Communities across the Plains and Midwest were dealing with the aftermath of severe storms on Tuesday, as forecasters warned that another round of dangerous weather could bring giant hail, tornadoes and strong wind gusts to the region later in the day and into the evening.
The storms that moved through on Monday left thousands facing power outages and led to the closure of a number of schools across the affected area. Officials were also assessing damage in several communities after the weather system passed through.
In Kansas, authorities reported several people with minor injuries after storms hit on Monday. The sheriff’s office in Franklin county said three people suffered minor injuries in the rural area about 50 miles (80km) south-west of Kansas City. No additional serious injuries were reported there.
In Ottawa, Kansas, officials said the storm caused structural damage, but there were no deaths or injuries. The extent of the damage was still being reviewed as crews and emergency officials worked through the area.
A National Weather Service survey team was scheduled to assess the Ottawa area on Tuesday to determine whether a tornado had passed through, according to Chelsea Picha, a meteorologist with the weather service’s office in Topeka.
More severe weather expected
The renewed forecast warning came as residents and local officials continued to respond to the disruption left by the previous day’s storms. Forecasters said the next round of weather could again threaten parts of the Plains and Midwest with large hail, flooding and severe wind gusts.
The combination of storm damage, power outages and school closures added to the disruption across the region, where communities were already dealing with cleanup and damage assessments from Monday’s storms.
Severe spring weather is not unusual in the central United States, but the latest storms brought a fresh reminder of how quickly conditions can become dangerous. Emergency crews and weather officials remained focused on both immediate recovery and the possibility of additional storms developing.
As the day progressed, residents in the warning area were being urged to stay alert and monitor updates from weather officials. With forecasters warning of continued severe conditions, communities across the Plains and Midwest were preparing for the possibility of more damage before the system moved on.
