CHICAGO — Severe storms threatened tens of millions of people across the central and northern United States on Sunday, with forecasters warning of large hail, damaging winds and possible tornadoes from the Plains into the Upper Midwest, the National Weather Service said.
The Storm Prediction Center placed parts of the region under an enhanced risk of severe weather, with storms expected to develop in the afternoon and evening as a weather system moved across the area. Populations from the Dakotas through Nebraska, Kansas and into parts of Missouri and Iowa faced the greatest threats, officials said.
Heavy rainfall also raised the potential for flash flooding in already saturated areas. The National Weather Service urged residents to monitor updates and have emergency plans in place.
"Millions of people across the Plains are under the threat of a potentially dangerous stretch of weather this weekend," WeatherNation reported, citing risks of hail, winds and isolated tornadoes.
The storms follow a pattern of active severe weather in recent weeks, including earlier outbreaks that produced tornadoes in Kansas, Nebraska and surrounding states. Forecasters said the current system could bring gusts up to 70 mph or higher in some areas, along with hail potentially reaching 2 inches in diameter.
Local emergency managers in affected states advised people to avoid travel during peak storm times and to seek shelter in sturdy structures if warnings are issued. No widespread damage or casualties had been immediately reported from Sunday's initial activity, though officials cautioned that conditions could change rapidly.
The severe weather outlook covers a broad swath of the country, potentially impacting travel and outdoor activities on the first weekend in June. Meteorologists noted that while the overall pattern remains active, the most intense threats were expected to shift eastward later in the day and into Monday.
As of Sunday evening, the National Weather Service continued to issue updates and warnings as storms developed. Residents in vulnerable areas were advised to stay informed through official channels. Details on the full extent of impacts from the day's storms remained under assessment, forecasters said.
