Heartland braces for multi-state tornado and hail outbreak as storms intensify

An expansive central U.S. severe-weather outbreak is unfolding, with Oklahoma and surrounding Plains primed for rotating supercells capable of baseball-size hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes as a warm cap breaks this afternoon. Storms could surge into the evening and overnight, threatening hubs from Oklahoma City and Dallas to Chicago, with flight disruptions and a Chicago O’Hare ground stop continuing amid the risk; Oklahoma has confirmed tornadoes and fatalities in Major County.