Storms packing hurricane-force wind gusts, large hail blast across central US
Tens of millions of people from Texas to the Great Lakes region had been on alert for the potential of seeing extreme weather, and some parts of the Plains and Midwest saw their highest tornado threat in months.
Powerful storms blast through central US with hurricane-force wind gusts, large hail
Severe weather blasted across portions of the central Plains and Midwest on Wednesday and into the overnight hours, bringing hurricane-force wind gusts and large hail that caused damage and power outages to the region.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Severe weather tore across portions of the central U.S. and Midwest on Wednesday, producing thunderstorms with hurricane-force wind gusts and large hail that damaged numerous structures and brought down trees and power lines across the region.
Tens of millions of people from Texas to the Great Lakes region had been on alert for the potential of seeing extreme weather, and some parts of the Plains and Midwest saw their highest tornado threat in months.
Watch: Severe weather moves into Kansas City
A video recorded in Kansas City, Missouri, shows severe weather pushing into the region with vivid lightning on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
Several Tornado Warnings were issued, including one in the St. Louis area, but so far there have been no confirmed reports of tornadoes in the metro area. However, the thunderstorms packed a punch and were responsible for producing damage across the region.
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Severe thunderstorm damage in Holt County, Missouri from Oct. 30, 2024.
(Missouri State Highway Patrol / FOX Weather)
Photos shared by Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H showed structures that were heavily damaged when powerful storms swept across the area Wednesday afternoon. MSHP said the damage occurred in Holt County, and no injuries were reported.
Wind gusts as high as a Category 2 hurricane were reported in parts of Oklahoma, while several other hurricane-force wind gusts were reported in Nebraska, Illinois and Kansas.
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(FOX Weather)
Farther south, the town of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, was knocked off the electrical grid when severe weather moved through early Thursday morning.
Crews have since been busy working to clear debris from roads and utility crews have been trying to restore power.
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Watch: Lightning flashes during severe weather in Kansas
A video recorded in Kansas shows lightning flashing as severe weather moved across the region on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
"As we are able to assess more in tomorrow’s daylight, city crews will be out helping with the cleanup of debris and allowing our citizens to get back to a sense of normalcy," Mayor David Faulk said in a statement on Facebook.
So far, there are no reports of injuries.
"I want to say thank you to the first responders, city workers and utility crews that have assisted our city overnight," Faulk continued. "I am overwhelmingly gracious of the service they provide to our community."
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Watch: Homes damaged in Prairie Grove after severe weather tears across Arkansas
Video shared by KFTA in Arkansas shows homes that were heavily damaged when severe weather tore through the community of Prairie Grove early Thursday morning.
Video from Prairie Grove showed homes that were heavily damaged after the storms swept through, with residents saying the wind was intense.
"I heard the wind start blowing and I thought that the house was going to blow down," Bryce Stevens told KFTA.
The Prairie Grove Police Department said a small tornado may have moved through the southern part of the city, causing damage to trees, homes and businesses.
Police said the city's aquatic park and baseball complex were also damaged.
There were also several reports of large hail that pelted communities in several states, including a report of 1.75-inch hail near Orlando, Oklahoma, and 1.25-inch hail near Cambridge, Kansas.