Destructive thunderstorms hit Omaha, Nebraska on Wednesday, causing power outages for over 200,000 customers, shutting down the city’s airport, and knocking down trees. The National Weather Service reported two tornadoes on the outskirts of the city, with wind gusts ranging from 65 to 80 miles per hour.
The severe storms moved east into Iowa, where similar tree damage was reported in the Des Moines area. By 9:20 p.m., the storms had weakened, but other parts of the Midwest, such as Kansas and South Dakota, were still under severe thunderstorm warnings.
One tornado touched down in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, just to the east of Omaha, while another was reported in Cass County, Nebraska, southeast of the city. Eppley Airfield, Omaha’s main airport, had to temporarily close to assess the damage caused by the storms, leading to delays for travelers as operations resumed.
The Omaha Public Power District, the state-owned utility, confirmed that more than 200,000 customers were without power due to the storm. Despite many tree branches falling and reports of minor damages to homes, no injuries had been reported as of yet, according to Neal Bonacci, a spokesman for the Omaha Police Department.
