A string of tornadoes tore through the Midwest overnight as a large storm system marched from the Great Lakes toward Texas, leaving communities across the Central Plains and upper Midwest to begin cleanup.
At least one twister struck Rochester, Minnesota, ripping roofs and shredding homes. Reporter Jonah Kaplan described a scene of devastation: a house reduced to its front facade and a massive tree uprooted “like it was a bowling pin.” Residents said the tornado sounded like a freight train. David Vetch told reporters he saw a funnel approach his 89‑year‑old father’s house; while the home took extensive damage, his father was not hurt.
Hundreds of miles away in Lena, Illinois, a tornado knocked out power and caused “extensive” damage, though officials reported no deaths or serious injuries there. Suburban Kansas City also saw a twister that destroyed houses and cut power.
The outbreak came on the heels of days of severe weather across the nation’s midsection. The Storm Prediction Center and local officials said more than 800 damaging‑storm reports — including dozens of tornadoes and widespread flooding — were logged during the period. About 51 million Americans were under severe‑weather advisories on Friday.
In addition to tornado damage, the system produced deadly lightning: authorities in Wisconsin reported a 41‑year‑old man killed by a lightning strike, the first lightning‑related death in the U.S. this year.
Emergency crews and neighbors have begun search, rescue and cleanup operations. Meteorologists and officials emphasized that warnings are not suggestions: even after a tornado passes, flying debris and flooding pose serious hazards, and people should take shelter immediately when alerts are issued.
