Severe Weather Threat Covers Midwest and Plains Affecting Over 130 Million People

Parts of the Midwest and Plains are under a severe weather threat that affects more than 130 million people from Texas to New York. The threat includes risks of tornadoes and large hail. This follows severe storms on Monday that produced tornadoes and hail in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Kansas.

The Storm Prediction Center issued a Level 3 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms on Tuesday in a corridor from eastern Iowa to southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. This area includes cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee. Conditions involve a warm front that could amplify storms, leading to large hail measuring 2 to 3 inches in diameter.

Supercell thunderstorms are possible, capable of producing strong EF-2 or EF-3 tornadoes along or south of the warm front. In the Southern Plains, including central Oklahoma and parts of North Texas, storms are forming along a dryline boundary between dry western air and moist air from the Gulf. These storms carry risks of large hail and tornadoes.

night, tornado-warned storms caused power outages in Miami, Franklin, and Linn counties in eastern Kansas.

m. local time, injuring two people and destroying homes and businesses. Several RVs and campers were overturned, and roads to the area were closed while police secured damaged properties. A local school is providing shelter for displaced residents.

In Ottawa, Kansas, severe weather damaged buildings, but no injuries were reported, according to city officials. Storms in Minnesota produced several tornadoes, including ones near Truman and Amboy, though no significant damage has been reported statewide. Widespread hail fell in southern Minnesota, including golf ball-sized hail south of Minneapolis along a warm front.

, with severe thunderstorms expected throughout the week.

The severe weather covers more than 1,500 miles from the Big Bend of Texas to parts of New England.

Storms from Monday moved into Upstate New York and New England on Tuesday, with a Level 2 risk including Burlington, Vermont; Albany, New York; and Scranton, Pennsylvania. The primary hazards there are damaging wind gusts, with potential for isolated tornadoes. On Wednesday, a third round of storms is forecast for the Mississippi River Valleys, Plains, Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley.

These could bring damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes. Flooding risks are increasing in parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes after several days of heavy rain. The Storm Prediction Center anticipates another tornado threat on Friday in parts of the Plains and Midwest.

Residents in affected areas should monitor weather updates and prepare for possible evacuations or sheltering. Emergency services are responding to current damages and preparing for additional impacts.