69 million along 1,500-mile stretch of US face threat of storms packing large hail, damaging winds on Thursday
Three people were killed in Pennsylvania on Tuesday when a serial derecho plowed across the state, and at least two people were killed by flash flooding in Oklahoma on Wednesday.
Millions along 1,500-mile stretch of US brace for more powerful storms, flooding on Thursday
Millions of people from the Plains to the Northeast are again facing the risk of seeing severe weather on Thursday, with storms capable of producing hail, damaging wind gusts and even some tornadoes. FOX Weather Meteorologists Stephen Morgan and Marissa Torres break down the forecast on May 1, 2025.
CLEVELAND – A deadly stretch of severe weather will continue for the ninth-straight day on Thursday, with communities along a 1,500-mile swath of the U.S. from the Plains to the Great Lakes facing the threat of powerful thunderstorms packing damaging winds, hail and even some tornadoes.
Watch: Damage reported across Pittsburgh area after severe weather slammed Pennsylvania
This video shows the damage left behind when deadly severe weather tore across the Pittsburgh area in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
The multiday threat began last week, and since then, at least five people have been killed by storm-related impacts.
Three people were killed in Pennsylvania on Tuesday when a serial derecho plowed across the state, and some 250,000 customers in Pennsylvania were still without power as of Thursday morning, according to FindEnergy.com.
Additionally, at least two people were killed by flash flooding in Oklahoma on Wednesday.
(FOX Weather)
In total, over 69 million people will be at risk of seeing severe weather during the day on Thursday.
However, NOAA’ Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed nearly 36 million people from Texas to New York in a Level 2 out of 5 risk on its 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale.
The threat includes cities such as Oklahoma City in Oklahoma, Columbus and Cleveland in Ohio, Nashville in Tennessee and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, which was devastated by the serial derecho on Tuesday.
![This graphic shows the damaging wind threat on Thursday, May 1, 2025.]()
Image 1 of 2This graphic shows the damaging wind threat on Thursday, May 1, 2025. ( )
![This graphic shows the tornado threat on Thursday, May 1, 2025.]()
Image 2 of 2This graphic shows the tornado threat on Thursday, May 1, 2025. ( )
The main threats from storms that develop on Thursday will be damaging wind gusts and some hail.
However, there's also a tornado risk across an area stretching from northern Middle Tennessee to western Pennsylvania.