Severe thunderstorms and hail swept through parts of the Central United States on Monday evening, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for areas in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, putting more than eight million people under tornado watches that were set to expire at midnight.
As the storm system moved eastward, it was expected to bring thunderstorms into the Appalachians and the Mid-Atlantic region on Tuesday. Central Ohio was at particular risk of tornadoes, with the potential for some to travel several miles. The threat of tornadoes extended southward across the Tennessee Valley and even to the Gulf of Mexico.
Large sections of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas were at risk of damage from strong winds and hail exceeding two inches in diameter, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Roughly 24 million people were living in areas with an enhanced risk of severe weather.
Residents in Denton County, Texas, reported hail the size of 1.5 inches falling in the area, prompting them to take precautions such as laying tarps on roofs and taping windows to protect their homes. Tornadoes were a possibility in some areas, following a recent deadly storm that struck Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.
The storm system was expected to strengthen as it moved into the Ohio Valley, bringing heavy rainfall and the threat of flash flooding. The Weather Service issued flood watches for parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and western Maryland through Tuesday, with rainfall totals expected to exceed two inches in many areas.
Forecasters were closely monitoring the system as two low-pressure centers were expected to converge and form a powerful nor’easter off the New England coast by Thursday morning. The potential for more severe weather and hazardous conditions loomed as the storm continued its path across the region.
