Storm Warning: Big Hail, Winds and Tornadoes Threaten Millions

A massive storm system is moving toward the Midwest and Mississippi Valley, putting more than 50 million people in danger. Weather experts say it could bring huge hail, strong winds and tornadoes as early as Monday afternoon. Earlier this week, the southern United States already felt a brutal weather outbreak. Thousands of people were hit by tornadoes and giant hail, and many communities suffered heavy damage. A single EF‑4 tornado ripped through Enid, Oklahoma, last Thursday. The storm tore apart houses in the Gray Ridge area and left residents trapped inside their homes and shelters. City officials said about 40 houses were badly damaged, but thankfully no one died and injuries were minor.

The National Weather Service has put a level 3 risk on the forecast for Monday, covering eight states including Missouri, Wisconsin and Iowa. St. Louis is expected to see the strongest impact. A broader level 2 risk stretches from the Central Plains through the Ohio Valley to the Southeast, affecting big cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis, Memphis and Little Rock. The forecast calls for super‑cell thunderstorms that could produce all three major hazards—large hail, damaging winds and strong tornadoes. These storms will form when warm, moist air meets a cold front and a dry line, creating an environment ripe for severe weather. If the storms that develop on Sunday across the central Plains are not widespread, more moisture may flow into the Lower Mississippi Valley. That could make Monday’s storms even stronger. Weather watchers should stay alert for a potential “marathon” of bad weather that could last into the weekend, as rain and storms move northward.

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