Another Pack of Storms Are Heading Through the Midwest
Mother nature isn't going to give the Midwest a chance to breathe today: after a pack of tornadoes tore through the region on Sunday, the National Weather Service warned of more severe weather on the way this week, with Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas expected to take the next round of brutal thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service writes:
After over 300 reports of severe weather on Sunday,another round of dangerous severe weather is expected Monday with the greatest threat once again in the southern Plains targeting Oklahoma and parts of Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. However, severe weather is possible much further north towards Chicago and Madison as well.
Oklahoma to Arkansas to Chicago is a large swath of the country as this map shows:
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What's worrisome is that this is the second round of brutal storms for the states who saw the most damage on Sunday. "Damaging winds greater than 60 mph, large hail and tornadoes are possible with the strongest thunderstorms that develop," reads the report from Accuweather. Oklahoma saw multiple twisters touch down with an estimated 300 homes damaged or destroyed CNN reported on air this morning. Tractors trailer flipped, and so much damage was dealt that "Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency in 16 counties," NBC News reported. And here's what Oklahoma has to deal with today:
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And the small town of Rozel, Kansas, saw these two monster tornadoes touch down:
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Part of the reason the storms seem to be focusing on the Plains region is due to a dip in the jet stream. This combined with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, the Weather Channel reports, is pulling the turbulent weather into the Midwest states:
According to CBS News and the AP, a 79-year-old man was killed and 21 were injured during the slew of storms and officials are trying to go from home to home to this morning to assess the damage. Officials told the AP, that "many times in such situations, people who are not found immediately are discovered later to have left the area ahead of the storm." The severe weather is expected to continue into this week.
