OMAHA, Neb. – Residents in the Omaha area are on alert as two rounds of potentially severe storms are forecast for the region on Wednesday.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until 3 a.m. for most of eastern Nebraska and several counties in western Iowa, just east of the Missouri River.
The first line of storms is expected to enter the northwestern part of the region around 10 p.m. For the Omaha metro area, the primary threat is strong wind gusts that could exceed 60 mph. This initial wave of severe weather is forecast to move out of the metro area by 2 a.m., gradually weakening as it pushes into western Iowa. Lingering showers may follow the main storm front.
On Wednesday afternoon, clearing skies south of Interstate 80 are expected to create unstable atmospheric conditions, fueling a second round of storms. This activity is forecast to remain primarily south of I-80, carrying the risk of damaging winds and hail.
Looking ahead, cooler temperatures will provide some relief on Thursday and Friday, though another chance of storms is forecast for Friday night. Heat is expected to return over the weekend, with intermittent storm chances continuing into the beginning of next week.