More cold rain tonight, as the back edge of the large storm system, that continues to bring severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to the Southeast & the Ohio Valley tonight, trudges east through Nebraska.

 click on any image to enlarge

Yes, that's snow in western Nebraska, NE Colorado & NW Kansas. 3-4" has been reported over the panhandle with wind gusts over 55 mph very common. Blizzard warnings will be in effect for parts of that area overnight. We'll get in on those gusty winds eventually too. Skies will clear by around daybreak, and with lows in the 30s & NW winds of over 25 mph, wind chills will be in the frigid 20s Saturday Morning!

Thursday saw 6 tornadoes just north of Sioux City in Sioux & Lyon counties of northwestern Iowa. These occurred right on the warm front that extended east from the triple point situated near Vermillion, SD early yesterday evening. Here are some pictures sent in to KTIV-TV in Sioux City. The link to their weather blog that contains these shots can be found here.

 near Rock Valley, IA

 near Ireton, IA

 near Sioux Center, IA

That first twister near Rock Valley has been rated an EF-2. Here's the NWS Sioux Falls survey of the storm.

Here's a second link to their web site that gives an overview of all 6 tornadoes.

Enough warm dry air wrapped into eastern Nebraska with this strong cyclone, that we saw the best atmospheric conditions for severe weather move off to the north and east of us last night. Had the low stayed a bit further south, we very well could have seen those twisters develop much closer to home. Glad that no injuries were reported with those storms. May is a prime severe weather month. 29 more potential stormy days to go.....

Jeff