In the aftermath of Monday’s severe weather outbreak over the Plains, which unleashed a barrage of violent tornadoes and high wind gusts, meteorologists from AccuWeather are warning of the continued likelihood of severe weather and more tornadoes across a large swath of the central United States into midweek.
Thunderstorms erupted swiftly on Monday afternoon and evening, rapidly escalating into violent tempests that wreaked havoc across the region. Close to 250 incidents of severe weather were reported, with more than a dozen tornadoes touching down and hail ranging from the size of golf balls to softballs. Among the affected areas was Barnsdall, Oklahoma, where one person tragically lost their life and several others sustained injuries in the wake of a violent tornado.
AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno issued a stark warning, stating, “There are going to be tornadoes in parts of Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky into Tuesday evening.”
An estimated 80 million people are at risk for severe weather, including residents of major metropolitan areas in the Midwest, through Tuesday night. The potential for significant damage to lives and property remains high, with AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham highlighting the ongoing threat of severe weather, including multiple tornadoes, particularly in the Ohio Valley states.
Despite some areas experiencing rain-cooled air from overnight thunderstorms on Monday and into Tuesday morning, ample daytime warmth is expected to fuel the development of further severe storms from the lower Great Lakes to the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas through Tuesday night.
Cities directly in the path of the severe weather or likely to experience travel disruptions include Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Nashville, St. Louis, and Louisville, Kentucky.
Into Tuesday night, the risk of severe thunderstorms, encompassing tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and large hail, will extend from much of Wisconsin and southern Michigan to central Arkansas, northern Mississippi, and western and middle Tennessee. AccuWeather meteorologists have issued a moderate risk within this zone, indicating a higher concentration of severe weather, including tornadoes, is probable. This heightened risk zone includes much of Indiana, western Ohio, eastern Illinois, parts of southern Wisconsin, and western and central Kentucky.
As communities across the central United States brace for the continuation of severe weather, authorities urge residents to remain vigilant, stay informed of weather updates, and heed any evacuation orders or safety advisories issued to ensure the protection of lives and property in the face of this ongoing threat.
