Severe Storms and Heat Alerts Cover Northeast and Midwest

More than 350 storms moved across the central and eastern United States on Wednesday, one of the stormiest days of 2026 so far. The same regions now face dangerous heat and humidity that could push heat-index values to 95-110 F through Friday. An estimated 92 million people are under severe-weather risk from the Great Lakes to the central Plains and from the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast.

Forecasters warn of wind gusts up to 75 mph, hail up to 2 inches across, and possible tornadoes affecting cities including Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning Thursday for Lincoln, Illinois, after a thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was spotted near Dalton City. Officials said flying debris could threaten people without shelter and cause damage to roofs, windows, vehicles, and trees.

Nearly 3 million people remain under flood watches in parts of Iowa, Illinois, and northeast Missouri through Friday. The watches follow earlier flooding that placed 13 million people under alerts and left 35,000 customers without power in Kansas on Tuesday.

Heat alerts are in effect for about 80 million people, with daytime highs running 10 to 20 degrees above average. Cities under alerts include Fresno, California; Oklahoma City; Jackson, Mississippi; Raleigh, North Carolina; Cleveland; and New York. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted on X that extreme heat and thunderstorms are rolling in and urged residents to use air conditioning, check on neighbors, and visit free cooling centers.

The District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency said the district remains under a heat alert until Saturday and advised residents to stay in air-conditioned or shady areas and drink water.