Extreme Heat Warnings, Extreme Heat Watches, and Heat Advisories are in effect across 31 U.S. states after the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a series of heat alerts on June 29, 2026. Peak heat index values are forecast to reach 46°C (115°F), with dangerous heat and humidity expected to persist into early July across parts of the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and central United States.
Heat Advisories and Extreme Heat Watches have been issued across parts of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota ahead of intensifying heatwave beginning Sunday, June 28, 2026. Heat index values are forecast to exceed 38°C (100°F) across much of the region, with some areas expected to reach 41 to 43°C (105 to 110°F) through Tuesday or Thursday, depending on location.
A multi-day severe weather outbreak is forecast to affect large portions of the central and eastern United States through Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Forecasters are warning of scattered to widespread flash flooding in parts of Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri under a Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall, while severe thunderstorms capable of producing very large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes develop across the Plains and Midwest.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed portions of the Central Plains including parts of Kansas and Nebraska under an Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms for Saturday, June 20, 2026. Large to very large hail, damaging winds exceeding 121 km/h (75 mph), and tornadoes possible from afternoon into evening hours.
Dangerous heat is expected across much of the central United States on June 9, 2026, with multiple National Weather Service offices warning that heat index values will reach 38 to 42°C (100 to 108°F) during the afternoon and evening. Heat Advisories remain in effect across Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, with the most dangerous conditions forecast across the Mid-South.
An EF2 tornado damaged at least five structures near Riley, Kansas, on June 4, 2026, according to damage surveys conducted by the National Weather Service office in Topeka. The same storm system produced flooding across northeast Kansas, prompting a state disaster emergency declaration and multiple water rescues.
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.
