Strong storms in the Southern Plains overnight are offering a preview of bad weather expected in major cities across the Midwest later in the day. That includes the greater Peoria Metro region. The Storm Prediction Center says 57 million people live in an area with an "enhanced risk" of large hail, damaging winds and possibly tornadoes this afternoon and evening.
A handful of tornadoes were reported Wednesday, but mostly in rural areas of Kansas and Oklahoma, where the storms caused minimal damage. Emergency managers and forecasters urged residents to know what to do if bad weather approached, including where to take shelter. Thursday's worst weather was expected from the Chicago and Detroit areas southwestward to near Dallas.
