WASHINGTON — Severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and isolated tornado threats affected more than 60 million people across parts of the United States on Tuesday, as forecasters warned of hazardous weather stretching from the Mid-Atlantic to the Plains and Upper Midwest.
The U.S. National Weather Service and its Storm Prediction Center said severe storms were expected across portions of the central High Plains, the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the northern Plains through Tuesday night. Forecasters warned that damaging wind gusts, large hail and isolated tornadoes were possible in several regions.
The weather threat followed a period of active storm conditions that brought tornadoes, flooding and widespread damage to parts of the Midwest and central United States during the previous week. Forecasters said an unstable air mass and advancing weather systems were contributing to renewed storm development across multiple states.
According to the Storm Prediction Center's Tuesday outlook, an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms covered parts of the central High Plains, while a slight risk extended across portions of the Mid-Atlantic. The agency said severe storms could produce hail larger than 2 inches in diameter, wind gusts exceeding 75 mph and isolated tornadoes in some areas.
“Severe storms capable of 2+ inch diameter hail, 75+ mph gusts, and isolated tornadoes are expected,” the Storm Prediction Center said in its forecast discussion issued early Tuesday.
State and local emergency management agencies urged residents to monitor weather alerts and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions. In Texas, National Weather Service warnings highlighted risks including damaging winds, hail, heavy rainfall and localized flooding as storms moved through parts of the state.
The latest round of severe weather came after deadly tornadoes struck parts of Illinois over the weekend. Local authorities said two people were killed and several others were injured when tornadoes damaged homes and mobile-home communities in southern Illinois. Officials reported that search-and-rescue operations and damage assessments continued after the storms passed.
Weather forecasters said more than 60 million people were located within areas facing severe-weather risks on Tuesday, although the exact number varied among forecasting agencies and warning zones. Details on the full extent of any damage, injuries or additional tornado reports from Tuesday's storms remained unclear as of late afternoon.
The National Weather Service said severe weather threats were expected to continue into Tuesday night in several regions, with additional forecasts and warnings to be issued as conditions evolved.
