Millions across 10 US states brace for possible tornado outbreak

Millions of Americans have been told to prepare for a possible tornado outbreak on Tuesday. Meteorologists warned that severe thunderstorms are expected from the southern Plains into the southern Great Lakes vicinity starting between 4pm and 6pm CT. The states currently at risk include Illinois , Indiana , Missouri , Iowa , Texas , Oklahoma , Michigan , Ohio , Wisconsin and Tennessee . 'All severe hazards are possible, including the risk for a few strong to intense tornadoes and very large hail,' the Storm Prediction Center said in a statement. In all, nearly 80 million people are at risk from some form of severe weather on Tuesday, the agency warned.

The greatest risk for tornadoesis centered across northern and central Illinois, extending into northwest Indiana. Meteorologists have issued a Moderate Risk, the second-highest level on the agency’s five-tier scale, for this region, warning that conditions could support multiple strong to intense tornadoes. Forecasters say a powerful low-level jet strengthening late in the afternoon and evening will combine with warm, moisture-rich air and strong wind shear to create a highly favorable environment for rotating supercell thunderstorms. Tornadoes in northern and central areas could reach EF2 or EF3 strength, meaning winds could exceed 110 miles per hour.

While severe weather is also possible across parts of Texas, Oklahoma and the southern Plains, forecasters say the most dangerous conditions for significant tornadoes are expected in Illinois and nearby areas of Indiana. These regions are under an Enhanced Risk, meaning severe storms are likely, but the chances of the most dangerous tornadoes are lower than in Illinois. Storms developing along a dry line in west Texas could produce very large hail, potentially larger than golf balls, during the afternoon and early evening before evolving into lines of storms capable of producing widespread damaging winds.

Parts of central Texas and southern Oklahoma could also see a few tornadoes, especially where moisture levels are higher. Later in the evening and overnight, storms are expected to grow into larger clusters and move east across the Midwest and Ohio Valley. Even as the storms merge together, damaging winds and tornadoes could continue as they track across the region. Additional storms may develop from Oklahoma and Kansas into Missouri later tonight, where rotating thunderstorms could again produce hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes before moving eastward early Wednesday.