Severe Storms Cause Havoc in Nation’s Heartland with Winds, Hail, Tornadoes
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Several tornadoes were reported in the southern Illinois region as part of a round of severe thunderstorms that followed a cold front stretching across a large section of the eastern half of the US. States from the U.S.-Mexico border through the Ohio Valley were at an elevated risk of storms, according to the NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. The National Weather Service office that covers the region issued a Tornado Warning after sighting at least one tornado moving east at 30 mph in Greenfield, Illinois.
Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes in Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois witnessed severe thunderstorms and several tornadoes on Thursday.
On Thursday, a cold front across the eastern half of the country saw showers, thunderstorms, and tornadoes. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) highlighted the risk of storms for states from the U.S.–Mexico border through the Ohio Valley.
Regions of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee were most at risk.
Tornado Spotted in Illinois
Video from Greenfield, Illinois, showed at least one tornado passing through rural farmland. The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning after the sighting, stating that the storm was moving east at 30 mph.
Although Green County is largely rural, a dozen warnings were issued by the NWS for possible tornadoes around Dorsey and Cahokia.
FOX Weather Storm Tracker Brandon Copic caught video of tornadoes in Illinois.
At the storm’s peak, over 15,000 outages were reported, mainly in the south-central region of the state. The NWS plans to survey the damage on Friday to determine the exact number of tornadoes.
Impact of Weather Conditions in Chicago
The severe weather even impacted Chicago, causing the postponement of the Cubs’ game against the Miami Marlins until Saturday.
Changes in Temperature Post Cold Front
The cold front is expected to bring unusually cold air for mid-April. Highs recently reached the 70s and 80s across the Plains, but temperatures are now expected to struggle to reach the 60s.
Chicago and many other cities will experience the chill, with high temperatures expected to be 5-10 degrees below average over the weekend.
By next week, the cooler and drier air is expected to reach the Gulf Coast, where New Orleans could see a few days with highs in the lower 70s.
(FOX Weather)
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