Severe weather bears down on Midwest and Plains states with tornadoes and hail

One out of two photos released by the Mississippi Highway Patrol depicts the devastation and emergency response following tornadoes that ravaged the state in 2023, resulting in the confirmed deaths of nineteen individuals. EPA-EFE/Mississippi Highway Patrol

On May 15 (UPI), the National Weather Service announced that a broad area spanning the Midwest and Plains states is currently under a tornado watch, with severe weather conditions expected to persist into the following week.
Due to the looming threat of severe weather at Soldier Field in Chicago, where the Chicago Bears also play, organizers opted to postpone the start of a concert by pop star Beyonce. A tornado watch was in effect for 17 counties in Illinois.
The ongoing storms could bring about large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall. Tornadoes have already touched down in Wisconsin and Minnesota, causing damage to parts of a home and a grain bin in Swift County.
The sighting of a dark and imposing cloud wall, often a precursor to a tornado, led authorities to issue a tornado warning in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday. The storms were moving from west to east, posing severe weather threats to Chicago and Tennessee, with Nashville expecting severe storms.
A tornado watch was in place for the Chicago metro area and northwest Indiana until 10 p.m. CDT, and a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for a broader region in the area.
Forecasts predict that dangerous storms might bring hail the size of golf balls and whip Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and St. Louis with 75 mph winds that could cause tree and power line damage from Thursday into Friday. The risk of severe weather extends to the shared border of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
This story is still developing, so please stay tuned for updates.