A new wave of thunderstorms is set to strike the same regions from the South to the Midwest that experienced deadly severe weather over the weekend, which claimed 32 lives. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of potential severe storms from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast through Wednesday, with life-threatening conditions possible.
On Tuesday, there were over a dozen tornado reports in Illinois and Iowa. A possible tornado in Henry, Illinois, tore the roof off a gas station and threw it into a nearby building. Storm surveys will confirm the presence and number of tornadoes. The NWS in Lincoln, Illinois, alerted residents of a tornado near Bryant, but injury and damage reports were not available.
In Chicago, the fire department responded to three reports of roof damage from a strong windstorm. No injuries were reported, but trees and power poles were downed. Chicago O’Hare International Airport faced significant disruptions with 86 departing flights canceled and 404 delayed.
In western Illinois, Moline recorded a 90-mph gust. An estimated 42 million people were at risk of severe storms on Tuesday, increasing to 62 million on Wednesday, with the storm system affecting areas from northern Michigan to northern Louisiana.
Blizzard warnings in the Dakotas bring heavy snowfall, making travel dangerous and difficult.The most severe weather on Wednesday was expected in cities including Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Columbus, Ohio, and Memphis, Tennessee. Hazards included strong tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall leading to flooding.
In Wyoming, the Dakotas, and Minnesota, the same front could cause blizzard conditions and record April snowfall, with up to 2 feet predicted. Blizzard warnings were issued for most of the Dakotas. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem ordered state employees to work from home due to dangerous travel conditions, and some highways were closed as a precaution.
Parts of South Dakota recorded significant snowfall, with 24 inches in Custer County and 30 inches in Fall River County. The Red River Valley in North Dakota and Minnesota saw snowfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour.
Experts attribute the extreme weather to the U.S.’s geographic position where cold fronts from Canada and Pacific storms meet tropical Gulf of Mexico air.
Climate change may be intensifying these extremes, leading to colder cold fronts, stronger tornadoes, and larger hailstones in spring, as well as longer, hotter summers.
NOAA’s spring outlook predicted moderate to major flooding from Minneapolis to St. Louis, even amid ongoing droughts in the northern and central Plains. “Climate change is driving both wet and dry extremes,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad.