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Omaha, NE Tornado History — 129 Tornadoes Since 1950

Nebraska · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Omaha, NE had?

Omaha has had 129 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 13 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Omaha?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Omaha was an EF3 on April 17, 2025.

When is tornado season in Omaha?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Omaha, with 37 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
129
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
13
10.1% of total
Peak Month
June
37 on record
Per Year Avg
1.7
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Omaha

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 57 total, averaging 2.9 per year over this window.

2026 0+3 prelim
2025 1
2024 14
2023 1
2022 2
2021 6
2020 0
2019 0
2018 4
2017 2
2016 9
2015 0
2014 3
2013 0
2012 2
2011 2
2010 1
2009 2
2008 7
2007 1

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Omaha since December 29, 2025

These are 3 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.

Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.

Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.

Preliminary June 11, 2026
5 NW Tabor, Mills County, IA
Preliminary May 22, 2026
1 E Murray, Cass County, NE
Preliminary May 18, 2026
2 S Plattsmouth, Cass County, NE

Within 25 miles of Omaha. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 12
1960s 4
1970s 14
1980s 14
1990s 14
2000s 24
2010s 23
2020s 24

Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating

F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.

EF0 51
EF1 43
EF2 22
EF3 9
EF4 4

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 7
Apr 25
May 34
Jun 37
Jul 5
Aug 7
Sep 6
Oct 2
Nov 0
Dec 6

Casualties on Record Near Omaha

11 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Omaha since 1950, across 6 events. 311 injuries have been reported across all events. 1975 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F4 on May 6, 1975, which caused 3 fatalities along a 8.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Omaha

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on May 6, 1975 — 3 fatalities, 8.0 mi path, 267 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F1 on July 15, 1988 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF3 on April 26, 2024 — 1,900 yards wide.
Longest Path
F4 on April 25, 1957 — 89.8 mile track.
Most Recent
EF3 on April 17, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Omaha

This overview was written August 10, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.

On the evening of May 6, 1975, an F4 tornado tore through the heart of Omaha, killing 3 people, injuring 133, and cutting an 8-mile scar across the city — a storm many Nebraskans still describe to their grandchildren. Omaha's exposure is rooted in geography: warm, humid air streams north from the Gulf of Mexico up the Missouri River valley, while drier air spilling off the High Plains and strong jet-stream winds aloft supply the shear that lets spring and early-summer thunderstorms begin to rotate.

The longer archive, maintained by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, reaches back to mid-century. An F4 on April 26, 1957 traced a path of nearly 90 miles, killing 1 person and injuring 8 more. On July 15, 1988, an F3 struck the metro and injured 34 people, and on May 16, 1999, an F3 killed 2 and injured 16 in the area.

That continuity is what stands out here: families who rebuilt after the storms of the 1950s and 1970s watched later generations face the same skies. On April 26, 2024, an EF4 tracked roughly 32 miles through the western side of the metro with a damage path around 1,900 yards wide, injuring 4 people even as modern warnings gave residents time to shelter. The event list elsewhere on this page carries the details, decade by decade.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Omaha, NE had?
Since 1950, 129 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Omaha. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Omaha?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Omaha was a F4 on May 6, 1975, which caused 3 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Omaha?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Omaha, with 37 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Omaha been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Omaha, there have been 0 EF5 and 4 EF4 tornadoes recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Omaha?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Omaha was an EF3 on April 17, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Omaha?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

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