PLAINS AND MIDWEST — Severe storms damaged communities across the Plains and Midwest on Monday, injuring several people, destroying homes and knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers. Forecasters warned that additional storms could bring giant hail, tornadoes and severe wind gusts to the region on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
In Kansas, authorities reported several people with minor injuries after storms passed through the state. Three people sustained minor injuries in rural Franklin County, about 50 miles southwest of Kansas City. Structural damage occurred in Ottawa, though no deaths or injuries were reported there. A National Weather Service survey team was set to assess damage in the Ottawa area on Tuesday to determine whether a tornado had passed through.
In Miami County, Kansas, two people reported minor injuries, several homes were destroyed, and recreational vehicles and campers were overturned. Power lines were de-energized in Hillsdale until cleanup could be safely completed.
Three tornadoes touched down in southern Minnesota, causing damage to farms. Baseball-sized hail also damaged vehicles in the area. In Wisconsin, a tornado touched down near Gilman, causing minor damage. The National Weather Service was still working to determine the rating of that tornado. The storms peeled the roof off a manufactured home in Steuben, Wisconsin, but no injuries were reported.
More than 25,000 customers were without power in Wisconsin on Tuesday morning, according to poweroutage.us. Several schools around the Madison area closed Tuesday morning due to the lack of power.
Forecasters warned of river and small stream flooding expected through the end of the week in the Upper Great Lakes, with the heaviest rainfall expected overnight into Wednesday and scattered flash flooding possible. Locally heavy rain from thunderstorms over multiple days in the Plains and Midwest could also trigger flash flooding. Much of the Plains is currently in drought.
A high pressure system across the eastern U.S. was forcing Gulf moisture northward across the Plains, while a trough, or southward plunge of the jet stream, was present across the West and expected to move into the Central Plains. Because of the high pressure system and the slow-moving trough, the same areas may face severe weather for multiple days.
Severe weather including tornadoes, hail and damaging winds is forecast for the Plains and Midwest next week. The threat of severe storms will be greatest on Saturday in parts of western Texas and extreme eastern New Mexico, with cities including Lubbock, Midland and Del Rio in the highest threat zone. On Sunday, scattered severe thunderstorms are possible from the Southern Plains to the upper Midwest, with San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Wichita in the greatest risk areas. The severe weather threat may persist in parts of the region into late next week.