Omaha, Nebraska – Showers and thunderstorms will begin impacting eastern Nebraska and western Iowa before sunrise Thursday, with pockets of severe weather possible by early afternoon.
According to the National Weather Service in Omaha/Valley, most areas will see between 0.5 and 1 inch of rainfall as storms develop overnight and continue through Thursday. While the overall severe threat remains low Thursday, a few storms could produce wind gusts between 50 and 65 mph, especially near and east of Des Moines.
The threat ramps up again Friday, when a more organized system brings a 40 to 80 percent chance of storms across the region. Forecasters say there is a 5 to 20 percent chance that any given storm could become severe, with the highest risk shifting across western Iowa, including areas near Red Oak, Harlan, and Des Moines.
Cities along I-80, including Omaha and Council Bluffs, may see multiple rounds of storms, with the greatest severe threat expected between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Friday. Damaging winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out.
Residents should secure outdoor items, monitor alerts, and have multiple ways to receive warnings, especially during the afternoon and evening hours.
Storm chances continue into the weekend, with additional updates expected as timing and storm intensity become clearer.
