Life-threatening storms unleash damaging hail, destructive tornadoes, torrential rain across parts of the Midwest, leaving widespread destruction

Life-threatening storms erupted yesterday across the Midwest and Southern Plains, producing damaging hail—some as large as grapefruits—heavy downpours, and powerful tornadoes in certain areas, leaving widespread destruction. Now, the same storm system is pushing east, from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas into the Mid-Atlantic, bringing another round of severe weather today, although the overall risk is lower.