The central United States is bracing for a new round of severe weather starting Friday evening, with forecasts indicating the potential for strong tornadoes, very large hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding across a broad region from Texas to Wisconsin.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has highlighted the Upper Mississippi Valley—which includes parts of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin—as having the highest risk for strong tornadoes. Simultaneously, portions of the central U.S. and Midwest are expected to experience very large hail.
Severe thunderstorms are predicted to occur mainly in the afternoon and evening hours, affecting more than 51 million residents. This forecast follows several days of destructive tornadoes and record flooding that have impacted communities across the region, prolonging cleanup and recovery efforts.
Storm threat extends into the weekend
The severe weather is not limited to Friday. On Saturday, areas including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo remain under threat as a cold front moves eastward. This front will also bring a shift toward more typical seasonal temperatures in the eastern U.S. next week, according to meteorologist Nikki Nolan of CBS News and Stations.
Damaging winds up to 70 mph are expected across parts of the region from Texas northward to Green Bay, Wisconsin, compounding the risk of property damage and hazardous conditions.
Ongoing recovery from tornadoes and flooding
Communities affected by earlier tornadoes continue to manage significant damage. In western New York, a small tornado south of Buffalo caused extensive destruction just days prior. In Clinton, Missouri, two tornadoes on Wednesday night knocked down trees and damaged homes.
Meanwhile, Michigan faces a state of emergency in 33 counties due to record flooding. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer described the situation as “crisis mode,” with water levels rising dangerously near a dam in Cheboygan and record highs measured along the Muskegon River.
Wisconsin remains disrupted from previously excessive rainfall, with flooded roads and reports of a fatal lightning strike in Milwaukee. Emergency officials continue to monitor weather developments closely as cleanup proceeds.
Why it matters
The renewed severe weather threatens to delay recovery efforts in areas already devastated by tornadoes and flooding earlier this week. More than 51 million residents face risks that include property damage, power outages, and personal injury. Timely awareness and preparedness remain critical as storms approach during peak afternoon and evening hours.
Background
The central U.S. has experienced an unusually active severe weather period marked by multiple tornado outbreaks and record flood events, stressing emergency response systems and local infrastructure. The forecasted cold front and accompanying storms are part of a broader seasonal pattern that can produce volatile weather in spring, particularly across the Midwest and northern plains.
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