By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes Impact Midwest, Further Storms Expected
A severe weather system is forecast to move east across the Midwest and into the East Coast on Tuesday, following a significant weather event that left at least one person dead in the Midwest on Monday. Indianapolis is bracing for up to 3 inches of rainfall on Tuesday, prompting a flash flood threat for southern central Indiana through early Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
As of Tuesday morning, over 340,000 customers were without power in Illinois and Indiana, per poweroutage.us. Severe thunderstorms are also predicted for the New York area, with the Albany office of the National Weather Service warning of heavy rain and damaging winds that could down power lines by evening.
On Monday night, a "complex of destructive storms" traversed eastern Iowa into northern Illinois, including the Chicago metro area, with multiple tornadoes reported. The National Weather Service confirmed three tornadoes, with one near Sugar Grove, Illinois, and two near Des Moines, Iowa. A 44 year old woman died in Cedar Lake, Indiana, when a tree fell on her home.
In addition to tornado threats, officials in Nashville, Illinois, issued an evacuation order on Tuesday due to the imminent failure of a local dam, risking flash flooding. The Red Cross established a nearby shelter.
Monday's severe weather was attributed to a derecho, a rare, widespread wind storm characterized by sustained winds of at least 58 mph and a damage path of at least 250 miles. Derechos, which can cause tornado like destruction, are uncommon, occurring roughly once every one to four years.
In Chicago, travelers at O'Hare and Midway airports sought shelter due to tornado warnings, leading to significant flight delays and cancellations. Meanwhile, a prolonged heat wave continues, with over 151 million people under heat alerts across the U.S. In Baltimore and Washington, D.C., temperatures were expected to reach 102 degrees.
The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado in the Urbandale area of Des Moines, leaving more than 10,000 homes without power. Significant damage was reported in Windsor Heights and Urbandale, with over 14,000 households affected in the Quad Cities.
In Utah, three heat related deaths were reported in national and state parks. A father and daughter from Wisconsin died in Canyonlands National Park after running out of water, while a 30 year old woman died in Snow Canyon State Park. State officials have reported dozens of heat related deaths this month.
