Severe Storms Threaten Millions from Wisconsin to Texas with Monster Hail

A severe weather system is expected to impact a vast corridor stretching over 1,200 miles from Wisconsin to Texas, beginning Friday afternoon. More than seven million residents, particularly in Iowa and the Central Plains, face the highest risk of dangerous conditions, including supercell thunderstorms capable of producing hail up to three inches in diameter. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 3 out of 5 risk for central Iowa, where tornadoes are also possible, though large hail remains the primary hazard. While an atmospheric cap may limit early afternoon storms, supercells are projected to break through by evening. The threat extends through the weekend, with damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph possible in broader areas. By Monday, the risk pattern shifts, with an increasing likelihood of strong to intense tornadoes in central Kansas and northern Oklahoma. This multiday event involves complex meteorological dynamics, requiring residents across the Midwest and Southern Plains to remain vigilant as storm coverage consolidates and intensifies over the coming days.