Severe Storms Leave Damage in the Midwest

news image
Special Stories
29 Feb 2024 4:10 AM

A cold front moving east has been producing numerous reports of hail, tornadoes, and strong wind gusts from Iowa to Ohio. Numerous tornado warnings were issued in the greater Chicago metro on Tuesday night. A ground stop was issued at Chicago O'Hare International Airport as travelers were forced to seek shelter, and flights were delayed and canceled.

Related Article - Severe Storms Wednesday

Severe storm reports in the last 24 hours show most of the action with over 10 reports of potential tornadoes that started Tuesday afternoon and lingered into Wednesday morning. An EF-2 tornado was confirmed in Grand Blanc, MI Tuesday night (60 miles north of Detroit) and is only the second tornado to ever touch down in the state in February - the previous February tornado was Feb 28, 1974.

As a strong cold front tore through states like Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, we received multiple reports of large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes. This video came from Gary, IN Tuesday night of a clear funnel cloud coming down from the clouds.

Videos like this one circulated on social media as multiple cities and states were pummeled with hail overnight. This came out of the Chicago metro, about 30 miles south of Chicago O'Hare Airport.

All severe weather ingredients were in place for this severe weather threat: a powerful upper low swinging through the central U.S., energizing the upper atmosphere, and extremely warm and humid air at the surface. As you can see above, there were multiple reports of large hail from this system. Brownlee Park, MI, about 25 miles east of Kalamazoo, saw 2.50" hail Tuesday night, that's about the same size as a tennis ball!

Early Wednesday morning the same line of storms blasted through Ohio with a confirmed tornado east of Columbus in Jersey, and likely tornado damage to the west of the city too. Three tornadoes have been confirmed in the Columbus area including EF-1 and EF-2 damage.

Stay with WeatherNation as we continue to cover the damage and strength of the rare February tornado outbreak!

All Weather News
More
Wildfire Smoke Impacting Air Quality Across the West, Central U.S.

Wildfire Smoke Impacting Air Quality Across the West, Central U.S.

Smoke from large wildfires burning in the nor

27 Jul 2024 2:50 AM
Man Arrested After "Pushing Fiery Car Into Gully" to Start Park Fire

Man Arrested After "Pushing Fiery Car Into Gully" to Start Park Fire

Wild developments have surfaced from the stat

27 Jul 2024 2:50 AM
Relentless Rainfall Continues for the South

Relentless Rainfall Continues for the South

The Southern United States has exhausted its

27 Jul 2024 2:45 AM
Saharan Dust Reaching the Southern U.S.

Saharan Dust Reaching the Southern U.S.

Conditions are quiet in the tropical Atlantic

27 Jul 2024 2:40 AM
Non-Stop Heat Into Next Week

Non-Stop Heat Into Next Week

A stagnant ridge of high pressure has led to

27 Jul 2024 2:30 AM
Tropics: Post-Tropical Cyclone Bud, Wave in the Atlantic

Tropics: Post-Tropical Cyclone Bud, Wave in the Atlantic

Tropical Storm Bud formed in the Eastern Paci

27 Jul 2024 2:30 AM
Typhoon Gaemi Displays Unusual Spin Over Taiwan

Typhoon Gaemi Displays Unusual Spin Over Taiwan

Typhoon Gaemi (Kemi) is impacting Tawain this

25 Jul 2024 10:30 AM