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Tuesday night’s storm system was bringing severe weather, including tornadoes, massive hail and high winds, to states across the South and Midwest, including areas devastated by recent tornadoes.
According to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, there were more than 100 reports of hail by about 10 p.m. ET. There were five preliminary reports of tornadoes, according to the agency.
Two people evacuated from a gas station in the northwestern Illinois town of Corona after a tornado struck Tuesday morning, police said.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the tornado is rated EF2 with an estimated maximum wind speed of 115 mph.
According to the Corona Police Department, “The main center of damage from today’s storm was the Shell gas station and the building directly behind it. “No injuries have been reported at this time.”
Forecasters fear a particularly dangerous nighttime tornado could hit parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma and southern Missouri overnight.
Studies show that tornadoes that occur at night are often more deadly than twisters that occur during the day.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, the first storm started in the afternoon and ranged from very heavy hail to huge hail. Davenport, Iowa reported four inches of hail, slightly larger than a softball. Meanwhile, the western Chicago suburbs of Oswego and Aurora saw hail the size of baseballs and billiards, respectively.
“Worst hail I’ve ever heard in Davenport,” wrote Paul Schmidt on Facebook, saying he was worried about the state of his home. “It sounded like bricks hitting the roof.”
About 3 million people will be under tornado watch in parts of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri until 10 p.m. , resulting in gusts of up to 70 mph. The region includes cities such as Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Columbia, Missouri.
The Storm Prediction Center said it was a Level 4 storm hazard area, which means that prolonged, “widespread and severe” storms could occur, including parts of southern Missouri and Arkansas and Oklahoma. . The region contained over 1.2 million inhabitants.
Over 9.5 million people live in Level 3/5 risk areas, including St. Louis. Madison, Wisconsin. Aurora, Illinois. Des Moines, Iowa. Little Rock, Arkansas was hit by a severe tornado on Friday.. A level 3 risk means that many severe storms are possible and some can be severe.
“Weather conditions in these areas can be life threatening at times and people in affected areas should pay close attention to their local NWS Weather Service for recommendations, monitoring and warnings.” warned the Weather Forecasting Center.
More than 50 tornadoes made landfall in several states on Friday and Saturday, destroying homes and leaving communities wondering how they will recover.
South Dakota faces a different kind of extreme weather. More than 140 miles of Interstate 90 and about 85 miles of Interstate 29 are closed indefinitely due to the snowstorm, according to a warning on the State Department of Transportation website.
The closure will affect Interstate 90 from Rapid City to Murdo and Interstate 29 from Watertown to the North Dakota border, the department said.
“Accommodations in Murdo are limited. Please adjust your travel plans and seek shelter elsewhere. Closures are expected for several days,” the alert warned.
U.S. Route 12, near Summit, South Dakota, is “hard ice and difficult to even walk on,” he says. Highway Patrol“Citizens and visitors need help to keep everyone safe during this storm. ”
Highway patrols have asked people to stay home, but if they don’t, “Be prepared in case you get stuck.”
The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning and winter weather advisory for the affected areas.
More than 11 million people from southeastern Arizona to southeastern Nebraska are at red flag warnings on Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service, a red flag warning is issued when a combination of high temperature, low humidity and high winds is expected to increase the risk of fire.
Fires can be encouraged by dry surface air, breezes, dead grass and bushes, and warm temperatures,” said the Omaha and Valley Nebraska Weather Service Office.
Parts of eastern New Mexico, western Texas, western Oklahoma, and southern Kansas are at Level 3 Critical fire risk. The region includes the Texas cities of Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, and Odessa. Clovis City, New Mexico.
“Hazardous fire weather conditions are expected on Tuesday, with multiple large, dangerous and fast-moving fires likely,” the Japan Meteorological Agency said. “Extreme care must be taken to avoid sparks and open flames.”
The broader Level 2 “significant” risk encompasses Level 3 regions and extends from the Texas-Mexico border to Oklahoma City and Norman, Oklahoma, Wichita, Kansas, Abilene, Texas, and Wichita Falls, Iowa. It extends into the southwestern part of the state.
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