by Communities across the Midwest, Southeast, and South were hit with urgent severe thunderstorm warnings Tuesday as the National Weather Service (NWS) issued immediate shelter-in-place directives to hundreds of thousands of residents.
The warnings—stretching from Minnesota to Florida—came with little notice, as radar indicated fast-moving, dangerous storms capable of producing destructive winds, large hail, flash flooding, and even the potential for tornadoes.
Widespread Impact Across the U.S.
The NWS issued severe thunderstorm warnings for counties in Alabama, Florida, Minnesota, and South Carolina, targeting major cities, rural communities, and critical infrastructure zones.
- Alabama: Around 2:44 p.m. CDT, storms near Pisgah triggered warnings for Jackson and DeKalb counties, threatening 60 mph winds and penny-sized hail, with warnings of flash flooding in low-lying areas.
- Florida: Multiple warnings affected counties including St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Martin, Gadsden, Leon, and Wakulla. Storms brought damaging winds and hail to areas near Tallahassee and along major highways. Residents in mobile homes were urged to seek shelter immediately.
- South Carolina: Thunderstorms packing 60 mph wind gusts moved through Charleston, Clarendon, and Orangeburg counties, sparking warnings about falling trees, property damage, and the need to avoid windows and exterior walls.
- Minnesota: In Aitkin and Crow Wing counties, a storm moving east near Emily carried winds up to 70 mph and quarter-sized hail. The NWS warned of possible tornado development, emphasizing rapid changes and urging residents to monitor alerts closely.
Why It Matters
Severe thunderstorms can escalate rapidly, leaving residents with only minutes to take cover. Tuesday’s alerts affected more than 400,000 people, highlighting the unpredictable and dangerous nature of summer storms across the U.S. These events come on the heels of recent deadly flash floods in Texas and tornado outbreaks in the Midwest earlier this year.
