Alert in Chicago and the Midwest: New Round of Severe Weather and Extreme Heat Approaches

• Severe storms and extreme heat in the US
• Tornado risk on the rise
• Record high temperatures expected in the north

A new weather threat looms over the Midwest and Ohio Valley, where millions are bracing for several days of severe storms and hazardous conditions.

After a brief break from the storms that swept across various regions of the country in recent weeks, weather patterns are shifting again.

Cities like Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis will be at the heart of this instability, which is expected to persist throughout much of the week.

The situation is particularly unusual, as May is typically one of the most active months for severe weather, averaging nearly 300 tornadoes.

Severe storms return to the Midwest this week

This year, both March and April recorded above-average tornado reports, while May had remained relatively calm—until now.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, a low-pressure system associated with a weather pattern known as an “Omega Block” is beginning to weaken.

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This phenomenon had slowed the movement of weather systems across the country, but its breakdown will now allow conditions to become more dynamic.

A high-pressure system advancing from the south will bring with it summer-like heat that could break records from Texas to the Upper Midwest.

Weather pattern shifts as ‘Omega Block’ weakens

Rising temperatures, combined with lingering humidity, will create the perfect setup for widespread and intense thunderstorms.

The threat will begin this Wednesday, when approximately 2.5 million people in the Central and Northern Plains fall under a Level 1 out of 5 severe storm risk, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC).

This level includes cities such as Omaha (Nebraska), Sioux City (Iowa), Sioux Falls (South Dakota), and Fargo (North Dakota), as reported by Fox Weather.

But by Thursday, the threat will escalate, with over 35 million people under a Level 2 out of 5 alert stretching from the Midwest to the Ohio Valley.

Millions under severe storms threat

Cities including Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Cincinnati are expected to be directly affected by storms potentially bringing hail, damaging wind gusts, and possible tornadoes.

The hazardous pattern will continue into Friday, pushing southward into regions such as the mid-Mississippi Valley, the lower Ohio Valley, and Tennessee.

Nearly 6 million people will be at risk on Friday, including cities like Memphis and Nashville in Tennessee, Paducah and Bowling Green in Kentucky, and Jonesboro in Arkansas.

Meteorological authorities warn that such weather events can intensify rapidly, urging the public to closely follow local alerts.

Extreme heat worsens storm conditions

The heat wave may also reach record-breaking levels in some areas, with temperatures more typical of midsummer than mid-May.

Additionally, previously saturated soils in several regions could increase the risk of flash flooding as storms unload heavy rain in short periods of time.

From the Great Lakes to the Central Plains, this week will be marked by uncertainty and close monitoring of the skies.

Experts are advising the public to stay informed, prepare tornado shelters, and avoid unnecessary travel during storm activity, as emphasized by Fox Weather.