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Storms Threaten Region Hit by Tornadoes Just Days Ago Storms Strike Region Hit by Tornadoes Just Days Ago
(33 minutes later)
Thunderstorms were lashing parts of the Midwest with potent winds and large hail on Tuesday afternoon, only days after tornadoes tore through the central U.S. and blizzards hit the northern tier. The new, similarly volatile storm system was expected to pound many of the same states on Tuesday and into Wednesday, potentially affecting tens of millions of people. Thunderstorms were lashing parts of the Midwest with potent winds and large hail as tornadoes were reported on Tuesday, only days after similar storms tore through the central U.S. and blizzards hit the northern tier. The new, similarly volatile weather system was expected to continue into Wednesday, potentially affecting tens of millions of people.
On the warmer side of the storm system, more than a dozen states, from Wisconsin to Texas, were again at risk for severe weather. The most probable regions expected to be impacted by damaging winds and tornadoes were in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.On the warmer side of the storm system, more than a dozen states, from Wisconsin to Texas, were again at risk for severe weather. The most probable regions expected to be impacted by damaging winds and tornadoes were in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.
Here’s what to expect around the country.Here’s what to expect around the country.
By early afternoon as storms moved over eastern Iowa, destructive, windblown baseball-size hail were reported in towns in northeast Illinois, according to the National Weather Service in Chicago, which also noted that gusts could be as high as 80 miles per hour on the border of Ogle and Lee Counties. By evening, several tornadoes had been reported in Iowa, Missouri and Illinois, according to data from the National Weather Service. In Colona, Ill., about 80 miles southeast of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a tornado had ripped the roof from a gas station and uprooted trees, according to the service.
Destructive, windblown baseball-size hail were also reported on Tuesday afternoon in towns in northeast Illinois, according to the National Weather Service in Chicago, which also noted that gusts could be as high as 80 miles per hour on the border of Ogle and Lee Counties. The Chicago Fire Department said the high winds had caused some damage to buildings, as well as downed trees and power lines. More than 18,000 customers were without power in Illinois, according to poweroutage.us.
“This is a DANGEROUS storm,’’ the service warned. “If you’re in it’s path, take cover away from windows!” The hail, measuring about three inches in diameter, was the largest to fall in the Chicago area since a July 2020 storm, the service said on Twitter.“This is a DANGEROUS storm,’’ the service warned. “If you’re in it’s path, take cover away from windows!” The hail, measuring about three inches in diameter, was the largest to fall in the Chicago area since a July 2020 storm, the service said on Twitter.
Officials elsewhere also cautioned residents in affected areas to be prepared for danger as night fell. Several counties in Illinois and Iowa were under tornado warnings, while another four million people across parts of Illinois, Missouri and Iowa were under less serious tornado watches. Officials elsewhere also cautioned residents in affected areas to be prepared for danger as night fell. Several counties in Illinois and Iowa were under tornado warnings, while another 3.4 million people across parts of Illinois, Missouri and Iowa were under less serious tornado watches.
“The danger of a rain-shrouded tornado in the dark is significantly higher than it is during the daytime hours, when everybody’s out and about, paying attention,” said Jon Green, a Supervisor for Johnson County, Iowa, parts of which were slammed days ago by violent weather. A 24-unit building in Coralville, about 20 miles south of Cedar Rapids, was rendered “uninhabitable,” Mr. Green said. A derecho storm in 2020 had left residents particularly on edge, he added.“The danger of a rain-shrouded tornado in the dark is significantly higher than it is during the daytime hours, when everybody’s out and about, paying attention,” said Jon Green, a Supervisor for Johnson County, Iowa, parts of which were slammed days ago by violent weather. A 24-unit building in Coralville, about 20 miles south of Cedar Rapids, was rendered “uninhabitable,” Mr. Green said. A derecho storm in 2020 had left residents particularly on edge, he added.
The Weather Service’s office for Quad Cities, a group of cities in Iowa and Illinois, warned residents to seek shelter as scattered thunderstorms, traveling at around 40 miles per hour, approached.The Weather Service’s office for Quad Cities, a group of cities in Iowa and Illinois, warned residents to seek shelter as scattered thunderstorms, traveling at around 40 miles per hour, approached.
Voters in Chicago appeared to have heeded a call to vote early on Monday, ahead of bad weather on Tuesday, according to Max Bever, a spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election. As of noon local time, more than 364,500 ballots were cast in the mayoral runoff race, reflecting a 22.9 percent citywide turnout, compared to 21 percent at noon of the last election on Feb. 28.Voters in Chicago appeared to have heeded a call to vote early on Monday, ahead of bad weather on Tuesday, according to Max Bever, a spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election. As of noon local time, more than 364,500 ballots were cast in the mayoral runoff race, reflecting a 22.9 percent citywide turnout, compared to 21 percent at noon of the last election on Feb. 28.
“Strong, potentially long track tornadoes are possible, in addition to large hail and damaging winds,” Storm Prediction Center forecasters said Tuesday morning. Some of which are likely to occur at night.“Strong, potentially long track tornadoes are possible, in addition to large hail and damaging winds,” Storm Prediction Center forecasters said Tuesday morning. Some of which are likely to occur at night.
By late Tuesday night, severe weather will begin moving over parts of the South. In the southern section of Arkansas and Texas, forecasters said it was increasingly likely that there would be rare and dangerous overnight tornadoes and damaging winds. Nocturnal tornadoes are not rare, but stronger nighttime tornadoes, like what could occur here, are.By late Tuesday night, severe weather will begin moving over parts of the South. In the southern section of Arkansas and Texas, forecasters said it was increasingly likely that there would be rare and dangerous overnight tornadoes and damaging winds. Nocturnal tornadoes are not rare, but stronger nighttime tornadoes, like what could occur here, are.
Meteorologists with the Weather Service in Little Rock, Ark., warned residents on Tuesday morning to remain alert for this very reason.Meteorologists with the Weather Service in Little Rock, Ark., warned residents on Tuesday morning to remain alert for this very reason.
“Severe weather fatigue is very real,” forecasters said. Tuesday night’s forecast, with threats after midnight, may lead to “a false sense of security as nothing happens during the day,” they warned.“Severe weather fatigue is very real,” forecasters said. Tuesday night’s forecast, with threats after midnight, may lead to “a false sense of security as nothing happens during the day,” they warned.
The timing of the storms could lead to a “higher vulnerability,” forecasters said, stressing the importance of staying aware and having multiple methods of receiving alerts, even those that can wake a person up from sleep.The timing of the storms could lead to a “higher vulnerability,” forecasters said, stressing the importance of staying aware and having multiple methods of receiving alerts, even those that can wake a person up from sleep.
Close to 1.2 million people in the Midwest and Rockies were under blizzard warnings on Monday evening and parts of Wyoming and South Dakota had already received more than two feet of snow by then, said Bob Oraveck, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in College Park, M.D. Heavy snow was continuing to fall in parts of South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota, he added. Close to one million people in the Midwest and Rockies were under blizzard warnings on Monday evening and parts of Wyoming and South Dakota had already received more than two feet of snow by then, said Bob Oraveck, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in College Park, M.D. Heavy snow was continuing to fall in parts of South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota, he added.
Wind whipped the snow around, creating whiteout conditions and closing some major highways, including the Interstate 29 from Fargo to Grand Forks, N.D.Wind whipped the snow around, creating whiteout conditions and closing some major highways, including the Interstate 29 from Fargo to Grand Forks, N.D.
In parts of Utah, the storm delivered gusty winds and snow on Monday, the Weather Service said, warning that travel conditions would only deteriorate. Part of a major highway had closed because of “slide offs and increasing avalanche hazard,” according to the Utah Department of Transportation.
More than 100 miles of the Interstate 90 also closed on Monday night because of the storm, the South Dakota Department of Transportation said. As the storm continues to move across the state, closures would likely be extended, officials added, and roads may remain closed for several days.
Johnny Diaz and Derrick Bryson Taylor contributed reporting.Johnny Diaz and Derrick Bryson Taylor contributed reporting.