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Storms Strike Region Hit by Tornadoes Just Days Ago Hail and Heavy Winds Strike the Midwest
(about 5 hours later)
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. Thunderstorms lashed parts of the Midwest with potent winds and large hail on Tuesday, days after storms tore through the central United States and blizzards hit its northern tier.
More than a dozen states, from Michigan to Louisiana, were again at risk for severe weather. Tornadoes were reported in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri and while warnings were issued for Arkansas and Texas. The new, similarly volatile weather system was expected to continue into Wednesday, potentially affecting tens of millions of people. More than a dozen states, from Michigan to Louisiana, were again at risk for severe weather. And in the Upper Plains and Rockies, more than a million people were under blizzard warnings on Tuesday night.
In the Upper Plains and Rockies, more than one million people were under blizzard warnings. Several tornadoes were reported on Tuesday 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 ripped the roof from a gas station and uprooted trees, according to the service.
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. As of 11 p.m. on Tuesday, more than 15,000 customers were without power in Illinois, according to poweroutage.us.
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. As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, More than 21,000 customers were without power in Illinois, according to poweroutage.us. Destructive, baseball-size hail was reported on Tuesday afternoon in towns in northeast Illinois, and the roughly three-inch hail that fell in the Chicago area was the largest since a July 2020 storm, according to the National Weather Service in Chicago. The local fire department also said that high winds had downed trees and power lines, and damaged buildings.
“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. The storms on Tuesday were moving near areas where tornadoes tore roofs off homes and other buildings last Friday, displacing residents.
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. One of them, Jacob Dilks of Hills, Iowa, has been busy observing family milestones ever since. On Saturday, his son turned 2, and on Tuesday his wife gave birth to a girl. He said he had been on an “emotional roller coaster.”
“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. “One minute, you’re scared for the lives of your family, and the next you’re happy to be alive,” said Mr. Dilks, 28, whose family has been staying with relatives in nearby Coralville since their home was destroyed.
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. In Chicago, where voters on Tuesday elected Brandon Johnson as mayor, people appeared to heed a call to vote early, ahead of bad weather, according to Max Bever, a spokesman for the Chicago Board of Elections. As of noon local time, the number of ballots cast reflected a 23 percent citywide turnout, compared with 21 percent at noon in the previous 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. Aside from a dip in voter turnout in the early afternoon as a thunderstorm rolled through, the board was not aware of other storm-related effects on turnout, Mr. Bever said on Tuesday night. He added that the overall turnout figure for the day was relatively low for an election day.
“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. Officials elsewhere cautioned residents to be prepared for danger as night fell. Several counties in Illinois and Iowa were under tornado warnings, while 3.4 million other people across parts of Illinois, Missouri and Iowa were under less serious tornado watches.
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. “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.
Meteorologists with the Weather Service in Little Rock, Ark., warned residents on Tuesday morning to remain alert for this very reason. By late Tuesday night, severe weather was expected to begin moving over parts of the South. In parts of Arkansas and Texas, forecasters said it was increasingly likely that there would be rare and dangerous overnight tornadoes and damaging winds.
“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. On Tuesday night, forecasters said they were monitoring a potential tornado threat over an area including Little Rock. Meteorologists with the weather service in Little Rock, Ark., warned residents on Tuesday morning to remain alert.
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. “Severe weather fatigue is very real,” weather analysts said. Tuesday night’s forecast, with threats after midnight, may lead to “a false sense of security as nothing happens during the day,” they said. On Tuesday night, forecasters said they were monitoring a potential tornado threat over an area including Little Rock.
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, Md. Heavy snow was continuing to fall in parts of South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota, he added, with more expected. The timing of the storms could lead to a “higher vulnerability,” forecasters said, stressing the importance of staying aware and having various methods of receiving alerts, including those that can wake up a person.
Wind whipped the snow around, creating whiteout conditions and closing some major highways, including the Interstate 29 from Fargo to Grand Forks, N.D. Cindy Hadish, Johnny Diaz, Mike Ives and Derrick Bryson Taylor contributed reporting.
Johnny Diaz and Derrick Bryson Taylor contributed reporting.