Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes threaten major cities in the Midwest

Large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes are threatening states successful the Midwest, with cities similar Chicago, Minneapolis and Milwaukee successful the crosshairs, forecasters said.

The thunderstorm menace volition absorption connected the precocious Mississippi Valley to the Great Lakes connected May 15, according to the National Weather Service. The tempest is expected to advancement comparatively quickly, truthful chances of flooding from heavy, lingering rains are limited. However, arsenic the tempest spreads to the Ohio Valley and mediate Mississippi Valley connected May 16, its question could dilatory and bring scattered flash flooding.

In immoderate areas, whether oregon not storms signifier is inactive up successful the air. There was a 30 to 40% accidental of enactment successful the Chicago area, with the superior risks coming from destructive hail, damaging winds and scattered tornadoes, forecasters said.

"If storms form, they volition apt go severe," the upwind work successful Chicago said.

Meanwhile, flooding remains a interest crossed parts of the rain-soaked Mid-Atlantic, wherever "any further rainfall could beryllium problematic," the National Weather Service said. An atmospheric stream has already dumped respective inches of rainfall successful the region, wherever h2o rescues had to beryllium performed astatine a Maryland schoolhouse and a 12-year-old kid successful Virginia died aft being swept distant by floodwaters.

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This nonfiction primitively appeared connected USA TODAY: Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes endanger large Midwestern cities