High Wind Warning Issued for Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa; Gusts Up to 70 MPH Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Omaha/Valley NE has issued a High Wind Warning (Alert Code: HWW) for a broad region across eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. This alert signifies an imminent threat of hazardous wind conditions that could impact safety and infrastructure.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a significant geographic area including:

• Southwest and West Central Iowa: Monona, Harrison, Shelby, Pottawattamie, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, and Page counties.
• East Central, Northeast, and Southeast Nebraska: Knox, Cedar, Thurston, Antelope, Pierce, Wayne, Boone, Madison, Stanton, Cuming, Burt, Platte, Colfax, Dodge, Washington, Butler, Saunders, Douglas, Sarpy, Seward, Lancaster, Cass, Otoe, Saline, Jefferson, Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, and Richardson counties.

Expected Conditions

Residents should prepare for the following conditions during the warning period:

• Wind Speeds: Sustained northwest winds of 35 to 45 mph.
• Wind Gusts: Frequent gusts up to 65 mph are expected, with isolated gusts potentially reaching 70 mph.
• Visibility: Blowing snow is expected to reduce visibility to a quarter-mile or less at times.
• Impacts: Very strong winds may cause damage to trees and result in isolated to scattered power outages. Travel will be difficult, particularly for high-profile vehicles.

What You Should Do

The NWS recommends the following safety precautions:

• Delay Travel: If possible, postpone travel plans until conditions improve.
• Exercise Caution: If you must drive, maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel and be prepared for sudden wind gusts.
• Watch for Hazards: Be alert for falling debris, tree limbs, and downed power lines.

Timeline

The High Wind Warning is scheduled to go into effect at 7:00 AM CDT on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The alert is currently set to expire at 1:00 AM CDT on Monday, March 16, 2026.