U.S. Midwest Braces for More “Deadly and Destructive” Severe Weather

The U.S. Midwest is preparing for another onslaught of severe weather just days after last weekend’s “deadly and destructive” storms tore through parts of the country.

The area was hit by over 1,000 “dynamic storms”, including at least 90 tornados, across eight U.S. states in the South and Midwest last week. The AP reported the “high risk” weather conditions included wildfires, high winds, and “blinding dust,” resulting in at least 42 dead.  

Hundreds of flights were cancelled and thousands were delayed over the weekend as a result of the storms, including major delays in Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, and Tennessee.

According to AccuWeather meteorologists, a new multi-day severe weather threat will build in the central U.S. by midweek and travel could again be heavily impacted.

“Like this past weekend’s storm, this week’s storm will bring everything from blowing dust and wildfire danger to snow and blizzard conditions and severe thunderstorms,” said the report.

The next onslaught of storms is expected to be “less intense” than last weekend’s, with conditions “less favorable to swarms of tornados,” according to AccuWeather. Northern Missouri, northeastern Kansas, southeastern Nebraska and Iowa will see storms Tuesday night, with the possibility of damaging hail as well as torrential rain and heavy wind.

On Wednesday, parts of Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi will be under severe thunderstorm warnings with the possibility of tornados—AccuWeather is predicting peak wind speeds of 80 mph.

“A widespread severe weather and tornado outbreak is unlikely at this point, and because of this, AccuWeather meteorologists have not issued a high-risk for the event,” the report said. “However, isolated tornadoes can still be devastating to those affected. For this reason, and because conditions can still escalate, all severe weather alerts should be taken seriously, and people should remain vigilant.”