Severe Storms Strike the Midwest Again, Damage Reported

Tue Apr 14 2026 21:42:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

After a day of severe storms that wreaked havoc across the Midwest, meteorologists warn that more dangerous weather could hit as storms are expected to unleash hail, tornadoes, and strong winds again.

Severe storms have left communities across the Midwest and Plains assessing damage and injuries. Kansas reports minor injuries and structural damage in Ottawa while tornadoes struck Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin. With more wild weather to come, forecasters caution residents to stay alert and prepared.

OTTAWA, Kan. (AP) — A day after severe storms damaged communities in the Plains and the Midwest, forecasters warned that storms could bring giant hail, tornadoes, and severe wind gusts to the regions again on Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Authorities in Kansas reported several people with minor injuries after storms passed through on Monday. Three people were left with minor injuries in rural Franklin County, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, according to the sheriff’s office. In Ottawa, a city of approximately 13,000 residents, officials reported structural damage, though fortunately no deaths or serious injuries.

Power lines and trees sustained damage, with significant impacts on several businesses, including one with exterior walls blown off. A National Weather Service survey team will assess damage in the Ottawa area on Tuesday to determine whether a tornado touched down there.

In neighboring Miami County, reports indicated two people sustained minor injuries, and numerous homes were damaged or destroyed, alongside overturned recreational vehicles and damaged campers.

In southern Minnesota, three tornadoes were confirmed, with reports of baseball-sized hail causing damage to vehicles in that area as well. Further, a tornado touched down near Gilman, Wisconsin, with minimal reported damage to a manufactured home.

The storms have taken a toll on schools in the Madison area, forcing closures due to a lack of power. Approximately 25,000 customers were reported without electricity in Wisconsin on Tuesday morning.

Forecasters anticipate significant flooding in river and stream areas, particularly in the Upper Great Lakes region, through the end of the week as heavy rainfall is expected. Moreover, Michigan's Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex due to elevated water levels from record snowfall and recent rains.