Blog Article
April 22, 2026 Weather Recap: CA Tornadoes & CO Fire Risk
Read the April 22, 2026 weather recap. We break down confirmed EF-1 tornadoes in California, a landspout in Illinois, and extreme fire danger in Colorado.
The April 22, 2026 Severe Weather Recap
Y'all, yesterday was a prime example of why we have to watch the whole board. While most folks were busy preparing for the multi-day severe weather event kicking off today in the Plains, April 22 brought plenty of action on its own. From rare tornadoes out West to high-end fire danger in the Rockies, the atmosphere kept us on our toes.
The California Surprises and Illinois Landspout
Let's start with the tornadoes. We had five tornado-related reports hit the history summary yesterday, but the most interesting ones came out of California's San Joaquin Valley. Get this. The NWS Hanford Storm Survey team found damage indicative of an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 95 mph near Clovis. They also went out to Atwater, where the NWS Hanford Storm Survey team found damage indicative of an EF-1 tornado with maximum winds at 110 mph. These actually touched down on April 21, but the official survey results and reports hit the wire yesterday.
Out in the Midwest, an emergency manager reported a landspout tornado near Donovan, Illinois. It lasted about four minutes and generated numerous pictures and videos from the public.
Wind, Fire, and Snow
Severe thunderstorms and high winds caused significant issues across the map.
- South Dakota: A measured 76 mph thunderstorm wind gust near Wasta resulted in a trailer rollover on Interstate 90.
- Texas: An emergency manager in Jackson County reported large hail and at least 14 power poles downed near Ganado.
- Colorado: The state verified a rare Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning. Humidity dropped to a bone-dry 5 to 6 percent, and wind gusts cranked up to 47 to 60 mph.
- Alaska: Hooper Bay and Wales both recorded blizzard conditions with visibility dropping to a quarter mile or less and wind gusts up to 50 mph.
We even had a magnitude 4.8 earthquake recorded near Silver Springs, Nevada. The earth and the sky were both active.
Forecast vs. Reality
In our previous outlook, we talked heavily about the severe weather marathon starting today in Kansas and Oklahoma. We also warned about 60 mph gusts and single-digit humidity for Amarillo and Lubbock. The fire weather forecast was spot on, but the extreme conditions pushed even further north into Colorado than many expected, resulting in that rare PDS warning.
The severe convection that initiated in the Midwest and Northern Plains yesterday afternoon was exactly what the data suggested. It served as the opening act for the main event we are tracking now.
What's Next: The Marathon Begins
Here is the thing. The main event is officially here. The Storm Prediction Center has an Enhanced Risk up for eastern Kansas and northern Oklahoma today. We are looking at very large hail and a few tornadoes.
On Friday, the threat shifts south and east into the Lower Mississippi Valley with a Slight Risk for places like Shreveport and Little Rock. By Saturday, the setup reloads with another Enhanced Risk right back in Oklahoma, Kansas, and northwest Arkansas. The data shows a massive, negatively tilted wave ejecting into the Plains on Sunday and Monday, which means this active pattern is not going anywhere.
Bottom Line
April 22 reminded us that high-impact weather happens outside the main risk areas. Whether it is a landspout in Illinois or an EF-1 tornado in California, you have to pay attention to your local conditions. If you live in the Plains or the Deep South, get your severe weather plans ready right now. The next few days are going to be incredibly busy.