CIRA Satellite Library

During the final week of April 2026, multiple days in a row of severe weather occurred in the Central and Southern U.S. and the Midwest.

On April 23, a line of severe thunderstorms erupted across the Great Plains, producing large hail, strong winds, and several tornadoes. The most prominent storms occurred in northern Oklahoma, where an EF-4 tornado tore a nearly 10 mile (16 km) stretch just outside of the town of Enid and the Vance Air Force Base, causing extensive property destruction. Also in northern Oklahoma, a tornado-producing storm created a rare “satellite tornado” that spun around the main vortex.

Severe weather continued into the next day on April 24, where severe storms fired up in the Southern U.S. from Oklahoma to Mississippi. Storms returned back to the Plains on April 25, and that night, at least two tornadoes touched down in North Texas from storms moved through the area. Those Texas storms turned deadly, resulting in the deaths of at least two people.

The many rounds of severe weather have also resulted in heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding in Kansas and Missouri.

The most at-risk day for severe weather so far in this series of storms is in place for April 27, 2026, fifteen years since the infamous April 2011 Super Outbreak. A moderate risk for large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes is in effect for parts of the Midwest, including the mid-Mississippi and lower-Ohio valleys, through the evening and nighttime hours.

For more information, visit the Storm Prediction Center.