NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) forecast a 55% chance of a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, with 8 to 14 named storms, 3 to 6 hurricanes, and 1 to 3 major hurricanes between June 1 and November 30.
A damaging tornado impacted the municipalities of San Nicolás Buenos Aires and Tlachichuca in Puebla, Mexico, on May 18, 2026, as severe storms produced flash flooding and hail damage across parts of central Mexico. Floodwaters reached depths of 50 cm (19.7 inches) on some streets, while hail damaged vegetable and potato crops in Quecholac and nearby communities.
Three tornadoes touched down across south-central Nebraska on May 17, 2026, including a high-end EF-3 tornado near St. Libory in Howard County that destroyed multiple homes and damaged power infrastructure, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Hastings.
The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF1 tornado touched down in southwestern Ray County, Missouri, at 21:47 CDT on May 18, 2026, causing tree and property damage before lifting at 22:06 CDT.
A late-season winter storm brought heavy snow and hazardous travel conditions to southern Wyoming on May 18, 2026, shutting down sections of Interstate 80 and other roads. The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Cheyenne issued winter storm and blizzard warnings for parts of Carbon and Albany counties, while the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) reported road closures, reduced visibility, and winter travel hazards across affected corridors.
A Particularly Dangerous Situtation (PDS) Tornado Watch issued for northeast Kansas and southeast Nebraska on May 18, 2026, was followed by multiple tornado reports, hail up to about 7 cm (2.75 inches), and damaging wind reports across the central U.S. Preliminary SPC storm reports included 19 tornadoes, damage to farm structures, grain bins, trees, and power lines.
At least 25 tornadoes were reported across four states in the central United States on May 17, 2026, with widespread damage being reported in parts of Iowa and Nebraska.
Severe thunderstorms produced dust storm conditions along I-70 in northwestern Kansas on May 16–17, 2026, with the NWS Goodland warning of areas of near-zero visibility in blowing dirt and KDOT reporting an I-70 closure between Colby and Oakley due to blowing dust and crashes.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) placed portions of central and northeastern Kansas into far southeastern Nebraska under a Moderate Risk for severe thunderstorms on Monday, May 18, 2026. Supercells are forecast to produce all severe hazards, including 5–10+ cm (2–4+ inches) hail and strong to intense tornadoes, mainly from central Kansas into southeastern Nebraska.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) placed parts of the Central Plains under an Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms on Saturday, May 16, 2026, and parts of the Central Plains and Upper Midwest under Enhanced Risk on Sunday, with large to very large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes forecast across the two-day period.
