Severe Storms and Heat Wave Threaten Midwest and Texas

Severe thunderstorms are expected to hit the Midwest and upper Great Lakes on Tuesday, threatening 51 million people from Texas to Michigan with tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail. The National Weather Service forecasts the storms to peak in the afternoon to early evening across Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect in central and southern Iowa, with wind gusts up to 75 mph and possible tornadoes. Chicago residents are advised to stay alert from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. due to severe weather risks.
Heavy rain may cause flash flooding in the upper Midwest, and the storm system will move into southern Canada by Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to soar above average across the Midwest, Deep South, and Northeast, with extreme heat continuing in Texas. Houston, still recovering from last week’s deadly storms, faces heat advisories, and about 140,000 customers remain without power. Heat advisories are in place in southern and western Texas, warning of heat index values up to 114 and stressing the importance of hydration and avoiding sun exposure. On Wednesday, 38 million people from central Texas to upstate New York will be at risk of severe storms, with the most affected areas expected to be from central Texas to Missouri.