Millions are threatened by severe weather, including hurricanes, following devastating storms
More than 35 million Americans from Wisconsin to Oklahoma face the risk of severe weather outbreaks on Friday, including tornadoes, as some violent storms have already raged across multiple states.
So far, 12 tornadoes have been reported across five states and a tornado was confirmed on the ground in Illinois on Friday.
In this image from video, a possible tornado is seen in Rochester, Minnesota, on April 17, 2026.
Greg Anderson
The greatest risk for strong tornadoes is in central and southern Wisconsin through eastern Iowa. The northern halves of Illinois and Missouri face the greatest risk of damaging winds.
A tornado watch is in effect for parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois – including Madison, Milwaukee, Des Moines and Davenport – until 8 p.m. central time. Severe tornadoes are possible, as well as large hailstones up to 3.5 inches in diameter and damaging gusts of up to 70 mph.
In this image from video, a possible tornado is seen south of Oslo, Minnesota, on April 17, 2026.
@MuskyWeatherGuy/X
Tornado watches are also in effect for parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri — including Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago — until 11 p.m. Central time. Some severe tornadoes, large wind gusts up to 75 mph, and large hail are likely.
People help clean up fallen trees that were toppled by severe storms overnight, on April 14, 2026, in DeForest, Wisconsin.
John Elswick/AP
As storms develop Friday afternoon, there is a chance for separate supercells to form with very large hailstones, strong tornadoes, and damaging straight-line winds.
The National Weather Service on Friday upgraded the severe weather potential for parts of the Heartland. The agency’s Storm Prediction Center added a Level 4 of 5 “moderate risk” for parts of northwest Oklahoma, central and eastern Kansas and west-central Missouri. This includes Kansas City, Missouri, and Wichita and Topeka, Kansas.
Thunderstorms are expected to develop later Friday afternoon into the evening in this area potentially producing damaging hail larger than a baseball, very strong and damaging wind gusts up to 90 mph and some tornadoes.
Severe weather forecast map
ABC News
Flash flooding is also possible, with flood watches issued from Missouri to northern Michigan.
The outbreak of severe weather comes after floods and hurricanes have already affected parts of the region this week.
The National Weather Service confirmed at least 28 tornadoes in nine states from California to New York this week, with Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois the most affected.
These storms will bring additional rain to parts of the states of Wisconsin and Michigan, which witnessed widespread flooding, which led to a state of emergency being declared. States could see 1 to 3 inches of additional rainfall on top of their highly saturated soils, leading to expanding river flooding and the risk of sinkholes.
A 41-year-old man was killed by lightning Wednesday evening in a parking lot in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, authorities said.
