Tomorrow’s Severe Weather Outlook This page displays the official NOAA Storm Prediction Center’s Day 2 severe weather forecasts for tomorrow, updated multiple times daily. These are the most reliable, scientifically-based severe weather predictions available. When you want an early look at tomorrow’s storm risk nationwide, this is one of the best tools available. Tomorrow’s Severe … Read more
A massive hailstone measuring 7.1 inches in diameter has been confirmed as a new state record in #Texas nearly 2 years after it was discovered.
Since the 1940s, the annual number of fatalities from lightning has been decreasing. In 1940, lightning was the #1 weather-related killer. In 2023, the National Weather Service reported only 14 lightning-related fatalities. This downward trend highlights improved safety awareness and underscores the importance of seeking shelter during thunderstorms. Total Fatalities Annually Injuries AND Fatalities 1940-2026 … Read more
Tornado Headquarters with Severe Storm Warnings StormNet Browser
What is an MCV (Mesoscale Convective Vortex)? An MCV is an area of low pressure that develops aloft within a large, organized, and long-duration complex of thunderstorms known as a mesoscale convective complex (MCC). The low pressure is a result of the tremendous amount of latent heat released through vapor condensation and ice nucleation which … Read more
As of October 2025, the confirmed U.S. tornado count for the year is 1,283. This matches the latest breakdown by the Enhanced Fujita rating: This preliminary count slightly varies in real-time across different databases, but 1,283 is the latest confirmed total according to the main NOAA/SPC and referenced sources. Tornadoes are a powerful and destructive force of nature, … Read more
● Future Radar ● Storm Reports ● Rainfall Totals ● Live Lightning ● Today’s Severe Weather Risk Nationwide During periods of severe weather, storm chasers tend to converge on the predicted region, devise their strategy, and hit the road in pursuit of convective development unmatched in variety and intensity anywhere in the world. The United … Read more
The World Meteorological Organization has certified a new world record for the longest lightning strike on record, a single bolt that measured 515 miles in length. The flash occurred on October 22, 2017, within a massive mesoscale convective system (MCS) that extended across the Central Plains of the United States. While the majority of the … Read more
Annual Dry Thunderstorm Days Density map showing the average number of annual dry thunderstorm days in the Day 1 Fire Weather outlook from the Storm Prediction Center (NWSSPC). The areas that stick out are southeastern Oregon and northern Nevada which experience on average more than 20/year.
It was a Friday night to remember in St. Louis, as severe storms rolled through the region. March 14, 2025, brought a heightened weather threat, with the National Weather Service (NWS) issuing tornado warnings, one of which included the Maryland Heights area. But what really got people talking wasn’t just the storm itself—it was the … Read more
OVER 100 PRELIMINARY TORNADO REPORTS for the tornado outbreak that started Friday night of March 14 from Arkansas to Missouri to Illinois and Indiana. Damage surveys continue across this tornado outbreak zone. The final tally will likely qualify as a super outbreak according to our definition of over 100 tornadoes in a 24 hour period, … Read more
The tornado outbreak December 28 across the Southeastern United States has become the second most active tornado day of 2024, with 90 tornado reports. The most active day of the year was on April 26th, with 108 tornado reports. 2024 officially had the 2nd most #tornadoes on record, with more than 1735 tornadoes. This beats … Read more
Ohio is the new tornado capital (so far in 2024), tornado alley slowly sliding eastward. As we move further into 2024, the United States has experienced a significant number of tornadoes. With 171 confirmed tornadoes nationwide, it’s crucial to stay informed and prepared. Here’s the latest data on tornado occurrences: The Miami Valley, in particular, has seen … Read more
While injury from lightning strikes has increased since 1940, fatalities have decreased dramatically. In fact, lightning deaths have become exceedingly rare relative to other weather phenomena, but they still occur. The most dangerous lightning strikes are those that occur when our guard is down; lightning strikes from a sky that appears to be clear and … Read more
Determining the type of supercells that may occur within a given severe weather environment is important for a multitude of reasons. A supercell is a thunderstorm that rotates. There are three types of supercells: low-precipitation (LP), classic, and high-precipitation (HP). The configuration of the wind shear profiles within a severe weather environment is critical in diagnosing … Read more
On Sunday, November 17th, 2013, an outbreak of deadly tornadoes occurred across the upper midwest region of the United States. 73 tornadoes were confirmed across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio. Two of the seventy-three tornadoes were violent, of which both earned damage ratings on the Enhanced Fujita Scale of EF-4 (166-200mph winds). Both … Read more
Long-track supercells formed across the western Great Plains on Tuesday, May 16th, 2017. Accompanied with these supercells were multiple tornadoes, damaging winds, and giant hail upwards of 4.00″ in diameter. Widespread flash flooding also occurred across the Oklahoma Panhandle and southwestern Kansas. The morning data analysis, including the 1200z / 7:00am CDT observed weather balloon … Read more
A low pressure system was located over the southern and central Plains Thursday, May 11th. Although the low-level dynamics were quite weak the combination of the mid-to-upper level winds, and outflow boundaries analyzed on the visible satellite, signaled the potential for severe weather in the early afternoon Thursday across the region. How to Get Flood Insurance – … Read more
Severe thunderstorms were in the forecast across southwestern Oklahoma on Wednesday, May 10th. The potential for supercells (a rotating thunderstorm) existed as well, particularly along the intersection of the dryline and outflow boundary. The forecast was quite complicated, with early morning convection and persistent cloud cover across much of Oklahoma that made for a complex afternoon for … Read more
On Monday, May 8th, there was the potential for isolated thunderstorms across eastern Colorado with possible supercells (a rotating thunderstorm) along the Interstate 70 corridor in vicinity of the Palmer Divide. Although the tornado threat was very low, there was certainly a good chance of observing photogenic storms in the High Plains of Colorado. Forecast soundings … Read more
On the evening of Sunday, March 26th, 2017, severe thunderstorms affected portions of southern Oklahoma and North Texas. These storms were scattered, as predicted in our forecasts leading up to the event, and many people received no rain. We also expected that thunderstorms forming along the dry line would quickly develop updraft rotation (i.e., become … Read more
On January 21-23rd, 2017, a rare, multifaceted severe weather outbreak occurred across the Deep South and southeastern United States. 80 tornadoes occurred over the three day span of the outbreak, of which several were strong (EF-2 to EF-3 strength), long-track tornadoes. This tornado outbreak was the second largest outbreak on record in the southeastern United States. … Read more
The year of 2016, there were a total of 1,059 tornadoes across the U.S. (with the month of May, 2016 having some of the more photogenic tornadoes). How does this compare to other years? According to the 2005-2015 tornado climatology, there was an average of 1,402 tornadoes across the nation. Tornado activity for 2016 was below the 2005-2015 average. Each … Read more
This past Christmas Day resulted in interesting weather across the central Plains. From strong thunderstorms in Kansas to the blizzard conditions in the Dakotas, the stockings were full of interesting weather Christmas morning. Nearly the entire state of Kansas, excluding the extreme western parts of the state, were impacted by a low-end squall line. I spent the … Read more
On May 25th, 2016, a large and violent, long-track tornado tore through the landscape across north-central Kansas causing extensive damage along Interstate 70 between Abilene and Chapman, Kansas. What was a marginal day for severe weather ended up producing one of the most violent tornadoes of the 2016 season. We visited Chapman on Saturday, July 23rd, … Read more
Storm chasing is an emotional roller coaster. From operational field missions, to university research, and to the hobbyist and/or nature explorer, storm chasing consists of several thousand miles of driving for sometimes only an hour of action. Each Spring, scientists, meteorologists, hobbyists, and explorers, venture out to the Great Plains to seek some of the atmosphere’s … Read more
On Tuesday, May 24th, 2016, an outbreak of tornadoes occurred across western Kansas. There were 13 observed total tornadoes a cyclic supercell near Dodge City, Kansas including four sets of twin tornadoes, a set of triplets, and a large multi-vortex tornado and wedge tornado. So far, the National Weather Service in Dodge City, Kansas, surveyed 9 … Read more
Saturday, May 21st, was the start of a week long period of severe weather across the Great Plains. From southern Texas to the High Plains in North Dakota, isolated tornadoes, large hail, and severe winds, were forecasted. Perusing model guidance the night before on Friday, May 20th, we had an idea of our target for Saturday: Western … Read more
From May 21st to May 26th, 2011, destructive tornadoes tore through the Great Plains, impacting thousands of people and leaving billions of dollars in damage in its wake. During this time period, there were 241 total tornadoes, including two EF-5, three EF-4, eight EF-3, thirty-one EF-2, eighty-six EF-1, and one hundred [and] ten EF-0 tornadoes. … Read more
A multi-day dryline setup was in place across the central Plains on Sunday, May 8th; and Monday, May 9th, respectively. Observed conditions from radiosonde, or weather balloon, launches, indicated an environment conducive for widespread severe thunderstorms was starting to filter into the central Kansas and central Oklahoma region. Important to any storm chase is to … Read more