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
Severe Weather Potential Increases This Weekend

Severe Weather Potential Increases This Weekend

A highly amplified jet stream is set to move

15 Feb 2025 4:00 AM
Northeast Braces for Second Storm This Week

Northeast Braces for Second Storm This Week

The Northeast continues to remain active thro

15 Feb 2025 3:55 AM
Dangerous Cold Returning to Much of the Country Next Week

Dangerous Cold Returning to Much of the Country Next Week

While we've been watching some serious cold t

15 Feb 2025 3:30 AM
Colorado Rockies Snow Continues Through Monday

Colorado Rockies Snow Continues Through Monday

A strong upper low coming out of California i

15 Feb 2025 3:20 AM
Storm Unloads Rain and Snow in California, Clearing for the Weekend

Storm Unloads Rain and Snow in California, Clearing for the Weekend

Heavy rain caused several issues in Californi

14 Feb 2025 9:35 PM
Tornadoes Hit the South, Risk Lessens Thursday

Tornadoes Hit the South, Risk Lessens Thursday

At least two tornadoes were confirmed from We

13 Feb 2025 7:50 PM
Heavy Snow Tapering for the Plains, Staying for the Great Lakes

Heavy Snow Tapering for the Plains, Staying for the Great Lakes

A Colorado Low is working across the Plains b

13 Feb 2025 3:20 AM