A severe thunderstorm outbreak is forecast across parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes this afternoon and evening, with the highest risk focused on northern Illinois, far eastern Iowa, and far southern Wisconsin.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley, Midwest and Great Lakes region under Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) through June 11 and 12, 2026, warning that thunderstorms may produce hail larger than 5 cm (2 inches), wind gusts exceeding 120 km/h (75 mph) and several tornadoes, including a few strong tornadoes.
A tornado was reported in Germantown, Clinton County, Illinois, on April 27, 2026, bringing down large trees and damaging homes as severe weather outbreak struck parts of the Midwest.
Severe thunderstorms are forecast across the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Mid-South on April 27, 2026, with the Storm Prediction Center placing parts of Missouri and Illinois under a Moderate Risk (Level 4 of 5). Multiple strong tornadoes, including EF3+ intensity, are possible alongside damaging winds and large hail.
An Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms is in place from eastern Iowa into southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and the southern Great Lakes region on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, with large to giant hail, several tornadoes, some of which could be strong, and severe wind gusts possible from late afternoon through overnight. The threat follows an April 13 outbreak that produced at least 14 preliminary tornado reports across Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin, increasing concern over repeated impacts in parts of the Midwest.
Freeze Warnings have been issued across Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and southeast Missouri, with sub-freezing temperatures forecast overnight into March 28, 2026. The warnings are in effect from late March 27 through the morning hours of March 28, with minimum temperatures expected between −4°C and −1.5°C (24–29°F). Frost and freeze conditions are expected to damage crops, sensitive vegetation, and exposed outdoor plumbing.
A bright fireball streaked across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Ontario at 01:31 UTC on March 24, 2026 (21:31 local time on March 23) before disintegrating over Michigan.
A 15.2 cm (6 inches) wide hailstone was measured in Kankakee, Illinois, on March 10, 2026, after an intense supercell produced a corridor of giant hail across parts of northern Illinois, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Chicago. The agency said the stone may be considered for a new Illinois state record, but its status remains unofficial pending verification.
An Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms is in effect for parts of the Midwest on March 10, 2026, including northeast Missouri, southeast Iowa, northern and central Illinois, and northwest Indiana. The forecast environment supports the development of supercells and organized thunderstorm clusters capable of producing tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and large hail during the afternoon and evening hours.
A multi-day storm event is forecast to unfold across the central and southern United States, with the Storm Prediction Center issuing a slight to enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms across the Southern and Central Plains from March 4 to 6, 2026.
