Residents across the Midwest are bracing for severe weather as the National Weather Service issues extreme weather alerts, following the confirmation of a “highly dangerous” tornado in Wisconsin.
The tornado was spotted approximately six miles northeast of Weston, near Green Bay. According to reports from the National Weather Service, the tornado is traveling at a speed of 35 miles per hour and has already caused damage in at least five towns.
The weather service has urged residents to take immediate action, stating, “A large and extremely dangerous tornado has been confirmed. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building. If you are in a mobile home, vehicle, or outdoors, seek shelter in the nearest structure and protect yourself from flying debris.”
The advisory further warned that “mobile homes will be destroyed,” and significant damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles is expected, with total destruction being a possibility.
Weather forecasts predict that storms will form from Wisconsin to Texas by early Friday afternoon.
This potential severe weather system threatens over 50 million people living in the affected regions, with risks of tornadoes, hail, and winds reaching hurricane strength, as reported by Fox Weather.
People in affected areas have already shared photos of houses and other structures that were ravaged by the storms, which have been going on intermittently throughout the week.
There have also been reports that there are children hunkering down in an elementary school in Lena, Illinois, where another tornado has struck.
A picture provided to the Daily Mail of a tornado near massive tornado that was near the Illinois towns of Chester and Marion on Friday
Pictured: Debris from a home in Union Center, Wisconsin, that was destroyed by a tornado on Tuesday
Pictured: Downed trees in Ann Arbor, Michigan, from Tuesday’s storm
Eleven states are at risk of severe thunderstorms and tornados on Friday
A tornado warning had been issued for Lena, as well as nearby Freeport and Orangeville by the NWS.
According to radio traffic from Stephenson County, local officials were contacted by the NWS about a large and ‘extremely dangerous’ tornado west of Lena. A short time later, those same officials were discussing ‘quite a bit’ of damage, according to CBS News.
No injuries were reported in Lena and students were kept safe inside the impacted elementary school according to the radio traffic. The school’s exterior though was severely damaged, per chatter from officials.
The Daily Mail approached the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office for comment on the conditions in Lena.
A storm chaser, only identified as Matt, shared a video with the Daily Mail of a massive tornado that was near the Illinois towns of Chester and Marion.
Meteorologists with AccuWeather warned that the highest risk of severe thunderstorms will be seen in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas.
Major cities, including Chicago, Minneapolis, St Louis, Kansas City, Madison, Wichita, Oklahoma City and Dallas, are expected to experience severe thunderstorms imminently.
The NWS has issued various flood warnings and watches, including in central and west Michigan, much of Wisconsin, the Chicago area of Illinois, and parts of Kansas and Missouri.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said in a statement: ‘People in the path of these storms should stay alert and be ready to act.’
‘Make sure your phone is charged, alerts are on, and your storm shelter or safe place is ready and stocked with emergency supplies. Never drive on flooded roads, especially at night,’ Pydynowski added.
