Key facts
- Multiple tornadoes caused widespread destruction in Illinois and Indiana on Thursday.
- At least one death was reported in Iowa due to a falling tree.
- Hundreds of thousands lost power, and over a thousand flights were grounded.
- Extreme heat and humidity affected the northeastern United States.
- Nearly 700 severe weather incidents, including two dozen tornadoes, were recorded in the central US over three days.
Devastating tornadoes ripped through central US communities late Thursday, causing widespread destruction, power outages, and flight cancellations. In Streator, Illinois, a man was rescued from the rubble of his destroyed home, with residents describing the rapid arrival of the storm as terrifying.
At least one death was reported in Iowa after a man was struck by a falling tree. Hundreds of thousands were left without power, and over a thousand flights were grounded, primarily in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New York. AccuWeather reported nearly 700 severe weather incidents, including approximately two dozen tornadoes, across the central US in the preceding three days.
In Merrillville, Indiana, a high school lost its roof to a tornado, and roads were blocked by fallen trees. Streator established a family-reunification center for displaced residents, with the mayor expressing gratitude for the safety of residents and the swift action of emergency personnel.
Concurrently, extreme heat and humidity affected parts of the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. Severe storms had also swept through the Midwest on Wednesday, causing similar disruptions. Temperatures in the mid-90s Fahrenheit were forecast for the Northeast, with heat index values potentially exceeding 100F.
Looking ahead, new severe weather was predicted for the Midwest on Saturday, and disruptive thunderstorms were expected in eastern states. This pattern of extreme weather coincides with the arrival of El Niño, a phenomenon known to intensify such events and contribute to record global temperatures.