Urgent Tornado Watch Today: Real-Time Map Shows Path of Dangerous Storms—Check Your County Now

UPDATED: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES MULTI-STATE TORNADO WATCH AS SEVERE STORMS ERUPT A broad Tornado Watch is in effect this afternoon for large portions of the Midwest and Great Lakes after a night of damaging thunderstorms that produced at least two confirmed twisters in Michigan. The watch, posted by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, stretches from eastern Iowa and southern Minnesota through Wisconsin and northern Illinois, sweeping east toward Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Additional watches may be issued for parts of Indiana, Ohio and western Pennsylvania as the storm system races east. WHAT THE WATCH MEANS • A Tornado Watch signals that ingredients are in place for storms capable of producing tornadoes. • It usually covers several hours and multiple counties; today’s watch encompasses more than 15 million people. • Remain weather-alert and ready to act quickly if a Tornado Warning is later issued. TIMING AND THREATS • Peak severe window: 2 p.m.-10 p.m. local. • Primary hazards: isolated tornadoes, straight-line winds to 75 mph, hail up to golf-ball size and cloud-to-ground lightning. • Greatest tornado potential: the Interstate-35 corridor in Iowa/Minnesota and the I-94 corridor in Wisconsin and Michigan, where wind shear is strongest. COUNTIES INCLUDED (PARTIAL LIST) – Iowa: Polk, Story, Marshall, Jasper – Minnesota: Freeborn, Steele, Mower – Wisconsin: Dane, Columbia, Sauk, Milwaukee metro – Illinois: Winnebago, Boone, McHenry – Michigan: Kent, Ottawa, Allegan, Muskegon, Saginaw WHY TODAY IS DANGEROUS Warm, humid air surging northward is colliding with an approaching upper-level trough. Powerful wind energy aloft will allow any thunderstorm to rotate; forecasters warn that discrete supercells could form ahead of a developing squall line, increasing the tornado risk. A similar setup produced an EF-3 tornado in southwest Michigan earlier this spring. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WATCH & WARNING • Tornado Watch = “Be prepared.” Conditions are favorable. • Tornado Warning = “Take shelter now.” A tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. Heed local sirens and Wireless Emergency Alerts immediately. SAFETY CHECKLIST 1. Identify your safe room: a basement or interior room on the lowest floor. 2. Charge phones and portable power banks. 3. Keep shoes, helmets, flashlights and a first-aid kit in your shelter. 4. Secure patio furniture, grills and trampolines; move vehicles into a garage if possible. 5. Monitor NOAA Weather Radio or trusted local media; do not rely on outdoor sirens alone. TRAVEL & EVENT IMPACTS Airlines at Chicago O’Hare and Minneapolis-St. Paul have issued ground-delay programs; check your carrier for updates. Outdoor events from county fairs in Iowa to tonight’s Brewers baseball game in Milwaukee face possible delays or cancellations. Drivers on I-80 and I-94 should plan for sudden low visibility and ponding water. LOOKING AHEAD A second, stronger wave of storms is forecast to develop Thursday night, targeting the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic. Residents in those regions should review tornado safety plans now, as the same frontal boundary re-energizes and shifts east. FAQ Q: How long does a Tornado Watch last? A: Most watches last 4-8 hours; today’s initial watch expires at 10 p.m. but may be extended. Q: Can a Tornado Watch be upgraded? A: Yes. If a tornado is spotted, your county will switch to a Tornado Warning instantly via NOAA radar and spotter reports. Q: I live in an apartment. Where should I go? A: Move to the lowest interior level—often a hallway or laundry room—away from windows. If time allows, relocate to a sturdy building with a basement. Stay weather-aware throughout the day; minutes matter when warnings are issued.