Tornado warning issued across four states, as millions brace for severe outbreak

(NEW YORK) — A tornado warning was issued on Wednesday in a region that included parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri, the National Weather Service said.

“A couple tornadoes possible,” the service said. “Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5 inches in diameter possible.”

The warning came after a “large and extremely dangerous tornado” struck down near Canton, Illinois, Tuesday evening, according to the service.

The tornado warning is in effect until 8:00 p.m., local time and NWS has warned people to seek shelter.

Heavy tornado activity is forecast in regions in the U.S. still reeling from a line of devastating tornadoes that killed dozens of people.

A major storm moving east on Tuesday is expected to produce another severe weather outbreak in the Midwest, mid-South, and Great Lakes, bringing strong, long-track tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail. More than 95 million Americans are on alert for these severe weather conditions.

Cities in the bull’s-eye include Little Rock, Arkansas, Springfield, Missouri and Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa, forecasts show.

As the storm moved through the Rocky Mountains and Southwest overnight, places like Utah saw wind gusts up to 135 mph and up to 17 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

Severe storms could even reach as far south as Austin, Texas, and Dallas and as far north as Chicago, Milwaukee and Green Bay, Wisconsin. The inclement weather is expected to begin Tuesday afternoon and last overnight into Wednesday, with nocturnal tornadoes possible from Arkansas to Illinois and Iowa. A tornado watch was issued until 10 p.m. CT for parts of Missouri, Iowa and Illinois.

The threats of damaging winds and tornadoes will continue east on Wednesday into the Great Lakes, Ohio and Tennessee River Valley.

A severe threat area is expected through Wednesday night from Louisiana all the way to western New York. Enhanced risk for damaging winds and tornadoes will affect cities from Memphis and Nashville to Chicago again, Cincinnati, and Detroit.

The forecast comes just days after a powerful storm system unleashed a line of violent tornadoes and severe thunderstorms across 14 states. At least nine EF3 tornadoes — wind speeds ranging from 136 to 165 mph — were confirmed to have touched down in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee and Delaware on Friday and Saturday.

The damage was especially extensive near Little Rock, Arkansas, where an apartment complex was left in ruins following the strong twisters. At least five people were killed in Arkansas as a result of the storms.

At least one EF4 tornado — with winds ranging from 166 to 200 mph — was confirmed in Iowa on Friday.

At least 32 people in nine states were killed in the storms.

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