Midwest facing possibility of more tornadoes

As clean-up from deadly tornadoes in the Midwest and South continued Thursday, a second storm system that could generate more twisters in the same hard-hit areas is predicted to hit overnight.

According to the latest projections by the National Weather Service, more storms are expected to move into the region, including southern Illinois, beginning after midnight Thursday and continuing through Friday. The severe storms will bring rain and hail and the weather service warned of chances of more tornadoes.

“Rapid intensification is expected given the favorable thermodynamics along with shear profiles very supportive of updraft rotation,” the service noted on one of its forecasts for the areas including parts of about a dozen states.

“Threats for both damaging winds and several tornadoes appears evident, accompanying the likelihood for large hail,” the report said. “A couple of strong tornadoes will also be possible.”

The death toll stood at 13 after tornadoes ripped through the region beginning late Tuesday night and into Wednesday. Especially hard hit was Harrisburg, Ill., where six deaths were reported. Three people died in Missouri and three in eastern Tennessee. In Kansas, a man whose house collapsed on him, was taken off of life support.

In all, about 16 tornadoes were reported from Kansas across Missouri to Illinois, according to Storm Prediction Center, part of the weather service, in Norman, Okla.

The tornadoes ranged in strength from 130 mph to more than 170. Gusts were reported at even higher levels especially in Harrisburg, where the storm was characterized as an EF4, the second-highest rating.

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