isolated tornado threat 3pm-10pm, strongest storms across Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
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.
Slight Risk: Severe Storms Target Central Plains This Afternoon
Slight Risk for Nebraska and South Dakota today: damaging winds and isolated hail expected this afternoon through tonight as storms cluster along a cold front.
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.
Enhanced Risk: Damaging Winds and Hail Target Great Lakes Tonight
Enhanced Risk across the Great Lakes and Midwest tonight: damaging wind gusts over 75 mph and large hail expected from Wisconsin to Ohio, peak threat 3pm-midnight CDT.
Slight Risk for the Dakotas and Minnesota: Hail and Tornado Threat
Slight Risk for North Dakota and northern Minnesota today: Large hail and isolated tornadoes possible late afternoon through evening as supercells develop.
Slight Risk Across Western Kansas: Hail and Wind Threat Today
Slight Risk for western Kansas today with large hail and damaging wind possible this afternoon and evening. Storms develop mid-afternoon along the dryline.
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.
Enhanced Risk: Severe Storms Target Wisconsin and Iowa Tonight
Enhanced Risk for Wisconsin and Iowa tonight: large hail, damaging winds, and a few strong tornadoes possible late afternoon through overnight as supercells develop.
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.
Enhanced Risk: Severe Storms Threaten Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
Enhanced Risk for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic today: damaging winds 50-70 mph, possible strong tornado, peak threat this afternoon and evening along I-95 corridor.
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.
Enhanced Risk: Severe Storms Target Northern New England Today
Enhanced Risk for northern New York and New England today: large hail to 2+ inches, 75+ mph winds, and multiple tornadoes possible 2pm-8pm EDT across Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Marginal Risk Monday: Isolated Severe Storms in Southeast and Montana
Marginal Risk for isolated damaging winds across parts of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Montana this afternoon and evening. Peak activity 3-9pm local time.
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.
Two Tornadoes Reported in North Dakota Thursday Evening
Two tornadoes touched down in central North Dakota Thursday evening near Hamberg and Denhoff, part of a 193-report severe weather day across 24 states.
Landspout Tornado Touches Down in Colorado Wednesday
A landspout tornado was confirmed 6 miles south-southwest of New Raymer, Colorado on July 8, 2026. The brief twister was part of a widespread severe weather day.
Two Landspout Tornadoes Reported in Northeast Wyoming Tuesday
Two landspout tornadoes touched down in northeast Wyoming Tuesday afternoon near Burns and Gun Barrel. One lasted 8 minutes. No damage reported.
Seven Tornadoes Strike Minnesota and Arizona Monday
Seven tornadoes touched down across Minnesota and Arizona on July 6, 2026, including one that injured two people near Westbury, MN. Full recap of Monday's severe weather.
Slight Risk for Severe Storms Across Upper Midwest and Virginia
Slight Risk for large hail and damaging winds in eastern Dakotas, western Minnesota, and central Virginia today. Storms develop mid-afternoon with hail exceeding 2 inches possible.
862 Wind Reports Lead Severe Weather Outbreak Across 30 States
862 wind damage reports, 70 hail reports, and 3 tornadoes struck 30 states July 4. Iowa and Colorado saw tornadoes; South Dakota reported 2-inch hail with injury.
Severe Storms Slam 25 States: 556 Wind Reports, 1 Tornado
A widespread severe weather outbreak struck 25 states July 3, generating 556 wind damage reports, 65 hail reports, and one tornado in Nebraska.
Five Tornadoes Reported Across South Dakota and Florida Thursday
Five tornadoes touched down Thursday: four in central South Dakota near Gann Valley and Willow Lake, plus one landspout near Fort Myers, Florida.
Two Tornadoes Touch Down in Iowa Wednesday Night
Two brief tornadoes confirmed in Iowa overnight July 1-2, near Stacyville and Oto. Storm chasers documented both touchdowns with video evidence.
Two Tornadoes Reported in Northeast Colorado Tuesday Night
Two tornadoes touched down near Sterling, Colorado late Tuesday as severe storms swept 18 states. Wind damage dominated with 195 reports nationwide.
Four Tornadoes Strike Minnesota and South Dakota Monday
Four tornadoes touched down across Minnesota and South Dakota on June 29, including reports near Andover, Pierpont, and Flom. 68 hail and 139 wind reports accompanied the outbreak.
Two Tornadoes Reported in Illinois and North Dakota Saturday
Two tornadoes touched down Saturday in Illinois and North Dakota amid a broader severe weather day that produced 168 wind reports and 36 hail reports across 18 states.
Two Tornadoes Reported in Oklahoma and New Mexico Thursday
Two tornadoes touched down Thursday evening in Oklahoma and New Mexico amid a busy severe weather day that produced 42 hail reports and 95 wind reports across 17 states.
Three Tornadoes Touch Down Across Colorado, Illinois, Wyoming
Three tornadoes confirmed across Colorado, Illinois, and Wyoming on June 24, including barn damage near Huntley, IL. Plus 76 hail and 83 wind reports nationwide.
Enhanced Risk: Large Hail and Tornado Threat Across High Plains
Enhanced Risk for northeast Colorado and southeast Wyoming today: supercells capable of 2-4 inch hail and tornadoes from mid-afternoon through evening, then severe MCS into Kansas.
40 Tornadoes Reported Across Five States Sunday
40 tornado reports across Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Colorado, and Arkansas on June 21, 2026. Illinois saw the most activity with 20+ touchdowns, including damage near Bluford.
12 Tornadoes Reported Across Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, and Wyoming
Twelve tornadoes touched down across Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, and Wyoming on June 20, 2026, alongside 50 hail reports and 199 wind reports across the central US.
Minnesota Tornado and 121 Severe Reports: Friday's Storms
A tornado touched down near Laporte, Minnesota on Friday afternoon as severe storms produced 65 hail reports and 55 wind reports across 14 states.
Two Tornadoes and 418 Wind Reports: Thursday's Severe Outbreak
Two tornadoes touched down in Louisiana and Mississippi Thursday morning, part of a widespread severe weather outbreak that produced 418 wind reports across 22 states.
Eight Tornadoes Reported Across Alabama, Illinois, and Wisconsin
Eight tornadoes touched down across Alabama, Illinois, and Wisconsin on June 17, 2026, with one injury reported in Illinois. Full recap of the multi-state severe weather event.
Slight Risk Across Midwest Tuesday: Hail and Tornado Potential
Slight Risk covers parts of the Midwest today with severe thunderstorms capable of large hail, damaging winds, and a couple tornadoes from mid-afternoon through tonight.