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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Rapidly advancing storms swept through the Midwest on Monday, unleashing hail, gusty winds, and torrential rain, which caused street flooding, commuter disruptions, and the felling of numerous trees. In a tragic incident, one such tree in western Michigan crushed a man, resulting in his death.
The National Weather Service warned that over 56 million residents across the Midwest and parts of the South faced threats from severe weather. Tornado warnings were issued for regions including southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois, and northern Arkansas.
In Kent County, Michigan, a violent thunderstorm brought down a tree, killing a 39-year-old man who was outdoors with friends, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office. His quick alert to his companions likely spared them from being hit by the tree, as noted by the sheriff’s report. The storm left behind numerous fallen trees and disrupted power lines.
As of Monday night, more than 250,000 individuals across Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan experienced power outages due to the severe weather conditions.
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.
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.