Daijiworld Media Network- Washington
Washington, May 16: Large swathes of the Midwest region in the United States have been placed on high alert as meteorologists warn of several days of severe weather, including the potential for tornadoes, golf ball-sized hail, and destructive straight-line winds.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued urgent advisories for residents in Minneapolis, Coon Rapids, and Blaine in Minnesota, as weather systems intensify across the region. According to The Weather Channel, the threat is far from over as the weather pattern is expected to move towards the Great Plains over the weekend.
A bulletin from the NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center reveals a wide area under threat, stretching from Minneapolis to Pittsburgh, encompassing regions of Wisconsin, northeast Illinois, northern Indiana, western Michigan, and northwest Ohio. These areas have been marked under a "red zone", indicating the highest probability of witnessing violent storms.
In Minnesota, confirmed reports have already emerged of tornado touchdowns, with a barn destroyed on Thursday. A rotating wall cloud prompted tornado warnings across Minneapolis and its northern suburbs, underlining the urgency of the situation.
• Friday: Cities like Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and St. Louis are likely to witness severe storm outbreaks, with wind gusts exceeding 75 mph posing a serious risk of power outages in southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and western-central Kentucky.
• Saturday: The storm system is projected to spread further east, impacting major metros such as New York, while also stretching as far south as Houston.
• Sunday to Tuesday: The volatile weather pattern will continue, with a severe thunderstorm threat forecast for early next week.
The NOAA map shows the potential for golf ball-sized hail, capable of causing significant damage to vehicles, crops, and infrastructure. Isolated but intense storms could even reach as far as the mid-Atlantic region, meteorologists warned.
Residents in the affected regions are advised to:
• Stay tuned to local weather updates
• Keep emergency kits handy
• Avoid non-essential travel during high-risk hours
• Secure loose outdoor objects to prevent damage
With the tornado season peaking, authorities are urging citizens to seek shelter in basements or interior rooms in the event of a warning. Emergency management services are on high alert and closely monitoring the situation.