Violent Storms Rock Midwest, Tornadoes Confirmed in Illinois \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Tornadoes and extreme weather tore through parts of Missouri, Illinois, and the Midwest on Friday. Storms damaged trees, disrupted power for hundreds of thousands, and triggered closures like the St. Louis Zoo. Forecasters warned of more severe weather, hail, and tornadoes across Appalachia and the Mid-Atlantic.
Quick Looks
- Tornadoes confirmed near St. Louis and Venice, Illinois.
- St. Louis Zoo shut down early due to weather.
- No injuries reported, but trees and vehicles damaged.
- Storms part of a widespread, multi-state weather system.
- National Weather Service warned of “extremely dangerous” tornadoes.
- Severe storms hit Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan with large hail.
- Over 300,000 without power across Midwest states.
- Kentucky opened shelters; Governor Beshear issued storm warning.
- Texas battled a heatwave with temps up to 105°F.
- NWS warned of hurricane-force winds and hail up to 3 inches.
- Additional tornadoes may occur into Friday evening.
- Utility crews dispatched across Appalachia for power restoration.
Deep Look
A sweeping and volatile weather system tore across much of the central United States on Friday, bringing chaos to states from Missouri to Michigan, and as far south as Texas. Tornadoes, giant hail, powerful winds, and dangerous heat formed a deadly mix of severe weather that upended daily life, closed attractions, and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands.
The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed tornado activity in the St. Louis metropolitan area, including a likely tornado that touched down in Clayton, Missouri—just west of downtown—between 2:30 p.m. and 2:50 p.m.. According to meteorologist Marshall Pfahler, radar indicated strong rotation, and ground reports confirmed damaged trees, though no structural collapses or injuries were reported. The storm zone included Forest Park, a major cultural and historical area home to the St. Louis Zoo, museums, and landmarks from the 1904 World’s Fair and Summer Olympics.
The St. Louis Zoo, one of the city’s most visited destinations, announced via social media (X, formerly Twitter) that it would remain closed for the rest of the day. No damage details were released, and a spokesperson did not immediately respond to inquiries. Photos shared online show trees snapped and debris scattered throughout Forest Park, although surrounding buildings appear to be intact.
Just minutes after the Clayton tornado, radar confirmed another twister over Venice, Illinois, located across the Mississippi River northeast of St. Louis. This tornado was accompanied by golf ball-sized hail and described by the NWS as “extremely dangerous.” The storm was moving east at a rapid 50 mph, raising alarms for communities downwind. Officials warned residents across southern Illinois to take immediate shelter as the storm barreled through.
These tornadoes are part of a larger, multi-state severe weather outbreak that began earlier in the week and intensified on Thursday and Friday. The sprawling system, driven by unstable air, soaring temperatures, and a cold front pushing in from the northwest, delivered damaging weather across several regions. Its effects were deeply felt in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
Widespread Damage Across the Midwest
On Thursday night, severe storms rumbled across Wisconsin, leaving a trail of destruction. The NWS confirmed multiple tornado touchdowns in central Wisconsin, although official strength ratings (EF-scale) have yet to be assigned. Meteorologist Timm Uhlmann of the NWS in Green Bay said, “We’re still gathering reports. We’re assessing some of the damage and still getting video and pictures. The damage that we have is fairly widespread.”
Reports included softball-sized hail in Eau Claire, one of the largest hailstone sizes reported this year in the U.S. The combination of large hail and destructive winds caused damage to roofs, cars, and crops.
In Michigan, Friday’s storms were equally severe. More than 230,000 utility customers lost power as winds snapped trees and downed power lines. Meteorologist Steven Freitag from the White Lake Township NWS office said that surveys are underway to determine whether tornadoes touched down across southeast Michigan, including areas north and west of Detroit.
Northern Indiana and central Illinois also experienced strong thunderstorms overnight Thursday, continuing into Friday. The region saw significant power outages, with 60,000 in Indiana and 27,000 combined in Illinois and Kentucky without electricity by midday Friday.
Kentucky and the Appalachian Region Brace for Impact
As the storm system advanced southeast, states in the Appalachian corridor and Mid-Atlantic were warned to expect high-impact weather into Friday evening. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued advisories for long-track tornadoes, hurricane-force winds exceeding 75 mph, and baseball-sized hail across parts of Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Ohio.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear took to social media to alert the public, posting:
“Kentucky, there is a dangerous weather system moving through our state with a significant round this afternoon through tonight. Strong winds, hail, flooding, and tornadoes are possible starting at 2 p.m. CT in Western Kentucky and reaching Louisville around 5 p.m. ET.”
Local authorities activated emergency shelters in areas like Paducah, and Appalachian Power, which provides electricity to over 1 million customers in West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee, requested 1,700 extra lineworkers from surrounding utilities and shifted internal crews to assist with restoration efforts.
In middle Tennessee, meteorologist Faith Borden with the NWS in Nashville warned that the region could see “all types of severe weather,” with winds up to 70 mph and hail as large as 3 inches in diameter, which is exceptionally large by Tennessee standards.
Extreme Heat Adds to the Crisis in the South
While the central and northern states were grappling with tornadic storms, Texas faced a different form of danger: extreme heat. A heat advisory was issued for major metro areas including Austin and San Antonio, with temperatures ranging from 95°F to 105°F (35°C to 40.5°C). The NWS Austin/San Antonio office noted that the incoming humidity over the weekend would make it feel even hotter.
Meteorologist Jason Runyen issued a stark warning for residents, especially those working outdoors:
“There are concerns of heat exhaustion for people that aren’t taking proper precautions when they’re outdoors.”
People in the region were urged to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity, and take frequent breaks during peak heat hours.
Parts of the southeastern U.S., including Virginia, the Carolinas, and Florida, also battled sweltering temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s.
Cultural Events Disrupted, Flights Affected
The powerful storms even affected major public events. In Chicago, Thursday night’s Beyoncé concert at Soldier Field was delayed for nearly two hours as lightning and severe weather approached the venue. Fans were directed to shelter inside the stadium while the weather cleared.
Airlines reported delays and cancellations, particularly in cities like Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis, as storms interfered with air traffic and operations on the ground.
Outlook and Continued Threats
The severe weather threat continues into the weekend, with the NWS and Storm Prediction Center issuing multi-day outlooks for damaging weather across parts of the Ohio Valley, Appalachians, and East Coast. Tornado watches remain in effect in some areas, and utility crews are working around the clock to restore power and remove debris.
Though no fatalities or major injuries have been reported so far, officials continue to assess damage, monitor new storm developments, and survey tornado tracks. The full scope of the event’s impact—both physical and economic—will emerge in the coming days.
Violent Storms Rock Violent Storms Rock Violent Storms Rock
You must Register or Login to post a comment.