Blog Article
April 24, 2026 Severe Weather Recap: Tornadoes & Large Hail
A complete recap of the April 24, 2026 severe weather event. We break down the confirmed tornadoes in Oklahoma and Missouri, giant hail, and what comes next.
Tornadoes, Giant Hail, and a Quake: Recapping April 24, 2026
Y'all, yesterday was one of those days where the atmosphere threw a little bit of everything at us. We had severe thunderstorms, a late-season snowstorm, a noticeable earthquake, and even solar flares all happening at the same time. But down here on the ground, the severe weather was the main story.
How the Day Unfolded
The day actually started out pretty quiet. We had an overnight complex of storms that weakened during the morning hours. That gave the atmosphere plenty of time to recharge under the sun. By the afternoon, things escalated quickly. The main threat shifted from straight-line winds to very large hail and tornadoes across the Southern Plains and the Midwest.
The Ground Truth: What We Saw
When we look at the actual reports from yesterday, the data shows exactly how intense these storms got. Here is what we know for sure:
- Missouri Tornado: An NWS survey concluded an EF1 tornado with peak winds of 95 mph damaged an outdoor maintenance storage building at a golf course in Joplin. The tornado tracked northeast, downing numerous trees and causing minor roof damage to several homes.
- Oklahoma Tornado: A storm chaser reported a tornado on the east side of Kiowa, complete with video confirmation.
- Giant Hail: Radar indicated 3.0-inch hail, and observers measured 2.75-inch hail near Milburn, Oklahoma. That is baseball-sized ice falling from the sky.
- Destructive Winds: Radar indicated destructive 80 mph wind gusts in the Indianapolis metro area. We received public reports of downed trees near Monument Circle.
- Montana Snow: Up in the Northern Rockies, observers measured a massive 24 inches of snow near Wilsall, Montana.
- A Rare Coincidence: Get this. Right in the middle of the severe weather outbreak, a Magnitude 4.0 earthquake was recorded near Cooter, Missouri. At the exact same time, space weather monitors recorded two X-class solar flares.
Forecast vs. Reality
In our previous update, we talked about a volatile system digging into the Southern Plains. That forecast was right on the money. The atmosphere did exactly what we expected it to do yesterday. We knew the storms would fire in the afternoon, and they absolutely did.
Yesterday was the opening act. The moisture and instability that fueled those storms in Oklahoma and Missouri have now fully established themselves across the region, setting the stage for the massive severe threat we are dealing with today.
What Comes Next
Here is the thing, the threat is far from over. Today, the Storm Prediction Center has a Moderate Risk up for central and eastern Oklahoma. Places like Ada and Shawnee are right in the bullseye for giant hail and strong tornadoes.
By Sunday, the surface low deepens and ejects into the Central Plains. That shifts our Enhanced Risk up into eastern Kansas and western Missouri. Places like Kansas City, Wichita, and Topeka need to be on high alert for Sunday afternoon and evening.
Bottom Line
Yesterday proved that this weather pattern means business. The storms escalated exactly as expected, and the ingredients are only getting more potent today. Have your severe weather plan ready, keep your phones charged, and know exactly where your safe space is.