USA NOW: Record-Breaking Tornado Outbreak Grips the Nation | April 26 Recap

On April 26, the strongest tornado outbreak hit the United States, leaving behind destruction and over a dozen injured. The Storm Prediction Center received at least 78 reports of tornadoes: 37 in Iowa, 29 in Nebraska, 5 in Kansas, 4 in Missouri, and 3 in Texas. This day marked the busiest tornado day in the United States in over a year. Numerous cases of severe hail and extreme winds were also reported. A tornado emergency was declared in southwest Iowa, where at least one significant tornado occurred. This tornado remained on the ground for an extended period, hitting several small towns along its path. The small town of Minden, with a population of 600 people, was hit the hardest. Four injuries were reported there, with one person hospitalized. Significant damage was inflicted on 180 homes, nearly half of which were completely destroyed. Additionally, many businesses were damaged, and there were issues with water and power supply. Significant damage was also reported in the neighboring Shelby County, where several buildings were destroyed, and power lines were downed. In Nebraska, 41 tornado warnings were issued on Friday, the highest number ever issued in a single day. The previous record was set last May with 33 warnings. The Elkhorn area in Omaha, Nebraska, was one of the hardest-hit areas. The tornado toppled trees, caused serious damage to infrastructure, resulted in power outages, and gas leaks. Dozens of newly built large homes in Elkhorn were damaged, with at least six of them destroyed. There were dozens of ambulances in the area. One local resident described the tornado as a “freight train,“ emphasizing how fortunate people were to survive. This was the strongest tornado in the history of Omaha and its surroundings. A tornado also swept over Eppley Airfield in Omaha. For 35 minutes, its funnel was visible to the airport meteorologists. Several airplanes were damaged, several hangars were destroyed, and debris of twisted metal was scattered for hundreds of meters. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Thanks to the fact that the passenger terminal remained untouched, the airport operations were restored quite quickly. According to preliminary assessments by the National Weather Service, it was an EF-2 tornado with wind speeds exceeding 135 miles per hour. In the city of Blair north of Omaha, the tornado caused extensive damage, tearing some homes from their foundations. Residents shared that they had never seen anything like it. A large wedge tornado also passed near Bennington, with significant damage reported to homes. In Lincoln, Nebraska, the wind was so strong that it was ripping roofs off houses. Interstate I-80 was blocked after a tornado crossed it and overturned a semi-trailer. Near the town of Waverly, a tornado collided with the tracks, causing several train cars to derail, leading to significant disruptions in railroad operations. Also, 5 miles northwest of Lincoln, a strong gust caused the complete collapse of an industrial building housing Garner Industries. Inside were at least 70 workers, several of whom were trapped. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, and only three suffered non-life-threatening injuries. At least two tornadoes were observed in Texas. One caused damage in the China Springs area, McLennan County. Another passed 4 miles east of West, in McLennan County. These events were part of a multi-day severe weather system that affected over 60 million Americans. This weather is caused by increasing heat in the central part of the USA and moist air coming from the Gulf of Mexico. It is precisely phenomena such as extreme temperature rises and the evaporation of vast amounts of water across the planet that lead to the intensification of storm activity. Storms bring abnormally strong winds, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and precipitation. These phenomena are not only dangerous in themselves, but they also signal more serious changes within our planet. For more information on this, see the “Global Crisis. The Responsibility“ forum.