It’s fair to say that 2022 brought unique weather to all portions of Nebraska. From tornadoes, to giant hailstones, to wildfires and dust storms, our weather has been impactful. The National Weather Service remains committed to working with leaders from across the state to build “Weather-Ready” communities.
March 27-31 is Nebraska Severe Weather Awareness Week. We encourage everyone to take time to review and practice your severe weather plan for your home or office. If you don’t have a plan, this is a great time to consider developing one and sharing it with others. Preparing an emergency kit with basic supplies such as food, water, blankets, and a flashlight can save precious time when reacting to an actual event. By working together to ensure we are ready for disaster, we can better prepare our families, friends, and communities for these times.
Your Storm Reports in Action:
Although it is not common for severe weather to occur in the winter, Nebraska has had at least one reported tornado during each month of the year since official records have been kept. The reports we receive from our partners and the public contribute to keeping our neighbors and fellow Nebraskans safe when disaster strikes.
The ground truth provided gives forecasters an idea of what a storm is doing. These reports are used in research aimed at better understanding how storms work. Your storm reports play a vital role in keeping others safe, both now and in the years to come.
Tornado Number Trends:
Tornadoes reported across Nebraska in 2022 were down greatly from the 30-year average of 49. Only 26 tornadoes occurred in the state last year. April had the most tornadoes with 10, with June coming in second with 9.
Storm reports are eyewitness reports providing critical information to meteorologists making warning decisions. This real-time information allows forecasters to have ground truth of what is actually happening below where the radar cannot see.
We are grateful to our storm spotters, partners, and local community members for your continued support and assistance in providing this information.
A statewide tornado safety drill is scheduled for Wednesday, March 29 at 10:00 am CDT.
