CNN
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The threat of dangerous storms could grow even more as devastating tornadoes hit Nebraska and Iowa, destroying homes, and tornado-producing storms pose danger from Michigan to Texas on Saturday.
The Elkhorn area of Omaha, Nebraska, was one of the hardest hit areas after severe storms hit parts of the Plains and South early Friday afternoon.A powerful tornado has occurred Local authorities said in a press conference Friday that crews were searching the home looking for trapped or injured people.
Meanwhile, in nearby Iowa, a large tornado was reported in the small city of Minden, according to the National Weather Service. Footage obtained by CNN shows destroyed structures and widespread debris.
The threat of severe weather is expected to continue into Sunday, with Saturday potentially the most dangerous day. Strong tornadoes are possible from Nebraska to Texas, including Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Kansas City and Wichita.
A tornado watch is in effect for parts of western Oklahoma and northwest Texas until 1 p.m. Saturday, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Hail can grow to the size of a tennis ball, the storm will have winds of up to 110 mph, and the threat of tornadoes will increase into the morning. This watch includes Altus, Oklahoma and Childress, Texas.
Here's the latest information:
• Four people were treated for storm-related injuries in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, county emergency management officials announced in a news release early Saturday morning.
• About 120 homes and businesses were damaged in Pottawattamie County, where Minden is located and home to about 90,000 people. “Based on preliminary information, the extent of the damage varies,” emergency officials said.
• Two people were treated for minor injuries in Omaha after a tornado struck the Elkhorn area on Friday. Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said, “We believe there were very few injuries because Omaha and Douglas County's warning systems were very effective.” “We didn't get hit by a sudden storm. People were warning about this, and it saved lives.”
• Nebraska emergency officials Shelby and Douglas counties said they had no reports. The number of injured there increased after several tornadoes struck their area on Friday. However, authorities reported that the storm caused significant property damage and residents were being evacuated.
Margery A. Beck/AP
Debris can be seen from a destroyed home northwest of Omaha, Nebraska, after a storm hit the area Friday.
• A tornado tore the roof off a house and tore across a section of Interstate 80 outside of Lincoln, Nebraska. A tornado struck near Waverly, derailing multiple train cars, a railroad spokesperson said.
• Following the tornado that hit Minden, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster declaration to assist Pottawattamie County with storm recovery efforts.
• At least two tornadoes were observed in Texas Friday afternoon. Video posted on social media showed a twister that appeared to be circling a large field northeast of Waco.
• There were nearly 80 reports of tornadoes in at least five states on Friday, many confirmed by footage from the National Weather Service and storm trackers.
Jason Sunday, a resident of Omaha's hard-hit Elkhorn neighborhood, described the tornado as a “freight train.” As that approached, he took refuge in his home, which he had just moved into 30 days earlier, CNN affiliate KETV reported.
“I could see the wind coming in from the southwest, but it was getting too close for me to feel safe, so I hurried downstairs. We were in the bathtub downstairs, just like in the movies. It looked like a freight train, just as it was described,” he told CNN affiliate KETV on Sunday.
“And I knew the roof was going to come off because there was this loud, sucking motion. It was pretty scary.”
The tornado caused severe damage to the Sunday family's dream home.
“We're grateful to be alive. We're so grateful,” Sunday added.
John Wells, a volunteer cleanup in the town of Brea, just north of Omaha, said he saw widespread storm damage Friday.
“There are overturned propane tanks. Some houses don't even have foundations. We don't even know where they were,” he told KETV. “I've never seen anything like this.”
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More than 50 million people are under threat of severe weather Saturday from the Southern Plains to the Great Lakes region.
“Complex but potentially significant severe weather is expected on Saturday,” the weather forecast center said in a statement on Friday.
The most severe storms could begin in the afternoon over parts of the southern and central Plains, with a level 4/5 risk of severe thunderstorms. Gusty winds that can cause widespread damage, hail the size of baseballs, and strong tornadoes are the main hazards of the storm.
“Several strong tornadoes are possible, and several long-range EF3+ tornadoes (winds 136 to 165 mph) are possible,” the Storm Prediction Center said.
The prediction center said the tornado threat will increase significantly in the late afternoon and early evening, with “multiple strong tornadoes” possible.
A vast region of the country, from the Great Lakes to South Texas, has the potential for damaging storms outside of the highest risk areas.
Rain could also be a factor on Saturday.
Some areas could receive up to 5 inches of rain in a short period of time, potentially causing dangerous flash flooding. A small number of locations experiencing multiple rounds of heavy rain could see rainfall totals approaching the 8-inch mark.
Most of Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City and Tulsa, and some areas of Kansas and Texas are under a 3/4 risk level for excessive rainfall. Heavy rains can cause rivers to overflow their banks and flood roads.
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Damaging storms are also possible from Texas to Wisconsin on Sunday. However, the exact timing, extent and strength of these storms will largely depend on Saturday night's storm.
In particular, areas from northeast Texas to southern Iowa and western Illinois face the greatest risk of damaging storms that can bring strong winds and large hail. Although there is a single tornado, he may also cause one or two.
Heavy rain could lead to flooding, especially in parts of the lower Mississippi River basin.
