Severe weather outbreak, with threat of strong tornadoes, to intensify through Monday
Monstrous hail, strong tornadoes and destructive winds will threaten tens of millions this week as a multiday severe weather outbreak reaches its crescendo.
At least one person was killed after a tornado tore through Runaway Bay, Texas, on April 25. Drone video captures the aftermath the following morning.
AccuWeather severe weather experts are sounding the alarm on what will likely be one of the season's worst and most expansive severe weather outbreaks, which will last into early this week across parts of the Plains and Mississippi Valley.
"This will be a dangerous stretch of severe weather across the central United States," warned AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski. "The atmosphere is primed for multiple rounds of thunderstorms, with conditions intensifying on Monday."
Included in the risk for severe weather will be the threat of multiple strong and long-track tornadoes.
A satellite tornado is seen rotating around the main tornado in Barman, Oklahoma on April 23, 2026. (Aaron Rigsby/CorClips)
"Severe weather has been relentless across the central U.S. this past week, with more than 30 tornadoes and over 230 reports of hail in the past week," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys. Included in the reports was a confirmed twister that struck Enid, Oklahoma, Wednesday with estimated winds of 175 mph, making it the strongest tornado on the planet so far this year.
Multiple storm systems combining with clashing air masses have led to the flurry of severe weather, and the latest, moving from the Plains to the Midwest into early this week, may end up being the strongest of the bunch.
Southeastern parts of the Sooner State and far northeastern Texas experienced large hail, damaging winds and at least one tornado late Friday. And as AccuWeather meteorologists accurately predicted, Saturday brought a repeat of those same hazards to a large chunk of the nation's midsection.
More tornadoes occurred across southern Oklahoma and northern Texas Saturday evening, with one tornadic storm tracking just northwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Reports of hail ranging from 2-3 inches in diameter were common occurrences with the strongest storms in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas.
Severe thunderstorms Sunday were mostly confined to eastern Kansas and western Missouri. Once again, storms brought large hail, damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes.
Severe thunderstorms from Sunday night continued into early Monday morning across Missouri.
"Large hail has already caused significant damage across the region, and more is expected with newer rounds of storms," added Roys. "Hail can shatter windows and damage vehicles, so take steps now to protect property and stay away from windows during storms."
Outbreak to peak Monday with millions more at risk
The current severe weather outbreak will drag into a new workweek on Monday and will likely reach its crescendo farther east, where millions more reside across the Mississippi Valley and Midwest, warn AccuWeather meteorologists.
"The risk zone will extend nearly a thousand miles from Mississippi to Wisconsin on Monday," said Pydynowski. "The greatest threat for damaging storms will be centered over the St. Louis region."
Curiously enough, until Monday, the St. Louis metropolitan area will have managed to avoid any severe thunderstorms despite storm systems dancing around the region since last week. That luck will likely run out as multiple ingredients for powerful thunderstorms, including very warm and humid conditions, come together ahead of a strong storm.
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"Severe thunderstorms erupting in these conditions can produce tornadoes, large hail, wind gusts over 70-80 mph and torrential downpours," warned Pydynowski. "People should plan ahead and stay alert, especially if traveling or attending outdoor events."
Despite every day of the outbreak including at least one reported tornado so far, no day and night may be as active as Monday and Monday night.
"There is a growing threat for a dangerous tornado outbreak Monday afternoon into the night," warned Roys.
Yet another high-risk area is in effect during the afternoon and at night and includes the threat of an all-out tornado outbreak from around St. Louis north through eastern Missouri, central and southern Illinois and southeastern Iowa, including the cities of Peoria and Springfield, Illinois.
Some of the tornadoes could be strong and end up being rated at an EF3 or higher intensity on the Enhanced Fujita scale, packing winds of well over 100 mph. Additionally, conditions appear favorable for twisters to remain on the ground for long distances, making them especially dangerous.
Residents and businesses in this area should review their tornado emergency plans in advance of this high-risk day. Tornadoes after dark are especially dangerous, which is why those in the threat area must have a way to receive warnings at night, including via the AccuWeather App.
The severe weather threat is forecast to finally begin subsiding closer to the middle of this week, when it appears flooding downpours will become the primary threat, as opposed to strong winds, hail or tornadoes.
"The risk of storms will shift east on Tuesday," said Pydynowski. "Cities from Texas into the Ohio Valley could see storms and downpours develop, and while the rain may help with drought, repeated downpours over the same areas can quickly lead to flash flooding."
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