health
April 18, 2026
Midwest, Great Lakes Brace for More Severe Storms After Night of Tornadoes
Updated on: April 18, 2026 / 10:03 AM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Communities are cleaning up after tornadoes and severe weather hit the Midwest and Great Lakes regions.
- Over 70,000 customers in the Midwest and Great Lakes are without power, primarily in Illinois and Missouri.
- Tornadoes touched down in Rochester, Minnesota, and Lena, Illinois, causing significant damage.
- A tornado in suburban Kansas City also destroyed homes and caused power outages.
- Damage was reported across Oklahoma, including downed trees, powerlines, damaged roofs, and a damaged marina.
- No serious injuries or fatalities have been reported from the storms.
- Another round of severe thunderstorms is forecast for Saturday across the Southern Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Great Lakes, threatening 28 million people.
- Damaging winds are the main threat in the upcoming storms, with isolated hail, flash flooding, and possible tornadoes also a concern.