Midwest to Texas braces for violent tornado outbreak as watches widen

A sweeping severe-weather outbreak targets the U.S. with Tornado Watches issued across northern/central Illinois, northwest Indiana, and parts of Iowa as a potent spring storm interacts with a warm, humid airmass. Forecasters warn of intense tornadoes (EF-3+), large hail and damaging winds, with a rare Level 4 risk centered on parts of Illinois and Indiana and a separate threat area in Texas along the dryline. Nighttime tornadoes are a particular danger due to a strengthening low-level jet, while Chicago faces a Flood Watch from training storms and meteorologists deploy extra balloons to monitor the atmosphere. Residents should stay weather-aware, enable warnings on apps, and seek safe shelter at signs of severe weather.