A powerful storm system moved across large portions of the United States overnight, killing at least two people and injuring several others as severe weather continues Wednesday.
Officials with the Lake Township Fire Department in Indiana confirmed the deaths after destructive storms caused widespread damage, including collapsed homes and residents trapped inside buildings.
Millions Under Severe Weather Threat
More than 65 million Americans remain at risk as the storm system moves east from Houston to Philadelphia. Forecasters warn the system could bring strong tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail throughout the day.
The National Weather Service has already issued more than 45 tornado warnings across seven states, while at least 10 tornadoes were reported from Texas to Indiana overnight.
Destructive Winds and Giant Hail
The storms produced wind gusts between 60 and 80 mph, damaging homes, buildings, and infrastructure across multiple states.
Some of the most significant damage was reported in Kankakee County, Illinois, and Starke County, Indiana. Authorities in Kankakee County said a “large and extremely dangerous tornado” caused extensive destruction in the village of Aroma Park.
Hailstones measuring up to 5.2 inches in diameter—larger than grapefruit—were reported in parts of Illinois.
Storm Line Stretching Across the Country
By Wednesday morning, the severe weather had formed a massive 1,600-mile storm line stretching from Canada to Mexico, affecting areas from New York to Texas.
Cities including Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Memphis, Birmingham, Shreveport, and New Orleans are all under a Level 2 “slight risk” for severe weather.
Flash Flooding and More Storms Expected
Heavy rainfall may trigger flash flooding, particularly across East Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and southern Arkansas, where repeated thunderstorms could dump several inches of rain in just a few hours.
Forecasters say the storm system should move offshore by Thursday morning, followed by a cold front that could bring rapid temperature drops and even a chance of snow in parts of the Mid-Atlantic, including Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia.
For more on the fatal weather pattern, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.