Midwest Storm Hunters

05/30/2026

Severe probabilities have been increased for later today across the central Plains as a negatively tilted trough traverses the region.

An arc of storms is expected by late afternoon with the primary threat of damaging winds and hail although any storm that can remain discrete has the potential to produce a few tornadoes as well. Peak Time frame for this activity is 6pm to 10pm.

05/29/2026

There will be an uptick in severe storm potential this weekend across parts of the Plains. An overlap of better low level instability and upper level support will likely result in scattered severe storms. I'll post an update tomorrow afternoon with updated forecast thoughts.

05/28/2026

Not very often do we see a large level 2 of 5 risk for severe storms in the PNW. This is an all hazards threat. Wind and hail will be primary hazards but a few brief tornadoes are possible as well.

05/27/2026

Today is the anniversary of the Jarrell Texas F5/EF5 tornado, commonly known as the dead man walking tornado.

05/25/2026

Isolated severe storms are possible Tuesday afternoon across mainly parts of central Wisconsin. A corridor of instability will be in place ahead of a southward moving boundary. A few cells could produce gusty winds and hail. This threat should remain isolated in nature.

05/25/2026

Ridging is expected the first week + of June. This will lead to a warm period of temperatures and below average rainfall across the upper Midwest. Some scattered rainfall will occur over the next two weeks but overall the pattern will be drier than normal.

05/25/2026

Today is the 18 year anniversary of the Parkersburg/ New Hartford Iowa EF5 tornado. This tornado carved 1+ hour catastrophic path during its life unfortunately causing multiple deaths and many more injuries. It is the last tornado rated EF5 in the State of Iowa.

📸 NWS Des Moines

05/24/2026

Isolated severe storms possible later today near near the IA, MN, NE, SD border region.

Large hail will be the primary hazard with any organized storm early this evening. A few severe gusts and a very brief tornado are also possible.

05/24/2026

With the break in widespread severe storm potential on going across the Midwest its a good time to check in on the preliminary tornado reports so far in 2026.

We are still sitting slightly above average for tornado reports to date. That will probably change over the next two weeks as we will likely see below average tornado reports over the US with an unfavorable pattern in place for widespread severe weather. I anticipate an uptick in potential by mid June with a potential pattern change.

05/22/2026

Close range video of a large damaging tornado northwest of Frankfort Kansas.
5/18. YouTube link below.
LINK:

Close range, developing large and damaging tornado northwest of Fra...

05/22/2026

15 years ago today the devastating Joplin EF5 tornado occurred. It remains one of the deadliest tornadoes in US history.

On this date back in 2011, the catastrophic Joplin Tornado roared into history. The EF-5 tornado killed 158, the seventh deadliest in U.S. history The tornado's track was 22 miles long, reached 1 mile wide and lasted 38 minutes. Damage estimates were around $2.8 billion.

Additional info can be found here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/d64c8d41c28949bd87478f252ac7e378