06/05/2026
5:45 pm - Good evening! Let's talk about the storm chances tonight.
First up, we have a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH in effect for Omaha and points south until 12 am.
UP TO 8 PM - Watching some bubbling cumulus clouds along the US-136 corridor. These may try to build into 1-2 storms over the next couple of hours. If a storm can form, it could become severe. This will stay SOUTH of Omaha.
AFTER 8 PM - Storms become more likely along/south of I-80. These will last through the night in some areas. The severe risk will be greatest in the early hours (8 pm - 12 am). Storms could be capable of producing large hail (2-3"), damaging winds (60-70 mph), and perhaps a tornado (low risk).
OVERNIGHT - Though many of us could see storms, I expect storms to form into a narrow east-west line through the area after a few hours. Where this happens will be crucial to the flood risk tonight. Models are honing in on the US-34 corridor (Red Oak/Plattsmouth/Lincoln/David City) for this heaviest corridor to set up. However, a shift of just 20 miles each way can make all the difference (this means the Omaha metro is still in play). Within this band, we could see 2-4" of rain. Given that many neighborhoods south of Omaha are saturated from Thursday's storms, we could easily see a localized flash flood threat develop. I expect this to be the main threat after midnight, depending on where the band will be.
SATURDAY - Storms fizzle out by sunrise, and we dry out into Saturday. A few storms may develop in the heat of the afternoon on Saturday, but these will be scattered.
