50m brace for violent tornado outbreak as monster storm hits 11 US states: 'Be ready to act'
A destructive storm is set to sweep across the Midwest, bringing tornado warnings to tens of millions from Minnesota to Texas.
The massive system is expected to unleash thunderstorms, extreme wind gusts over 70mph, damaging hail and the threat of deadly funnel clouds beginning Friday afternoon and lasting through the night in 11 states.
Meteorologists with AccuWeather warned that the highest risk of a severe thunderstorm will be seen in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas.
Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas are also in the path of the storm, putting roughly 50 million people at risk of seeing an extreme thunderstorm and potential tornado touch down on Friday.
Major cities, including Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Madison, Wichita, Oklahoma City and Dallas, are expected to experience severe thunderstorms in just hours.
Forecasters also predicted that parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois face the highest risk of seeing a tornado form Friday night, as the multi-day storm will spread dangerous weather to even more states in the Northeast over the weekend.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said in a statement: 'People in the path of these storms should stay alert and be ready to act.'
'Make sure your phone is charged, alerts are on, and your storm shelter or safe place is ready and stocked with emergency supplies. Never drive on flooded roads, especially at night,' the expert added.
Pictured: A monster tornado hit Indiana in March 2026. Scientists warn that the infamous Tornado Alley has shifted eastward from the South
Eleven states are at risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes on Friday, April 17
Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that swirl down to the ground and usually form during severe thunderstorms called supercells.
They can vary in strength and destructiveness, from weak ones that cause minor damage to roofs, all the way up to powerful monsters that can completely destroy well-built homes, flip cars and uproot trees in seconds.
Approximately three dozen tornadoes have already been reported between Monday and Thursday across the Plains states and Upper Midwest. Large, damaging hail balls and other extreme conditions have been seen as far east as Vermont and New Hampshire.
The week-long storm front has left over 10,000 customers without power in Tennessee after severe thunderstorms swept through Nashville on Thursday.
The extreme conditions have been fueled by a large, slow-moving weather system parked over the central US. It has been pulling in warm, humid air from the south while a cold front and high winds in the upper atmosphere have created the perfect recipe for severe weather.
'This multiday outbreak will peak this afternoon through tonight. The atmosphere is primed for destructive storms across the central US,' Pydynowski added.
Along with thunderstorms, hail and possible tornado impacts, Pydynowski warned that areas that have already seen severe flooding this week, including Wisconsin and Michigan, will likely see more water damage on Friday.
'More storms will only make it worse. Some roads have been underwater for days. More areas could flood tonight into this weekend,' he added.
Meteorologists warn that Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa face a severe threat of tornadoes on Friday, April 17
Pictured: Residents survey the damage caused by an isolated tornado touching down in Union Center, Wisconsin on Wednesday, April 15
Governors in Michigan and Wisconsin declared a state of emergency on April 15 as storms rolled in, causing isolated tornadoes and rivers to overflow.
The National Weather Service issued new flood warnings across both states on Friday.
States hundreds of miles to the east of Friday's tornado threat are expected to be in the crosshairs on Saturday, with western New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi at moderate risk for severe thunderstorms.
The AccuWeather team added in a statement: 'By Sunday, the severe weather potential is likely to have passed its peak, but some gusty thunderstorms may extend from the northern Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast.'
Forecasters warned that the weekend storm could have a widespread impact on millions of Americans, disrupting travel, causing more power outages and cutting off supply routes in the Plains, Midwest and Northeast for days.
Pictured: Utility workers examine storm damage affecting power in Wisconsin on Tuesday, April 14
Giant hail is expected in several US states. Pictured is hail in Kankakee County, Indiana on April 14
Tornado season in the US typically stretches from March to June, reaching its peak in May.
Hundreds of twisters touch down each year, with AccuWeather revealing that over 900 were reported in March through May 2025.
Now, the weather agency's newest predictions for April 2026 show the highest risk of tornado threats moving into Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas.
Traditionally, the region known as 'Tornado Alley,' a hotspot for extreme weather in the US, has been centered in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.
However, studies have found that changing weather patterns and warmer climates throughout the country have shifted this tornado zone further east and over more states than ever before.
This includes more impacts in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Iowa.
