Tornadoes and flooding are possible this weekend as roller-coaster weather sweeps the country, with some states experiencing summer-like temperatures as high as 90 degrees despite being in the middle of spring.<\/p>\n
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According to the Storm Prediction Center<\/a> (SPC), 38 million people between North Texas and Michigan are at risk for severe weather on Friday. The greatest tornado risk will be concentrated in Iowa, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois, where violent storms are expected later today. Cities in the danger zone include Tulsa, Wichita, Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Des Moines, and St. Louis.<\/p>\n The National Weather Service also warns of flooding from persistent rainfall and thunderstorms across northern Michigan, Wisconsin, western Missouri, and eastern Kansas. Separately, severe thunderstorms are expected to affect roughly 12 million people in the Ohio Valley and eastern Great Lakes region.<\/p>\n The National Weather Service<\/a> has identified the Upper Mississippi Valley as having the best chance for strong tornadoes, while the greatest hail threat lies over parts of the central and southern Plains. <\/p>\n One resident of Stewartville, Minn. posted video<\/a> of what appeared to be a tornado outside her office location on Friday. <\/p>\n On Friday, Governor Kehoe of Missouri signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency, as thunderstorms make way later this afternoon, with damaging winds over 80 miles per hour, according to a press release shared by his office. <\/p>\n \u201cMy team has been in close contact with the National Weather Service throughout the day, and the latest information shows the threat of these storms\u2014especially in the Kansas City area\u2014warrants this action.\u201d Governor Kehoe said.<\/p>\n As storms intensify into the evening hours, a significant damaging wind threat is expected to develop across the Lower Missouri Valley into the Middle Mississippi Valley. Abundant moisture and a approaching upper-level trough are also expected to produce hourly rainfall rates of one to two inches, raising the threat of flash flooding.<\/p>\n In a press release shared on Friday<\/a>, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said communities are beginning cleanup efforts despite \u201cmore severe weather on the way.\u201d The department is urging residents and crews to remain cautious while assessing damage or removing debris.<\/p>\n