Destructive tornadoes and winds likely as Level 4 outbreak targets Midwest

Key Points:

• A Level 4 out of 5 severe storm risk has been issued for north-central Illinois and western Indiana on Wednesday, following last week's severe weather outbreak that caused widespread tornadoes and damage across the Midwest.
• Last week's storms included dozens of tornadoes ranging from EF0 to EF3, destructive straight-line winds, and large hail, resulting in catastrophic damage, power outages, and downed trees in Illinois and Indiana communities.
• Illinois has been among the hardest-hit states this year, leading the nation in tornado reports, with the FOX Forecast Center warning of intense tornadoes and damaging winds as the main threats in the upcoming outbreak.
• The Storm Prediction Center also issued a Level 3 risk from Kansas City to Chicago and a Level 2 risk extending from Kansas to Louisville, Indianapolis, and Columbus, with two potential rounds of severe storms expected on Wednesday.
• Wind gusts could exceed 80 mph, hail up to 2.5 inches is possible, and discrete supercells capable of producing long-track tornadoes are anticipated before storms consolidate into a damaging wind line later in the day.