When big storms roll in: Who’s most at risk this weekend

A long stretch of states from Wisconsin down to Texas is bracing for rough weather starting Friday. Over seven million people live in areas where the chance of huge hail is highest, especially across Iowa and nearby Midwest states. The storms could bring hailstones as wide as a baseball and even spin up tornadoes after dark. The pattern began Thursday with strong winds and heavy storms in parts of Texas and Oklahoma, where gusts topped 70 miles per hour. A video from southern Kansas showed bright lightning cracking through the sky. Even though a warm layer in the atmosphere might slow down afternoon storms Friday, supercell thunderstorms are likely to punch through that cap by evening.The Storm Prediction Center has placed Central Iowa under a moderate risk for severe weather, meaning baseball-sized hail is possible. While tornadoes aren’t the main concern Friday, the same area is where they could form if conditions change. Other parts of the Midwest face lower-level threats, with scattered wind damage possible and hail around two inches wide. The severe weather pattern isn’t going away. Storms are expected to regroup Saturday, with isolated cells growing stronger by evening and tornado chances rising again. This trend could continue through the weekend and into Monday, when forecasters warn strong tornadoes may spin up in central Kansas and northern Oklahoma.