Midwest Left Reeling From Destructive Tornadoes as Severe Weather Shifts Toward the South, and Your Travel Plans May Be Ruined
The Central U.S. is still catching its breath after a violent start to the week, with a string of tornadoes and giant hail battering the region. While the most dangerous "supercells" have since moved on, a new weather system is beginning to brew for the weekend-this time setting its sights further south. If you're planning on traveling to the Gulf Coast area this weekend, here's what you need to know.
Recapping a Week of "Giant" Hail and Tornadoes
Monday, April 27, proved to be a historic day of destruction for parts of the Midwest. An extended period of severe weather slammed into central and southeast Illinois, with National Weather Service damage surveys confirming five EF1 tornadoes between Logan and Champaign counties.
According to The Guardian, the storms brought "giant" hail and widespread straight-line winds of 70 to 80 miles per hour. More than 260,000 customers lost power across a massive six-state stretch, including Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Michigan. Tragically, one fatality was reported in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after a tree fell during the high-wind event. In Clinton County, Illinois, the sheriff described the damage as "unbelievable," with mobile homes destroyed and tree limbs penetrating roofs in the Germantown and Trenton areas.
What's Brewing for the Weekend?
If you're checking the radar for your Saturday plans, the "bullseye" has shifted away from the Midwest. Forecasters are now tracking an increasing threat of strong to severe storms mainly for the Florida Panhandle, Southeast Georgia, and North-Central Florida on Saturday, May 2. Those with travel planned to those areas should check weather updates frequently and plan for delayed or canceled flights and road closures.
While the massive hail threat isn't as dangerous as the ones predicted for the Midwest earlier this week, these Southern storms are still capable of producing damaging wind gusts between 40 and 60 mph. A stalled front lifting north as a warm front will be the primary trigger for this new round of severe weather. Those in the Midwest, on the other hand, will get a much-needed reprieve with supposed cooler, calmer temperatures.
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This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 3:41 PM.