Severe Weather Alert: 100 Million Americans at Risk as Tornadoes and 'Very Large' Hail Target 7 States
A dangerous weather pattern is currently stretching across a massive portion of the United States, putting 100 million people on alert as storms develop from the southern Plains into the Midwest and Great Lakes.
On Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) escalated warnings, identifying a high-intensity corridor for severe activity. "Increasing deep and low-level shear with the approach of the upper-trough will support thunderstorms capable of very large hail and tornadoes, some of which could be strong," the NWS stated in their official briefing.
Severe Weather Threat Impacting Seven States
The NWS has identified specific regions for the most significant hazards:
- Strong Tornadoes: The best chance for high-intensity tornadoes is centered over the Upper Mississippi Valley.
- Very Large Hail: The highest risk for "monster" hail — some stones exceeding 3 inches in diameter — is focused on portions of the Central and Southern Plains.
- Damaging Winds: Storms are expected to grow "upscale" into the evening, creating a significant damaging wind threat for the Lower and Middle Missouri Valleys.
Almost 900 miles worth of a Tornado Watch is in place through Friday evening, April 17th.
— Rusty Dawkins KLKN (@rustywx) April 17, 2026
From Wisconsin, through Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, to the edge of Texas. Very large hail and dangerous tornadoes are possible. If you know anyone in this path, give 'em a heads up. pic.twitter.com/z57ia5yw4O
Storm Damage Reported Across the Heartland
The storm system has already turned destructive. In Lena, Illinois, significant structural damage has been reported at both the high school and elementary school. Meanwhile, in Belton, Missouri, emergency crews are assessing damage to homes and power lines following a reported tornado touchdown.
@abcworldnews Residents in the Heartland were left with splintered homes and damaged vehicles after another round of hail, wind and rain tore through the region as it heads to the Northeast. The rain, combined with melting snow, is also flooding rivers. Alex Perez reports.
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Official NWS Tornado Watch List
The following states and counties were assessed for tornado watches on Friday afternoon as dangerous weather threatens the center of America:
- Illinois: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, De Kalb, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jo Daviess, La Salle, Lee, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Ogle, Putnam, Rock Island, Stephenson, Warren, Whiteside, Winnebago.
- Iowa: Allamakee, Appanoose, Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cedar, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clayton, Clinton, Dallas, Davis, Decatur, Delaware, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Henry, Howard, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lucas, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Mitchell, Monroe, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Scott, Story, Tama, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Winneshiek, Worth, Wright.
- Kansas: Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Barber, Bourbon, Brown, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Doniphan, Douglas, Elk, Franklin, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Labette, Leavenworth, Linn, Lyon, Marion, Miami, Montgomery, Morris, Neosho, Osage, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Sumner, Wabaunsee, Wilson, Woodson, Wyandotte.
- Missouri: Adair, Andrew, Barton, Bates, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Cass, Chariton, Clay, Clinton, Cooper, Daviess, Dekalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Mercer, Nodaway, Pettis, Platte, Putnam, Randolph, Ray, Saline, Schuyler, St. Clair, Sullivan, Vernon, Worth.
- Minnesota: Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona.
- Oklahoma: Alfalfa, Beckham, Blaine, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Kay, Kingfisher, Logan, Major, Noble, Nowata, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Roger Mills, Washington, Washita, Woods, Woodward.
- Wisconsin: Adams, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Eau Claire, Fond Du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Lafayette, La Crosse, Marathon, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood.
For the most up-to-the-minute local updates and live radar, visit the official NWS Storm Prediction Center portal at spc.noaa.gov.