Reports: Severe storms capable of producing tornadoes march east after killing at least 3 in Midwest

As of 6:30 p.m. EST Wednesday, this story is no longer being updated.

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Violent thunderstorms will bring the risk of damaging impacts across a large swath of the eastern U.S. through Wednesday.

Storms from Mississippi to New Jersey will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts past 60 mph, hail larger than golf balls and multiple tornadoes.

At least three people are dead after tornadoes whipped through the Midwest late on Tuesday afternoon and into the overnight hours on Wednesday. One person died in Perryville, Missouri, while two people were killed in Illinois. Near the town of Crossville, Illinois, a 71-year-old man was killed when a tornado struck a building near his home. In Ottawa, Illinois, one person was killed after a tree was uprooted.

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At 4:45 p.m. EST Wednesday, a thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was near Salem, North Carolina, located east of Asheville. The storm was tracking east parallel to I-40, heading toward the towns of Hickory.

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There have been dozens of reports of wind damage across Maryland and northern Virginia from thunderstorms that moved through earlier this afternoon.

As of 4:35 p.m. EST Wednesday, over 43,000 electric customers were without power across the area, according to several utility companies.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Map and list of reported wind damage and gusts that we have received so far today: <a href="https://t.co/coNaXh6meG">https://t.co/coNaXh6meG</a> <a href="https://t.co/5sTS2dnEf1">pic.twitter.com/5sTS2dnEf1</a></p>&mdash; NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWS_BaltWash/status/837047654744002560">March 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tree down on house in Forest Glen area, owners were outside and are ok. <a href="https://twitter.com/mcfrsPIO">@mcfrsPIO</a> says LOTS of wind damage in Montgomery Co <a href="https://twitter.com/fox5dc">@fox5dc</a> <a href="https://t.co/xLFZzmWFcE">pic.twitter.com/xLFZzmWFcE</a></p>&mdash; Alexandra Limon (@AlexandraFox5DC) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexandraFox5DC/status/837039670080987140">March 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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At 3:50 p.m. EST Wednesday, a line of severe thunderstorms was stretched from central Mississippi to eastern Tennessee.

Thunderstorms in this area were mainly producing strong wind gusts and large hail with an an emergency manager reporting tennis ball-sized hail near Orme, Tennessee.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hail in Aldridge <a href="https://twitter.com/spann">@spann</a> <a href="https://t.co/9uVV9mhcoR">pic.twitter.com/9uVV9mhcoR</a></p>&mdash; Vicki Smitherman (@Dumplin33) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dumplin33/status/837051997601873920">March 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Damaging wind gusts have moved through the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas with a wind gust of 78 mph measured at Quantico, Virginia.

As of 2:20 p.m. EST Wednesday, over 15,000 electric customers were without electricity around Washington, D.C., according to Pepco, and over 10,000 were without power around Baltimore, according to BGE.

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Many roads throughout West Virginia are closed due to downed trees and high water as of 1:26 p.m. EST.

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A severe thunderstorm is tracking into the mid-Atlantic as of 12:45 p.m. EST and packing potent winds.

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All storm reports from this point forward will be listed in Eastern Standard Time.

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Photos of damage from around parts of Arkansas and Illinois continue to be posted to social media on Wednesday. The threat for damaging storms is expected to reach into the northeastern U.S. on Wednesday.

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Significant storm damage has been reported in the town of Franklin, Tennessee. As of 9:10 a.m. CST Wednesday, local law enforcement continues to survey structural damage that has been reported around town.

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The Ottawa, Illinois, tornado damaged more than 70 power poles in the region. Ameren Illinois reports more than 12,500 without power as of 6:30 a.m. CST Wednesday, while Ameren Missouri reports over 11,600 customers affected.

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The number of power outages in Arkansas has risen to above 31,000 customers as of 6:10 a.m. CST Wednesday.

As the storms continue to move east, damage has been reported in parts of Tennessee, including in the town of Finley.

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Two eighteen-wheelers were blown over on Interstate 555 between Jonesboro and Bay, Arkansas. Thunderstorms produced over 70-mph wind gusts as they crossed the region.

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A 76-mph wind gust was reported at Walnut Ridge Airport in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. This is equivalent to winds inside a Category 1 hurricane.

As of 3:30 a.m. CST Wednesday, almost 20,000 Entergy customers are without power in northern Arkansas in the wake of the storms.

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As of 3 a.m. CST Wednesday, a new tornado watch is in effect for multiple states, including Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee.

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Throughout Wednesday morning, another round of severe thunderstorms will impact areas already reeling from tornadoes on Tuesday night, including Perryville, Missouri. The main threats from the second round of storms will be hail, straight-line damaging winds and flash flooding.

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The threat for tornadoes has greatly diminished since Tuesday evening. Large hail, flash flooding and damaging wind gusts will remain a concern from southern Michigan to southeastern Oklahoma through Wednesday morning.

There are reports of flash flooding and water over roadways in Ripley County, Indiana, as of 12:45 a.m. CST Wednesday. Emergency managers in Butler County, Ohio, are also reporting high water across area roadways. Rainfall rates over an inch per hour have been reported in the area.

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As of approx. 12 a.m. CST on Wednesday, the southbound lane of I-55 has been reopened near Perryville. The northbound lane remains closed, according to Missouri Public Safety.

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According to local media, cars have been blown off I-64 due to a violent tornado, just north of Evansville, Indiana. Injuries are possible, but not yet confirmed.

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A semi-trailer has been blown over near I-80 and I-39 in La Salle, Illinois. A 70-mph wind gust was reported nearby in Ottawa.

Thunderstorms are also wrecking havoc farther south in Illinois. Strong thunderstorm winds have caused the wall of a brick building to collapse in Versailles. Numerous trees and power lines are also downed.

<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/LauraEBReynolds">@LauraEBReynolds</a> sure...I'm not sure how this works.ive heard of people making money lmk not real sure how this works. here is the video <a href="https://t.co/uTRqTh9Ns1">pic.twitter.com/uTRqTh9Ns1</a></p>&mdash; Tim Shultz (@timmers8888) <a href="https://twitter.com/timmers8888/status/836756538878476288">March 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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A second death has been confirmed in Perryville, Missouri, by the Perry County sheriff, according to KFVS News.

Recovery operations are underway in White County, Arkansas. Ten to 15 people were reported injured within the area, and at least 20 structures were damaged. Earlier on Tuesday, state police said people were trapped in their homes due to a tornado.

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Tornado confirmed on the ground in Enfield, Illinois, as of 9:45 p.m. CST. This is the same storm that produced a tornado over an hour ago in Perryville, Missouri.

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Significant damage has been reported around Perryville, Missouri and Rockwood, Illinois, after a powerful tornado tracked through the towns.

As of 8:40 p.m. CST on Tuesday, the tornado was still active and was moving toward Vergennes, Du Quoin and Elkville, Illinois. Those in the path of the storm need to seek shelter immediately.

AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer was near the storm as it moved through Rockwood and said that there were many power flashes as the massive tornado moved through the town.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Massive wedge with power flashes just went thru Rockwood, IL observed from close range going in for search and rescue <a href="https://twitter.com/breakingweather">@breakingweather</a></p>&mdash; Reed Timmer (@ReedTimmerAccu) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReedTimmerAccu/status/836763277141082113">March 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Emergency managers in Perryville reported significant damage to homes and structures as well as multiple injuries.

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At 8:10 p.m. CST on Tuesday, a damaging tornado was located near Perryville, Missouri, and was tracking toward Rockwood, Illinois. This is a dangerous tornado that has been confirmed by emergency managers and may bring down trees, overturn vehicles and cause property damage. Those in its path should take cover immediately.

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A confirmed tornado was near Augusta, Arkansas, as of 7:30 p.m. CST on Tuesday and was tracking to the northeast toward the towns of Fitzhugh and Tupelo.

Another thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located just north of Fredericktown, Missouri, and was tracking eastward.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Illinois activated the Emergency Operations Center in Springfield, Illinois, after several tornadoes tracked across the region.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Emergency Operations Center in Springfield activated after reports of tornado touchdowns in several communities. <a href="https://twitter.com/ReadyIllinois">@ReadyIllinois</a></p>&mdash; Bruce Rauner (@GovRauner) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRauner/status/836749036006821888">March 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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At least one person has died in Ottawa, Illinois, after a tornado ripped through the town, according to the Ottawa Fire Department.

People in Ottawa should continue to monitor the severe weather into the night as additional severe thunderstorms may move through later tonight.

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As of 6:45 p.m. CST on Tuesday, more than 10,000 electric customers were without power across northern Illinois, according to Ameren Illinois and ComEd.

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At 6:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, severe thunderstorms were impacting areas around and just south of Chicago. Large hail and frequent lightning were reported around Joliet, New Lenox and Plainfield.

A confirmed tornado was reported farther to the southwest near the towns of Long Point and Cornell, Illinois.

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At 5:30 p.m. CST on Tuesday, there were two thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes just west of Little Rock, Arkansas. One storm was very close to the town of Paron and moving to the northeast.

At the same time, severe thunderstorms were also moving through St. Louis, producing hail as large as quarters.

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There are reports of major damage around Ottawa, Illinois, after a tornado moved through the area. Storm chasers in the area at the time reported a large, almost wedge-shaped tornado when the tornado-warned thunderstorm moved through the area.

Baseball-sized hail also fell around Ottawa, Illinois, as the thunderstorm moved through.

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At 4:34 p.m. CST on Tuesday, a confirmed tornado was located near Cedar Point, Illinois, and was heading east toward the towns of Oglesby, Utica, Ottawa and Grand Ridge.

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At 4:04 p.m. CST on Tuesday, a confirmed tornado was located near Low Moor, Iowa, and is heading east toward Sterling, Illinois. People in the path of the storm should seek shelter immediately.

A wall cloud was spotted on the southern edge of a nearby thunderstorm, located near Wyoming, Illinois.

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A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Long Grove, Iowa, at 3:40 p.m. CST on Tuesday and was tracking east toward the border of Iowa and Illinois.

Several other severe thunderstorms have developed over Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas, producing frequent lightning and hail as large as quarters.

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The first severe thunderstorm of the afternoon has developed over south-central Missouri. As of 2:30 p.m. CST on Tuesday, the severe storm was located near Salem, Missouri, and was tracking northeastward toward the St. Louis area.

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