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.
Five Tornadoes Touch Down in Ohio and Pennsylvania Sunday
Five tornadoes struck Ohio and Pennsylvania Sunday evening, part of a 435-report severe weather outbreak that brought widespread damaging winds across 16 states.
Landspout Tornado and 198 Wind Reports: Friday's Severe Outbreak
One tornado touched down in Arkansas and 198 wind damage reports spanned 22 states Friday as severe storms swept from the Plains to the East Coast.
19 Tornadoes Strike Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin Thursday
Nineteen tornadoes touched down across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Texas on June 11, with Streator, Illinois taking multiple direct hits from a large tornado.
16 Tornadoes and 498 Wind Reports: Midwest Severe Outbreak
16 tornadoes struck Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Illinois on June 10, part of a widespread severe outbreak with 498 wind reports across the Midwest and Great Lakes.
Four Tornadoes and 333 Wind Reports: Tuesday's Severe Outbreak
Four tornadoes touched down across Michigan, North Dakota, and South Dakota on Tuesday, June 9, with 333 wind reports and significant damage in Freeland, Michigan.
Three Tornadoes and 81 Hail Reports: Monday's Scattered Severe
Three tornadoes touched down in Nebraska, Texas, and Pennsylvania on Monday, June 8, alongside 81 hail reports and 155 wind reports across 11 states.
Five Tornadoes Reported Across Four States Sunday Evening
Five tornadoes touched down across Arkansas, Missouri, Wyoming, and North Dakota on Sunday evening, part of a scattered severe weather day that produced 100 wind reports.
Arkansas Tornadoes and 399 Wind Reports: Saturday's Severe Outbreak
Two tornadoes touched down in western Arkansas early Saturday, part of a severe weather outbreak that produced 399 wind reports across 20 states.
Slight Risk Spans Three Regions Saturday: Hail and Wind Likely
Slight Risk covers Indiana to New England, eastern Montana, and the Southern Plains today. Damaging wind gusts and large hail expected this afternoon and evening.
Kansas and Wyoming Tornadoes: Thursday's Scattered Severe Weather
Two tornadoes touched down Thursday in Kansas and Wyoming, including a landspout near Gillette and a brief tornado over Waconda Lake. 21 hail and 36 wind reports across seven states.
Two Tornadoes Strike South Dakota Wednesday Evening
Two tornadoes touched down in central South Dakota Wednesday evening near Ideal and Hamill, part of a severe weather outbreak that produced 13 hail reports and 28 wind reports across nine states.
Four Tornadoes Reported Across Kansas and South Dakota Sunday
Four tornadoes touched down across Kansas and South Dakota Sunday evening, part of a broader severe weather event that produced 38 hail reports and 65 wind reports across nine states.
Eight Tornadoes Touch Down in Colorado and Nebraska Saturday
Eight tornadoes touched down across Colorado and Nebraska Saturday evening, along with baseball-sized hail and 75 wind reports across eight states.
Slight Risk for West Texas and Montana Friday: Hail and Wind
Slight Risk across west Texas and Montana today: scattered severe storms with large hail up to 2.5 inches and wind gusts to 80 mph expected this afternoon and evening.
Two Tornadoes and 111 Wind Reports: Severe Weather Sweeps 12 States
Two tornadoes touched down in Minnesota and Oklahoma Wednesday, while damaging winds swept Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. A recap of May 27's severe weather.
Five Tornadoes Reported Tuesday: Texas and Florida See Brief Touchdowns
Five tornadoes touched down across Texas and Florida on May 27, 2026, including a landspout in Hereford and brief circulation near Parrish. All remained weak with no injuries reported.
Waterspout Moves Onshore in Tampa Bay Area Sunday Evening
A waterspout moved onshore in the Villages of Bayport Community near Tampa Bay Sunday evening, marking Florida's first tornado report in several days.
Three Landspouts Reported in West Texas Saturday Night
Three brief landspout tornadoes touched down near Levelland, Tokio, and Shallowater in West Texas Saturday night. No damage reported from the short-lived twisters.
13 Tornadoes Reported Friday: Texas Landspouts and Alabama EF-1
13 tornadoes touched down across Alabama, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas on May 22, including an EF-1 in Tuscaloosa County and multiple landspouts in the Texas Panhandle.
10 Tornadoes Reported Across Four States Thursday
Ten tornadoes touched down across Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Mississippi on May 22, 2026, including multiple landspouts in the High Plains and a tree-damaging tornado in Mississippi.
Slight Risk for High Plains and Mid-Atlantic Thursday
Slight Risk covers central High Plains and parts of Virginia/North Carolina Thursday. Large hail and damaging winds expected afternoon through evening.
Brief Tornado Touches Down in West Texas Amid Widespread Wind Event
One tornado touched down near Barnhart, Texas yesterday as severe storms produced 142 wind reports across 14 states from the Midwest to New England.
20 Tornadoes Strike Midwest Monday: Kansas and Nebraska Hit Hardest
20 tornadoes touched down across Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri on May 18, 2026, with damage to homes, barns, and grain bins reported in northeast Kansas.
27 Tornadoes Reported Across Five States Sunday
Twenty-seven tornadoes touched down across Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Nebraska on May 17, 2026, with the heaviest activity in Iowa and Nebraska.
Six Tornadoes Reported Across Four States Saturday
Six tornadoes touched down across Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming on May 16, 2026, alongside 163 hail and 209 wind reports as severe storms swept the Central Plains.
Enhanced Risk Continues Across Central Plains and Iowa Saturday
Enhanced Risk covers central High Plains into Iowa today: very large hail (2+ inches), damaging winds to 75+ mph, and a few tornadoes expected late afternoon through tonight.
Enhanced Risk for Iowa Tonight: Large Hail and Damaging Winds
Enhanced Risk across much of Iowa tonight: supercells with 2+ inch hail and 75+ mph winds expected 5pm-midnight. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City in the threat zone.
Slight Risk for Central Kansas Tonight: Isolated Supercells Possible
Slight Risk for central Kansas this evening: isolated supercells capable of large hail and damaging winds. Weak forcing limits coverage, but any storm poses a threat.
Possible Tornado Reported Near Hudson, Florida Yesterday
A possible tornado damaged roofs near Hudson, Florida on May 12, 2026. Pasco County Dispatch reported the damage as storms moved through the Tampa Bay area.
Two Gustnadoes Reported in West Texas as Severe Storms Bring Hail
Two gustnadoes touched down southeast of Colorado City, Texas on May 10 as severe storms produced tennis ball-size hail across the state and Gulf Coast.
Slight Risk for Oklahoma and Central Plains: Hail and Wind Threat
Slight Risk across Oklahoma and the Central Plains today: scattered severe storms with large hail and damaging winds from afternoon through tonight.
15 Tornadoes Strike Mississippi Overnight: Purvis Sustains Major Damage
Fifteen tornadoes touched down across Mississippi overnight May 6-7, with major damage reported in Purvis along Highway 589. All tornadoes confirmed by radar.
Enhanced Risk for Mississippi and Alabama: Tornado Threat This Evening
Enhanced Risk across central Mississippi and Alabama today: supercells capable of strong tornadoes from late afternoon through evening, then damaging winds overnight.
Slight Risk for Arkansas and Mid-South: Tornadoes and Large Hail Possible
Slight Risk today for Arkansas and the Mid-South with supercells capable of large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. Peak threat this afternoon through tonight.
The 1999 Moore Tornado: 321 mph Winds and 36 Lives Lost
On May 3, 1999, an F5 tornado killed 36 people in Bridge Creek and Moore, Oklahoma. Mobile radar measured 321 mph winds—the fastest ever recorded on Earth.
Slight Risk for Florida and Southeast Georgia Today
Slight Risk for northern and central Florida through early evening May 2: damaging winds primary threat, isolated tornado possible in northwest Florida.
Marginal Severe Risk for Texas and Gulf Coast on May 1
Marginal Risk for isolated severe storms across south Texas and the central Gulf Coast today. Hail and wind gusts the primary threats through tonight.
The 1953 Warner Robins Tornado: 18 Dead, No Warning
On April 30, 1953, an F4 tornado killed 18 at Warner Robins, Georgia—before tornado warnings existed. The outbreak helped launch the national warning system.
Two Tornadoes and 230 Hail Reports Across South and Midwest
Two tornadoes touched down in Texas and Arkansas on April 28-29 as severe storms produced 230 hail reports and widespread wind damage across nine states.
Three Tornadoes and 222 Hail Reports as Severe Storms Rake Midwest
Three tornadoes touched down across Arkansas and Illinois overnight as a severe weather outbreak produced 222 hail reports and widespread wind damage.
Seven Tornadoes Strike Kansas and Oklahoma Overnight
Seven tornadoes touched down across Kansas and Oklahoma overnight April 26-27, accompanied by 186 hail reports and widespread wind damage across the Plains.
13 Tornadoes Reported Across Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas
Thirteen tornadoes touched down across Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas on April 25, 2026, alongside 172 hail reports and widespread wind damage.
Tornado Confirmed Near Kiowa, Oklahoma Amid Giant Hail Outbreak
A tornado touched down near Kiowa, Oklahoma on April 25, 2026, as supercells produced 75 hail reports including tennis ball-sized stones across the state.
21 Tornadoes Reported Across Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma
Twenty-one tornado reports came in Thursday across Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma as severe storms swept the central Plains and Midwest.
Three Tornadoes Touch Down in California and Illinois
Three tornadoes struck California and Illinois on April 22-23, including two EF-1 tornadoes in California's Central Valley. Full recap and damage details.
EF1 Tornado Strikes Central California Near Clovis
A rare EF1 tornado touched down east of Clovis, California on April 21, snapping and uprooting trees. Details on the unusual Central Valley tornado.
What Belongs in a Tornado Emergency Kit (and What Most People Forget)
Water and flashlights are obvious. But helmets, sturdy shoes, and cash? Here's what actually belongs in a tornado emergency kit—and why.
Waterspouts vs. Tornadoes: What's the Difference?
Are waterspouts just tornadoes over water? Not always. Learn the difference between fair-weather and tornadic waterspouts, and what happens when they move ashore.
Building a Tornado Safe Room: What FEMA Recommends
FEMA P-320 and P-361 set the standard for tornado safe rooms. Learn about above-ground vs. below-ground options, costs, and state grant programs.
Multi-Vortex Tornadoes: Why One House Survives and Another Doesn't
Why do tornadoes destroy one home but leave the next untouched? Suction vortices inside multi-vortex tornadoes create inconsistent damage patterns.