Chicago, Milwaukee among 32 million under severe weather threat as damaging storms slice across Midwest

Chicago, Milwaukee among 32 million under severe weather threat as damaging storms slice across Midwest

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Tens of millions of people in the Midwest are again facing a severe weather risk after powerful storms blasted across the region over the weekend.

CHICAGO – The new workweek is getting off to a stormy start in the Midwest as tens of millions of people across the region face the risk of severe weather for the third-straight day, with cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee bracing for thunderstorms that will be capable of producing large hail, hurricane-force wind gusts and possible tornadoes.

The threat comes after a destructive weekend for storms from the Plains to the Upper Midwest, with numerous reports of severe weather including a video that showed a tornado spinning across a field in Barney, North Dakota, wind gusts as high as a Category 2 hurricane in South Dakota, softball-sized hail in Montana and major damage to buildings south of Chicago.

Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Chicago under severe weather threat Monday

Three-hour radar loop. Warning boxes are color coded as: Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in yellow, Tornado Warnings in red, Tornado Warnings with a confirmed tornado in purple, Flash Flood Warnings in green and Flash Flood Emergencies in pink.
(FOX Weather)

 

Severe weather was already barreling across portions of the Midwest early on Monday morning, with numerous Severe Thunderstorm Warnings being issued in parts of the Plains, Minnesota and Illinois.

And the FOX Forecast Center warns that the sweltering heat and humidity could help fire up powerful thunderstorms as the day continues.

This graphic shows the severe weather threat on Monday, July 15, 2024.
(FOX Weather)

 

Severe weather will be possible across a large part os the U.S. on Monday, but NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has highlighted a few areas of concern where the risk if higher.

The SPC has placed more than 13 million people from Iowa to Indiana in a Level 3 out of 5 risk on its 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale.

This includes cities such as Davenport in Iowa, and Chicago.

While the risk is lower, severe thunderstorms are possible across a wider area of the Midwest during the day on Monday.

This means people heading to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, as well as those living in or traveling to Indianapolis or Des Moines in Iowa should be prepared for the possibility of severe weather.

This graphic shows the tornado, damaging wind and large hail threat on Monday, July 15, 2024.
(FOX Weather)

 

Thunderstorms that do develop during the day on Monday could be capable of producing tornadoes, damaging wind gusts and large hail.

The FOX Forecast Center said the environment could also favor the development of a bow echo, but some uncertainties remain.

Be sure to download the free FOX Weather app and enable notifications to receive severe weather alerts and stay up-to-date on any forecast changes.