Deadly Tornadoes Rip Through The Midwest

news image
Special Stories
17 Mar 2024 12:45 AM

Numerous, violent tornadoes touched down across Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio since Wednesday night, leaving damage and destruction across multiple states. Above is damage in Indian Lake, OH about 75 miles NW of Columbus, where several fatalities have been reported. The threat continues on Friday across the Southeast.

Watch this dramatic video of a tornado touching down just yards away from this man's home. This was the cell that went on to create extensive damage in Logan County seen above.

Numerous tornado warnings were issued around the St. Louis metro area as funnels were spotted and at times, tornadoes were reported to be on the ground. Surveys will be conducted in the coming days to determine the strength of the tornadoes. Outside of Indianapolis, an EF-3 tornado touched down producing widespread damage in the town of Winchester.

In Arkansas, severe weather ripped through the suburbs of Little Rock, producing EF-2 damage in the community of Hot Springs Village.

Here is a preliminary map of the tornadoes and the storm surveys so far.

Giant hail ripped through the Midwest, with many reports of hail stones larger than baseballs! This hit the Midwest and Southern Plains with 4" in Ada, OK and 2" hail in the northern suburbs of Fort Worth.

Look at how many warnings were issued on Thursday alone. Every red box was a tornado warning and every yellow box was a severe thunderstorm warning. Many of these alerts were "confirmed" meaning a tornado was observed on the ground or a record of 2" hail and 75 mph winds.

This comes after numerous confirmed tornadoes in Kansas on Wednesday, outside of Topeka. Our field correspondent Erik Fox was monitoring those storms that thankfully were over generally rural regions of the state. NWS Topeka surveyed the tornado damage near Alta Vista and Rosswell, KS and the tornado was rated EF-2 with winds between 115-120 mph.

Stay with WeatherNation for the latest on current storms and damage surveys as they come in.

All Weather News
More
Dryline Thunderstorms: Wed-Thu

Dryline Thunderstorms: Wed-Thu

While the severe thunderstorm risk ends with

21 Apr 2026 11:35 PM
Rain & Snow for the West Coast

Rain & Snow for the West Coast

CALIFORNIA - The rain across California will

21 Apr 2026 11:30 PM
Looking Ahead: Late-Week & Weekend Severe Weather Threats

Looking Ahead: Late-Week & Weekend Severe Weather Threats

Already looking ahead to the end of the week

21 Apr 2026 11:30 PM
Extreme Drought Leads To Fire Concerns Across The Nation

Extreme Drought Leads To Fire Concerns Across The Nation

SOUTHEASTOver 97% of the Southeast is in mode

21 Apr 2026 10:00 PM
Cold Blast Prompts Frost and Freeze Alerts

Cold Blast Prompts Frost and Freeze Alerts

WHAT TO EXPECTA blast of cold air has brought

21 Apr 2026 9:40 AM
Record Snow, Record Rain, Rising Rivers

Record Snow, Record Rain, Rising Rivers

Flooding turned serious over the last week ac

20 Apr 2026 4:20 PM
Looking Back at Last Week's Severe Weather Outbreak

Looking Back at Last Week's Severe Weather Outbreak

Tornadoes, hail, wind, and rain slammed the M

20 Apr 2026 4:10 PM