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Reports: Tornadoes reported in Kansas, Nebraska as severe weather outbreak continues into early Wednesday

By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior content editor

Published May 1, 2018 8:45 PM EDT | Updated Jul 1, 2019 5:11 PM EDT

Copied

As of 12:20 a.m. CDT Wednesday, the severe reports below are no longer being updated. Click here for a photos recap of the storms.

<hr>

Severe thunderstorms, flash flooding and isolated tornadoes will threaten lives and property over part of the central United States through Wednesday.

Thunderstorms are expected from western Oklahoma to Wisconsin with the highest risk of severe weather focusing on an area from central Kansas into southwestern Iowa.

Residents should be prepared to move indoors and seek shelter at the first sign of thunder or lightning.

RELATED:

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Dangerous storms to threaten central US with wind, hail and tornadoes this week
The difference between tornado watches and warnings

<hr>

11:00 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

Severe thunderstorms are training across the same areas of northern Kansas, heightening the risk of flash flooding.

Near the town of Wells, Kansas, over 3 inches of rain has fallen since Tuesday evening.

Screen Shot 2018-05-01 at 11.08.07 PM.png

Anyone on the roads should use caution as high water can be very difficult to see at night. If you encounter a roadway that is flooded, turn around and find an alternate route.

<hr>

9:50 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

A line of severe thunderstorms continues to track across northeastern Kansas just north of Interstate 70. These storms are tracking east, resulting in some areas being hit by several founds of severe weather in quick succession.

storms gif

<hr>

9:05 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

A National Weather Service employee confirmed a tornado near Oak Hill, Kansas, that was moving northeast toward Broughton and Clay Center.

This storm is the farthest east in a line of severe storms. Some storms in this line are capable of producing damaging tornadoes.

tor line

<hr>

8:30 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

A severe storm with a history of producing large tornadoes is approaching Wells, Kansas. Another storm just to the west of this is also capable of producing a tornado and will soon move through Ada, Kansas.

double tor

Large wedge #Tornado to the NW of #culver #Kansas #kswx @breakingweather pic.twitter.com/IDjx9kWzhx

— Jonathan Petramala (@jpetramala) May 2, 2018

<hr>

7:55 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

There is a confirmed tornado near Tescott, Kansas, and it is tracking east toward Bennington.

This is a particularly dangerous situation. People in the path of this storm need to take cover immediately.

PDS tor

#kswx Tescott KS pic.twitter.com/Ga0QQJxVnG

— Jeff Boyce (@Negative_Tilt) May 2, 2018
ben tor

A large tornado near Tescott, Kansas, on Tuesday evening. (Photo/Blake Naftel)

<hr>

7:33 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

A tornado was reported north of Ellsworth, Kansas, earlier this evening with the tornado-warned thunderstorm continuing to track toward the northeast.

AccuWeather video journalist Blake Naftel captured this photo of a funnel cloud near where the tornado was reported.

funnel

The same storm also produced hail larger than baseballs near Wilson, Kansas, before it tracked north of Ellsworth.

baseball hail

Hail larger than baseballs near Wilson, Kansas. (Photo/Cody Frye)

<hr>

7:20 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

There is a confirmed and very dangerous tornado approaching Aurora, Kansas, located southeast of Concordia. This is a life-threatening situation. People in Aurora need to seek shelter immediately.

pds

<hr>

6:15 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

There are currently two confirmed tornadoes within miles of each other. One storm is located near Chester, Nebraska, and the other south of Beloit, Kansas. People in the path of these storms need to seek shelter immediately.

2 confirmed

<hr>

6:00 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

Confirmed tornado near the town of Chester, Nebraska tracking eastward. If you live in southern Thayer county, seek shelter immediately.

Confirmed tornado near the town of Chester. If you live in southern Thayer county seek shelter immediately pic.twitter.com/W6AZgOpT3t

— Tim Reith (@NTVsTimReith) May 1, 2018

<hr>

5:45 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer is tracking a supercell north of Hoisington, Kansas, capable of producing a tornado.

reed hois
almost tor

A low funnel cloud north of Hoisington, Kansas, late Tuesday aftenroon.

<hr>

5:30 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

A severe thunderstorm just north of Hoisington, Kansas, has produced hail as large has tennis balls. This storm is tracking to the northeast and will continue to bring the threat of damaging hail.

Tennis ball hail 7 west of Hoisington #KSwx @NWSDodgeCity @NWSWichita pic.twitter.com/823QWJOcNf

— StormChaseTV (@StormChaseTV) May 1, 2018

Large hail was also reported in Octavia, Nebraska, where emergency managers measured hailstones as large as baseballs.

<hr>

5:10 pm. CDT Tuesday:

Below, a picture shows Aurora, Nebraska, where a tornado warning was in effect. This storm has had a history of producing a tornado.

A look from Aurora NE right now. Tornado Warning in effect. #newx pic.twitter.com/u9qwvWLiXO

— Viaero WX Cameras (@ViaeroWXCams) May 1, 2018

<hr>

5:02 pm. CDT Tuesday:

A severe storm capable of producing a tornado is located near Octavia, Nebraska, and is tracking east. People in Abie and Prague, Nebraska, need to seek shelter immediately.

This storm also has a history of producing hail larger than golf balls.

Tornado Warning including Prague NE, Abie NE until 5:30 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/65RWTuGmho

— NWS Omaha (@NWSOmaha) May 1, 2018

<hr>

4:40 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

A tornado has been confirmed by law enforcement east of Grand Island, Nebraska. The storm is tracking to the northeast and will soon be approaching Marquette and Kronborg, Nebraska.

nebraska tornado

<hr>

4:06 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado is near Smith Center, Kansas, and is tracking to the northeast. This is the first tornado warning issued today.

Tornado Warning including Guide Rock NE, Lebanon KS, Burr Oak KS until 4:30 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/9b7gue3rtK

— NWS Hastings (@NWSHastings) May 1, 2018

<hr>

3:35 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

A line of severe thunderstorms has erupted near Hays, Kansas, through Cedar, Kansas. Some storms are starting to show signs of rotation, meaning that they may eventually become strong enough to produce a tornado.

335 screenshot

<hr>

3:10 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

Severe thunderstorms are beginning to rapidly develop in central Kansas. One thunderstorm has erupted just west of Hays, Kansas, and is tracking to the northeast.

hays

A severe thunderstorm developing west of Hays, Kansas, on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo/Blake Naftel)

<hr>

2:45 p.m. CDT Tuesday:

A tornado watch has been issued across central Kansas, southeastern Nebraska and part of western Iowa.

The strongest thunderstorms that develop in this area will be capable of producing wind gusts over 70 mph, hail larger than baseballs and intense tornadoes.

2:48pm CDT #SPC_Watch WW 59 TORNADO IA KS NE 011945Z - 020300Z, #iawx #kswx #newx, https://t.co/g6mYvGB3mH pic.twitter.com/MO4SpesvI7

— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) May 1, 2018
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AccuWeather Weather News Reports: Tornadoes reported in Kansas, Nebraska as severe weather outbreak continues into early Wednesday
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