Severe storms, including tornadoes and large hail, are sweeping through the central U.S. overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday. The threat is serious, with the Midwest experiencing its highest risk of severe thunderstorms in months.
A storm system is gaining strength, affecting regions from Texas all the way up to the Great Lakes. This has left more than 60,000 people without power—about half of those in Texas alone. The dangers include tornadoes, baseball-sized hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding.
A tornado already touched down near Kankakee, Illinois, leading local authorities to activate their Emergency Operations Center. Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities have been reported so far. Sheriff Mike Downey urged residents to look after their neighbors and to stay off the roads unless necessary.
Earlier that evening, another tornado briefly touched down near Pontiac, Illinois. This supercell continued east, causing significant chaos in multiple states, which prompted a Tornado Emergency warning for Knox, Indiana. Remarkably, hail over 5 inches in diameter was reported, possibly setting a new record for Illinois.
Chicago also felt the effects, with hail as big as half-dollars falling. In the Kansas City area, hail reached 3.5 inches.
In Texas, tornado sightings occurred near Dudley, with baseball-sized hail reported in Buffalo Gap. Five tornado watches were active from the southern border to Michigan.
Currently, over 2 million people in northern Illinois and northwest Indiana are under a Level 4 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms. This level of alert hasn’t been issued since July 2025, highlighting the storm’s intensity. Last week’s outbreak led to multiple fatalities, so the concern is understandably high.
As the storms move east, they are expected to weaken overnight, though strong weather could linger in the Lower Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley into Wednesday. Another level of risk, rated at 2 out of 5, will apply to about 55 million people from Texas and Louisiana to Pennsylvania, with damaging winds and a few tornadoes expected.
For those interested in storm safety tips and updates, many local news outlets and resources—including the National Weather Service—offer valuable information. Staying informed and prepared is crucial during these unpredictable weather events.
For the latest updates on severe weather across the U.S., check out CNN.
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