MIDWEST — The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado formed in southwest Iowa on Friday night, touching down in Cass County south of Cumberland. The agency rated the tornado as EF0, with winds reaching 85 mph. The tornado traveled 2.3 miles and was 25 yards wide, the 58th tornado recorded in Iowa in 2026.

The tornado was part of severe storms that impacted the Midwest region. The National Weather Service received more than a dozen reports of tornadoes across northern Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Illinois on Wednesday. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center upgraded the Chicago area to a level 4 out of 5 on its severe risk scale; the Chicago area last received such a rating on July 15, 2024. Tornadoes were confirmed in mostly rural areas southwest of Chicago, and tornado damage was reported in Streator, Illinois. Streator Mayor Tara Bedei said in a statement, "There were no reported fatalities as of Thursday evening."

A 54-year-old man died in a Des Moines, Iowa, park on Wednesday after a tree fell at a homeless encampment. He was found critically injured Thursday morning and died at the scene. Strong storms delayed or halted flights at airports in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Newark, New Jersey. Ground stops were issued Wednesday and Thursday at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago Midway International Airport, and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport. More than 1,000 flights into and out of Chicago were delayed or canceled. The National Weather Service issued tornado watches or warnings Thursday for parts of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Wind gusts reached 75 mph in Mason City, Illinois, and 70 mph in Morton and Washington, Illinois. Trees and utility wires were down across the Midwest region due to storms on Wednesday. More than 243,000 customers were without power in Illinois as of Thursday evening. Commonwealth Edison Company expected 80% power restoration in its service area by 11 p.m. on Saturday, June 13.

Two buildings at the Animal Protective League shelter in Springfield, Illinois, were heavily damaged late Wednesday. Deana Corbin, executive director of the Animal Protective League, said, "It pretty much wiped out our shelter facility, took the roofs off both of our buildings." Corbin also said, "It's a miracle. We were so blessed to not have any injuries of either people or animals." Community members temporarily housed animals from the Springfield shelter. Damage was also reported at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Illinois.