Tornadoes, giant hail and damaging winds slammed the Midwest Friday night, with at least one tornado confirmed in Lena, Illinois [1].
The storm system comes as Forecasters said that another severe weather episode could affect over 130 million people across more than 12 states, far exceeding the 50 million already cited in earlier estimates [4][5].
The outbreak stretched from Texas northward to the Great Lakes, hitting southern Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and the Illinois town of Lena, where officials logged the tornado [1][2].
Illinois emergency management officials recorded one tornado in Lena, describing damage to homes, power lines and roadways and confirming the event with the National Weather Service [1].
A powerful low‑pressure system generated supercell thunderstorms that produced the tornadoes, baseball‑size hail and wind gusts that toppled trees and caused widespread power outages [6].
Additional storms on Tuesday evening brought further wind damage to parts of Kansas and Missouri, extending the week‑long severe weather pattern that began Friday [1][3].
The National Weather Service said the next round of storms could roll into the region later this week, potentially impacting an additional 11–12 states as the low deepens [4][5].
**What this means** The Midwest faces a prolonged period of hazardous weather, with millions of residents still vulnerable to tornadoes, large hail and high‑speed winds. Emergency managers are urging preparedness measures as the low‑pressure system continues to track east, increasing the likelihood of new tornado touchdowns and further disruption across a broad swath of the U.S.
“Tornadoes, giant hail and damaging winds slammed the Midwest Friday night.”
The Midwest faces a prolonged period of hazardous weather, with millions of residents still vulnerable to tornadoes, large hail and high‑speed winds. Emergency managers are urging preparedness measures as the low‑pressure system continues to track east, increasing the likelihood of new tornado touchdowns and further disruption across a broad swath of the United States.
