On Monday, a tornado watch was issued for the Midwest, putting millions of Americans on alert, despite the fact that severe weather, including wind and hail, was still battering those areas from a system that arrived over the weekend.
Northern Iowa, eastern Minnesota (including Minneapolis), and western Wisconsin are all at moderate risk due to the weather. These areas have the highest risk of strong tornadoes, large hail, and destructive thunderstorm winds. They are under tornado watch until 11 p.m. CT Monday.
Tornado watches are also in effect in Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma, with winds gusting up to 75 mph. This includes Des Moines and Topeka, and it lasts until 11:59 p.m. CT Monday.
Enhanced risks are also in effect from Kansas City, Missouri, to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and from Duluth, Minnesota, to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
There is also a slight risk of severe weather from west Texas to the western Great Lakes, including OKC.
On Sunday and Monday, more than 60 million Americans were on alert for severe weather ranging from Texas to the Great Lakes.
On Sunday, ten tornadoes were reported in western Nebraska, along with hail larger than a baseball. The Nebraska State Patrol reported that a tornado derailed a train near Hyannis, Nebraska.
Additionally, wind gusts of up to 75 mph were reported in Texas and South Dakota.
On Tuesday, the risk of severe weather remains high from central Ohio to western New York. These areas are susceptible to damaging winds, tornadoes, and large hailstorms. A slight risk of severe thunderstorms exists from western Texas to northern Vermont.
A moderate risk of excessive rainfall is also in place for northern Texas, central Oklahoma, southeast Kansas, and southwestern Missouri beginning Tuesday afternoon and lasting into Tuesday evening.
Up to 7 inches of rain, large hail, strong winds, and possible tornadoes are expected in these areas, increasing the risk of flooding in Oklahoma and northern Texas, where heavy rain has already occurred over the weekend.
Police say one person died on Saturday as a result of Oklahoma’s flash flooding. Highly saturated topsoil and high-flowing local streams increase the risk of additional flash flooding in the area following these incoming storms.
Going into Wednesday, there is a moderate risk of excessive rainfall in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, which could bring more heavy rain and increase the risk of flash flooding.