ALBAWABA- Severe weather continues to menace the Great Plains and Midwest, with multiple states under a tornado watch through Tuesday evening. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings for Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri as the region braces for potential tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail, as reported by ABC News.
In Iowa and Nebraska, 31 counties are on high alert, including major cities like Lincoln and Omaha. Des Moines, a city of over 200,000 residents, is expected to face a triple threat of large hail, high winds, and potential tornadoes.
Forecasts predict damaging winds of 70 to 90 mph from Tuesday afternoon into the evening, impacting cities such as Des Moines, Chicago, and Milwaukee.
Monday saw over 100 severe storms from Colorado to Michigan, with reported tornadoes in Minnesota, Nebraska, and Colorado. Fortunately, these tornadoes caused no significant damage.
However, in Yuma, Colorado, hailstones ranging from golf ball to softball size battered the area, damaging vehicles and buildings. JJ Unger, a volunteer firefighter, described the hailstorm as "like a blizzard hitting for a half hour," causing multiple vehicles to get stuck.
Nebraska also experienced severe hail, with two-inch hailstones reported in Dundy County, alongside winds exceeding 90 mph. The severe weather threat is expected to persist through Thursday across the Great Plains and Midwest.
Meanwhile, potential record heat is moving into Texas and the Northeast, with temperatures possibly reaching 90 degrees in Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C., by midweek.
Residents in the affected areas are urged to stay vigilant and prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions.
