Dangerous severe storms fire off strong tornadoes, 'monster' hail targeting 50M+ across 1,500 miles
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) warned of an increased threat before any storms fired Friday afternoon, issuing a Level 4 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms capable of producing hail greater than 3 inches in diameter and wind gusts stronger than 85 mph.
Extremely dangerous storms produce large tornadoes and slam the Heartland
A dangerous severe weather outbreak is unfolding across the Heartland as supercells produce intense tornadoes and destructive, softball-sized hail.
Dangerous severe weather is unfolding from Wisconsin to Texas on Friday evening. More than 50 million people in the Midwest and the Plains are in the path of storms that have already generated strong tornadoes, "monster" hail and hurricane-force wind gusts.
On Friday afternoon, the storms began, with multiple confirmed tornadoes caught on camera in Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin.
'I am inside the tornado': FOX Weather Storm Tracker drives through tornado in Illinois
FOX Weather Exclusive Storm Tracker Brandon Copic drove through a tornado near Rockford, Illinois, on Friday afternoon. Debris whipped around him and trees collapsed as he turned around to get out of the storm's wrath.
Storm damage was reported in several cities following the severe weather.
WATCH: DRONE FOOTAGE REVEALS JAW-DROPPING EXTENT OF FLOODING IN MICHIGAN
Lena, Illinois, reported significant structural damage to the town, including the high school and elementary school. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
In Belton, Missouri, the city reported no injuries but a lot of damage to homes, power lines and more around the city.
![A fire truck responds to reported tornado damage in Belton, Missouri.]()
Image 1 of 5A fire truck responds to reported tornado damage in Belton, Missouri. (Charlie Mizell/Facebook)
![Reported tornado damage in Belton, Missouri on Friday, April 17, 2026.]()
Image 2 of 5Reported tornado damage in Belton, Missouri on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Charlie Mizell/Facebook)
![A home damaged by a possible tornado in Belton, Missouri.]()
Image 3 of 5A home damaged by a possible tornado in Belton, Missouri. (Charlie Mizell/Facebook)
![People assess damage to a home in Belton, Missouri, following severe weather on Friday evening.]()
Image 4 of 5People assess damage to a home in Belton, Missouri, following severe weather on Friday evening. (Charlie Mizell/Facebook)
![Homes damaged in Belton, Missouri, after severe weather on Friday.]()
Image 5 of 5Homes damaged in Belton, Missouri, after severe weather on Friday. (Charlie Mizell/Facebook)
Photos from a neighborhood in Belton, show the potential tornado damage, with siding ripped off of homes and trees fallen. In several photos, people assess the damage, and a fire truck responds.
The city said they are still assessing the damage.
WHAT IS CAUSING ALL THE RECENT FLOODING IN THE GREAT LAKES?
Much of the Central U.S. has been hammered by rounds of severe weather earlier this week, including destructive flooding in Wisconsin, Texas and Kansas, alongside several damaging tornadoes across the Midwest.
FOX Weather Meteorologist Haley Meier and her team intercept a tornado in Wyoming, Iowa, in the FOX Weather Beast.
(FOX Weather Beast / FOX Weather)
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) warned of an increased threat before any storms fired Friday afternoon, issuing a Level 4 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms capable of producing hail greater than 3 inches in diameter and wind gusts stronger than 85 mph.
Friday severe weather threat.
(FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
This Level 4 threat covers a narrow corridor that includes northern Oklahoma through Wichita, Kansas and into parts of western Missouri, including Kansas City.
A Level 3 threat spans a 700-mile corridor just north of Oklahoma City, through St. Louis and into La Crosse, Wisconsin, including the Chicago metro area.
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Supercell thunderstorms capable of producing strong (EF-3) tornadoes were possible in the early afternoon across parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota and northeast Iowa.
Friday tornado forecast.
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Supercells are also possible from Kansas City into northern Oklahoma through the daytime hours.
These storms could also generate "monster" hail — hailstones greater than 3 inches in diameter.
The SPC warned Friday morning that "giant," softball-sized hail is possible across both the Quad Cities region of Iowa and Illinois, as well as parts of southern Kansas and Oklahoma.
Hail forecast.
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A broader Level 2 threat stretches from Wichita Falls, Texas through northern Wisconsin and northwestern Indiana. This includes Oklahoma City, St. Louis and Milwaukee.
Heading into the overnight hours, damaging wind gusts up to 85 mph will become the main hazard across the Plains and Midwest, as the storms may evolve into more of a squall line as they near the Mississippi River.
PHOTOS: FIREFIGHTERS RUSH TO RESCUE 3 FROM WISCONSIN HOME AMID RISING FLOODWATERS
According to the SPC, a corridor from Wichita to Kansas City is within the bull's-eye of the damaging wind threat. Damaging wind gusts are also likely across northern Missouri, the eastern edge of Iowa, as well as central and northern Illinois.
Wind forecast.
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A Flood Watch was issued for Kansas City and places south and east, including Springfield and Columbia through Saturday morning, as rounds of storms move over the region.
A dip in the jet stream — which acts as an atmospheric conveyor belt for storms — is ushering in an area of low pressure out of the Northwest that will ignite Friday's severe thunderstorms, before shifting farther east.
Friday severe weather setup.
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Storms shift east through the weekend
Through Saturday, the entire system will move into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes regions.
With the associated cold front pushing east, it will likely organize into a line of storms primarily producing damaging winds.
(FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
A Level 2 risk covers eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, including Columbus, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, before storms begin to weaken as they approach the East Coast late Saturday night.
A broader Level 1 threat covers the rest of Ohio, as well as northern Kentucky, much of West Virginia and western New York.
Saturday severe weather forecast.
(FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
These storms will help cool off the eastern U.S. which has experienced a record-breaking heat wave this week, dropping temperatures back into the 50s.
Stay tuned to FOX Weather as we continue to track the development of these storms and provide the latest information to stay safe this week.