What Happened

Thirteen tornadoes were reported across Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas on April 25, 2026, as supercells developed along a dryline and warm front across the southern and central Plains. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC) logged the tornado reports during the afternoon and evening hours, with the majority occurring in Oklahoma and north-central Texas.

The tornado activity was accompanied by a significant hail outbreak. A total of 172 hail reports were documented across the region, with the largest stones reaching 3 inches in diameter near Lakeside City, Texas. An additional 27 wind reports were filed, including structural damage in Springtown, Texas, where a manufactured home was overturned and multiple residences sustained damage.

No fatalities have been reported at this time. The National Weather Service will conduct damage surveys in the coming days to assign Enhanced Fujita Scale ratings to the tornadoes.

Where and When

Nebraska

The first tornado of the day touched down at 2:34 PM CDT approximately 3 miles southwest of Bradshaw, Nebraska. The National Weather Service in Grand Island classified it as a landspout—a tornado that forms along a boundary without a mesocyclone—captured on social media video in an open field.

Texas

The majority of Texas tornadoes occurred in a cluster across Archer and Wichita counties during the late afternoon and early evening:

  • 2:02 PM CDT — 8 miles north of Archer City
  • 2:18 PM CDT — 2 miles northwest of Scotland
  • 2:46 PM CDT — 4 miles northeast of Windthorst
  • 2:53 PM CDT — 5 miles northeast of Windthorst
  • 6:19 PM CDT — 2 miles north-northeast of Shannon (two tornadoes reported simultaneously)

The National Weather Service in Norman confirmed these reports, several of which were documented with social media imagery.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma saw the highest concentration of tornado reports, with seven tornadoes touching down in a roughly 90-minute window across Garvin, Johnston, and Carter counties:

  • 6:35 PM CDT — 5 miles east of Pauls Valley
  • 6:49 PM CDT — 4 miles east-northeast of Hickory
  • 6:50 PM CDT — 5 miles east of Hickory (corrected location from an earlier report near Ravia)
  • 6:53 PM CDT — 5 miles east of Pauls Valley
  • 7:00 PM CDT — 5 miles east-southeast of Reagan
  • 7:14 PM CDT — 4 miles south-southeast of Mill Creek

Multiple tornadoes were confirmed via social media reports with imagery, according to the National Weather Service in Norman.

The Hail Outbreak

While tornadoes captured attention, hail was the dominant severe weather hazard. The 172 hail reports spanned Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska, with the largest stones concentrated in north-central Texas.

Notable Hail Reports

  • 3 inches — 6 miles south-southwest of Lakeside City, Texas (2:50 PM CDT)
  • 2.5 inches — Wister, Oklahoma (2:30 PM CDT, relayed via emergency manager)
  • 2 inches — 5 miles southeast of Holliday, Texas (2:42 PM CDT)
  • 2 inches — 4 miles east of Heavener, Oklahoma (3:12 PM CDT)

Golf ball hail was reported near Duncan and Comanche in Oklahoma as supercells tracked eastward through the evening.

Hailstones of 2 to 3 inches in diameter are capable of shattering windshields, denting vehicles, and puncturing roofs. The National Weather Service defines "very large hail" as stones 2 inches or greater—a threshold exceeded in multiple locations on April 25.

Wind Damage

Twenty-seven wind reports were filed, including measured gusts and structural damage. The most significant wind damage occurred in Springtown, Texas, and surrounding areas of Parker County during the late evening.

Springtown, Texas

Between approximately 7:35 PM and 7:45 PM CDT, a line of severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds across Springtown and nearby communities:

  • An unsecured manufactured home was toppled and landed upside down 7 miles west of Springtown.
  • Numerous trees, power lines, and sheet metal debris were reported along Texas Highway 199 between Agnes and Springtown.
  • A vehicle was blown off the road into a ditch with trapped occupants; no injuries were reported.
  • A damaged RV trapped one person inside, who was successfully rescued.
  • Multiple residences sustained damage, and many roads were blocked by downed trees.

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth recorded an 89 mph wind gust approximately 1 mile northwest of Springtown at 7:48 PM CDT.

Other Wind Reports

Earlier in the day, a 75 mph gust was reported near Iuka, Kansas, at 5:30 PM CDT, according to Pratt County dispatch. In Virginia, trees were knocked down in Southampton County near Newsoms during the late afternoon. Additional wind damage was reported in Arkansas and Louisiana overnight, including a tree that fell on a house in Camden, Arkansas.

Context: A Multi-Day Severe Weather Pattern

April 25 marked the third consecutive day of significant severe weather across the central United States. The persistent pattern has been driven by repeated shortwave troughs ejecting across the southern Plains, interacting with a moist, unstable airmass east of the dryline.

The Storm Prediction Center's outlook for April 25 highlighted the potential for supercells capable of producing very large hail and tornadoes across the southern and central Plains. Forecasters noted that "a couple of strong tornadoes and hailstones up to 2-3 inches in diameter are possible," a forecast that verified with the observed reports.

The pattern is expected to continue into the coming days. As of the morning of April 26, SPC has issued an Enhanced Risk for severe thunderstorms across portions of the central Plains, with another round of large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes anticipated.

Lessons and Takeaways

Tornado Timing and Visibility

The majority of tornadoes on April 25 occurred during the late afternoon and evening hours, when visibility was still adequate. Tornadoes that occur after dark are significantly more dangerous—research published in the peer-reviewed journal Weather and Forecasting found that nocturnal tornadoes are more than twice as deadly as daytime tornadoes, largely because people are asleep and less likely to receive warnings.

Third-party weather apps are silenced by Do Not Disturb mode on most smartphones, though Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) for tornado warnings still break through on most phones. For those who want an additional layer of protection, VORTEX Pro places phone calls when a tornado warning is issued for a saved location—calls bypass Do Not Disturb, ensuring you're alerted even while asleep.

Hail Size and Vehicle Safety

The 3-inch hailstones reported near Lakeside City are larger than a baseball and capable of causing catastrophic damage to vehicles and structures. If you are driving and encounter large hail, do not attempt to outrun the storm. Pull over, turn away from windows, cover yourself with a blanket or jacket, and wait for the hail to pass. Never park under an overpass—these structures can create wind tunnel effects and are not safe shelters.

Social Media and Storm Reports

Multiple tornado reports on April 25 were confirmed via social media imagery, according to the National Weather Service. While social media can provide valuable real-time information during severe weather, always verify reports with official sources. The National Weather Service issues tornado warnings based on radar data and trained spotter reports—these warnings are the authoritative source for life-threatening weather information.

Looking Ahead

The severe weather pattern that produced 13 tornadoes on April 25 is not finished. The Storm Prediction Center has issued an Enhanced Risk for April 26 across portions of Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas, with another round of supercells expected to develop. Residents across the central Plains and Mississippi Valley should monitor forecasts closely and have multiple ways to receive warnings.

VORTEX is a free web app at vortexintel.app that monitors severe weather nationwide. Pro ($4.99/month) places phone calls to your phone when a tornado or flash flood warning is issued for a location you care about — calls can ring through Do Not Disturb once you enable Emergency Bypass for the number, unlike most third-party app notifications.