Severe Storms Hit Central US: CNN 10 Weather Update

A severe weather system is impacting the central United States, bringing a combination of destructive tornadoes, giant hail, and dangerous flooding across multiple states. The system has triggered high-level alerts and resulted in significant structural damage and infrastructure disruptions.

Tornado Activity and Structural Damage

The storm system began its impact on April 13, 2026, with multiple tornadoes reported in parts of eastern Kansas, northern Iowa, southern Minnesota, and northern Wisconsin. In Miami County, Kansas, a tornado damaged approximately 100 structures, which included businesses, residences, and barns, according to Undersheriff Matthew Kelly.

The danger continued on April 14, 2026, with tornadoes causing further damage in Wisconsin and Iowa. In Wisconsin, a confirmed tornado struck near Union Center. This event followed a particularly dangerous situation tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service.

The severity of the storms on April 14, 2026, included the destruction of a home and significant structural damage to several other buildings across Iowa and Wisconsin.

Regional Threats and Weather Alerts

The weather threat extends from the Texas-Mexico border to the Great Lakes region. On April 14, 2026, more than 22 million people across the Upper Midwest and the south central Plains were under three different tornado watches.

Specific urban areas faced heightened risks on April 14, 2026, including Chicago, Milwaukee, and Des Moines, Iowa. Des Moines was under a Level 3 of 5 threat, which specifically warned of tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and large to giant hail.

Beyond wind and tornado threats, baseball-sized hail battered parts of three states during the initial phase of the system on April 13, 2026.

Flooding and Transportation Disruptions

Heavy precipitation has led to dangerous flooding conditions. In Wisconsin, heavy rain caused vehicles to become stranded on flooded streets on April 13, 2026. There are ongoing concerns regarding dam failures in Wisconsin and high river levels in water-logged northern Michigan.

The storm system also produced extreme conditions in high-elevation areas. In the Colorado Rocky Mountains, snowy conditions contributed to a major traffic incident on I-70 outside of the Loveland Ski Area. The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office reported a 75-car pileup resulting from these conditions.

Forecast Outlook

Meteorological reports indicate that this is part of a larger, multi-day severe storm threat. A full week of dangerous weather is expected for the central U.S., characterized by multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms that may continue to produce destructive winds, hail, and tornadoes.