Fast-moving storms batter the Midwest, flooding streets and stranding
commuters
[April 28, 2026]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fast-moving storms pummeled parts
of the Midwest with hail, strong wind and heavy rain Monday, flooding
streets, stranding commuters and downing many trees, including one in
western Michigan that landed on a man and killed him.
More than 56 million people in the Midwest and parts of the South were
at risk of severe storms, with tornado warnings posted in southeastern
Missouri, southern Illinois and northern Arkansas, the National Weather
Service said.
A thunderstorm that whipped through Kent County, Michigan, with powerful
winds caused a tree to fall and kill a 39-year-old man who had been
outside with friends, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
The friends said “the man warned them to move just before the tree came
down, actions they believe likely prevented more of them from being
struck,” according to the sheriff's office. The storm resulted in dozens
of downed trees and wires.
Across Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan
more than 250,000 people were without power Monday night.
We Energies in Wisconsin said it had restored power for more than 35,000
customers but thousands more remained without electricity. Milwaukee
said it had nearly 100 emergency calls for downed trees and branches.
Trees uprooted by strong winds blocked streets.
In Kansas City, Missouri, the fire department responded to 11 water
rescues from vehicles starting at shortly before 6 a.m., Battalion Chief
Riley Nolan said in an email.
He said most “were in our typical ‘high-water’ areas following heavy
rains.” Nolan said no boats were required and no injuries were reported.
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A tree is uprooted by strong winds Monday, April 27, 2026, in
Milwaukee. (Carson Kellogg via AP)
The weather service reported that 3.2 inches (8.1 centimeters) of
rain fell in a six-hour period ending shortly before 7 a.m. at the
Kansas City International Airport.
Hundreds of schools in the St. Louis area closed early, and many
after-school activities were canceled.
Temperatures near 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius) and
other factors were contributing to “atmospheric instability,” said
Evan Bentley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service
Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
The storms followed rounds of violent weather over the weekend.
In northern Texas, a tornado-producing thunderstorm left at least
two people dead and displaced at least 20 families, with many homes
sustaining major damage, authorities said Sunday.
National Weather Service teams confirmed that an EF-2 tornado with
peak winds of 135 mph (217 kph) touched down in the Runaway Bay area
on Saturday. An EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 105 mph (169 kph)
was confirmed in the Springtown area, the weather service said.
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