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Millions of people in the Upper Midwest are on high alert as a potential tornado outbreak threatens the region on Monday (April 28). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed parts of southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northern Iowa under a Level 4 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms, which could produce strong tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds.
Ten tornadoes were reported in western Nebraska on Sunday, where a train was derailed near Hyannis. The severe weather is expected to intensify on Monday, with the most dangerous storms predicted for late afternoon and evening.
Minneapolis and St. Paul are under a high risk of severe thunderstorms. The SPC warns that strong tornadoes, rated EF2 or greater, are possible in these areas. Additionally, storms could develop in two waves, with the potential for violent supercells ahead of a cold front.
The severe weather threat extends beyond the Upper Midwest, affecting more than 45 million people from Texas to the U.S.-Canada border, as a secondary corridor of severe weather is expected to develop across the central and southern Plains, with the potential for tornadoes.
The threat will continue into Tuesday, with severe weather expected to move eastward, impacting areas from central Ohio to western New York. Heavy rainfall is also a concern, with a moderate risk for excessive rainfall in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, increasing the risk of flash flooding.