Midwest Braces Amid Threat from Pounding Winds, Hail and Tornadoes

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U.S.|Midwest Braces Amid Threat from Pounding Winds, Hail and Tornadoes

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/us/tornado-severe-weather-minnesota-iowa-wisconsin.html

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Officials in the Upper Midwest warned of possible power outages and closed some schools early as the storms loomed.

A view from above of streets, buildings and trees leading to a city skyline.

By Jay SenterAnn Hinga Klein and Julie Bosman

Jay Senter reported from St. Paul, Minn., Ann Hinga Klein from Des Moines, and Julie Bosman from Chicago.

April 28, 2025Updated 6:13 p.m. ET

Schools shuttered early and cities warned of probable power outages, as potentially dangerous thunderstorms threatened the Upper Midwest late Monday afternoon.

In northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin, residents were bracing for storms that could bring high winds, tornadoes and hail the size of Ping-Pong balls. The Upper Midwest is accustomed to severe weather, but the high level of risk for very large hail and strong tornadoes caused alarm for state and local officials, who activated emergency operations centers and closed nonemergency city buildings.

“We always have severe weather, I guess, in Iowa,” said Superintendent Joe Carter of the Algona Community School District, about two hours north of Des Moines. “I think the difference with this one is the threat of really, really strong stuff, such as tornadoes, and with a Category 4 ranking of severity.”

Forecast risk of severe storms for Monday

A large area that includes Minneapolis and St. Paul is under a relatively high risk (Level 4 out of 5) for severe weather, according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center.

At least five school districts across north central Iowa announced early closings on Monday afternoon. The Algona Community School District let out classes at 2 p.m. and canceled afterschool track and golf meets so that buses could get students home throughout the 400-square-mile district before storms descended by early evening.