Severe Weather Threatens Midwest, Flooding Hits Michigan

Tornado warnings, damaging winds, and heavy rain put millions on alert across multiple states.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 11:16pm

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A vast, majestic landscape painting in muted tones, with a massive, swirling storm system dominating the horizon, dwarfing the small structures in the foreground and conveying a sense of the sublime, awe-inspiring scale of the weather event.A dramatic landscape painting captures the overwhelming scale and power of a severe weather system sweeping across the Midwest.Albany Today

More than 50 million people across the Midwest are bracing for severe weather on Tuesday, including the threat of tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail. This comes after a day of destructive storms that caused roof collapses, tornado touchdowns, and flooding in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Michigan. Meanwhile, heavy rains have led to record flooding along the Manistee River in Michigan, forcing evacuations near two dams at risk of failure.

Why it matters

The severe weather outbreak poses a significant threat to public safety across a wide swath of the central U.S., with major cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, Des Moines, and Detroit in the potential path of the storms. The flooding in Michigan has also led to road closures and home damage, underscoring the cascading impacts of extreme weather events.

The details

The National Weather Service has issued a level 3 out of 5 'enhanced risk' for severe storms on Tuesday, with the potential for strong tornadoes, damaging winds up to 70 mph, and hail the size of baseballs. The threat covers parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. In Oklahoma, a similar level 3 risk is in place, with the potential for tornadoes, large hail, and destructive winds. Meanwhile, heavy rains have caused the Manistee River in Michigan to reach record flood levels, forcing evacuations near two dams at risk of failure.

  • On Monday, at least 14 tornadoes were reported across Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin, causing damage and injuries.
  • On Tuesday, the severe weather threat is expected to continue from the Midwest into the Northeast, with storms potentially developing after 3 p.m. ET.
  • On Wednesday, additional severe storms are forecast to impact areas from Oklahoma to southern Wisconsin, as well as parts of Kansas, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

The players

National Weather Service

The federal agency responsible for weather forecasting and issuing severe weather alerts.

Franklin County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that reported three minor injuries from a suspected tornado in Ottawa, Kansas.

Red Cross

The humanitarian organization providing support for displaced families after more than 50 homes were damaged by a suspected tornado in Hillsdale, Kansas.

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What they’re saying

“We must remain vigilant and heed all weather warnings to stay safe during this severe weather outbreak.”

— Meteorologist

What’s next

Weather officials will continue to monitor the situation and issue updates on the severe weather threat and flooding concerns in the Midwest and Northeast. Residents in the affected areas are advised to closely follow local weather forecasts and be prepared to take shelter if severe storms approach their location.

The takeaway

This severe weather event highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather patterns driven by climate change, underscoring the need for communities to be prepared and resilient in the face of such threats to public safety and infrastructure.