ALPHA MAG

Is your area at risk for severe weather? 100 million in path of storms

Severe weather is expected tostretch across a large portion of the countryWednesday, April 15, with storms developing from the southern Plains into the Midwest and southern Great Lakes — impacting more than 100 million people.

Forecasters say multiple rounds of thunderstorms could bring large hail, damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes as the system moves east through the day and into the evening. The setup is complicated, with leftover storms from earlier in the day influencing where new storms form.

"Severe thunderstorms posing a risk for large hail to very large hail, severe gusts, and a couple of tornadoes will be possible across portions of the southern Plains toward the Great Lakes this afternoon and evening," theStorm Prediction Centerwrote.

More:Tornado watch issued? Here's what to do when sirens go off

Where is the greatest threat?

The strongest storms are expected from parts of Oklahoma and north Texas through Missouri, Iowa and into Illinois and Wisconsin, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

In the Southern Plains, storms are likely to develop along a dryline by midafternoon, especially across Oklahoma and North Texas. Some of these storms could quickly become severe, producing very large hail and damaging winds. A tornado or two cannot be ruled out, particularly early in the storms’ development.

Farther north, across Iowa and northern Missouri into Illinois, the atmosphere is expected to become unstable again after morning storms. This could lead to scattered thunderstorms capable of producing very large hail, with some tornado risk as well.

Storms may also redevelop farther east into parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania later in the day. While uncertainty remains higher there, isolated severe storms — including the potential for damaging winds and a brief tornado — are possible.

Storm Prediction Center map shows severe weather threat Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

Storms continue through the week

The active pattern will not end Wednesday.

On Thursday, April 16, the severe weather threat shifts east, with isolated strong to severe storms possible from the Mid-South through the Ohio Valley and into parts of the Northeast, including New York and southern New England, according to theStorm Prediction Center. The main concerns will be damaging wind gusts and hail, though the threat appears more limited than Wednesday.

By Friday, April 17, a more significant setup is expected to develop again.

A stronger system is forecast to bring widespread severe thunderstorms from the southern Plains into the Mississippi Valley and parts of the Midwest. This includes areas such as Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa, where all hazards — large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes — will be possible.

Forecasters say some storms could become intense, especially if discrete supercells develop before storms merge into a larger line. That could increase the risk for very large hail and stronger tornadoes before a transition to a more widespread wind threat later in the day.

Storm Prediction Center maps show severe weather threat across the U.S. Thursday, April 16, through Friday, April 17, 2026.

Rolling storm damage report

As storms move across the country, this interactive map lets you track impacts in real time. See where tornadoes touched down, hail sizes reported, trees knocked over and roads closed due to flooding.

Hover over each icon to view detailed reports from National Weather Service stations right in the strike zone.

U.S. weather radar

U.S. weather watches and warnings

Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text

Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the United States as the Weather Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached atbaddison@gannett.com.Find her on Facebook here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:US severe weather threatens 100 million. Maps show greatest risk areas

byAlpha World

in

April 18, 2026

Is your area at risk for severe weather? 100 million in path of storms

Severe weather is expected tostretch across a large portion of the countryWednesday, April 15, with storms developing from the southern...

Tiger Woods fighting subpoena for medication records in DUI case

The legal battle overTiger Woods’ prescription medication recordsis officially underway in Florida.

After the famed golferwas arrested in FloridaMarch 27 on suspicion of driving while impaired, Florida state prosecutors filed a notice in court April 7 that said they planned tosubpoena Woods’ medication recordssince Jan. 1.

Now Woods’ attorney has fired back with a response that states Woods has a constitutional right to privacy with these records unless the state can convince the court why such records are relevant to the state’s criminal investigation of Woods.

“The defense objects to the issuance of a subpoena and requests the court to conduct a hearing to determine if the prescription records are ‘relevant to the criminal investigation,’” said Woods’ attorney, Douglas Duncan.

If the court grants the state’s request for a subpoena for these records, Woods’ attorney also wants a protective order governing the use and release of these records to shield them from public view.

Why is the state trying to get these records from Tiger Woods?

Woods, 50, wasarrested in Jupiter Island March 27after authorities say his Land Rover clipped the back of a trailer from behind in a residential neighborhood and then tipped over. Authorities suspected he was impaired by medications, not alcohol, after evaluating him on the scene.

After Woods refused to take a urine test, Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said, “We will never get definitive results as to what he was impaired on at the time of the crash."

State prosecutors didn’t say why they wanted to subpoena Woods’ prescription records, but such records could help bolster their case regarding Woods’ alleged impairment. Meanwhile, Woods haspleaded not guiltyand said he is “stepping away” to “seek treatment and focus on my health.”

Tiger Woods was arrested for driving under the influence after a car crash in Florida on Friday, March 27, the Martin County Sheriff's Office said. Woods and the other driver involved in the two-car crash were not injured. Photos release by Martin County Sheriff's Office show the scene of the crash.