Confirmed tornadoes strike Illinois and Iowa as Midwest faces severe storms

A fast-moving severe weather setup turned the Midwest into a patchwork of warnings, confirmed tornadoes and mounting damage Wednesday, with forecasters flagging a rare particularly dangerous situation as storms intensified across Illinois and Iowa. By nightfall, tornadoes had been confirmed near Harpers Ferry, Iowa, at 5:10 p.m. and in Charleston, Illinois, around 6:40 p.m. local time, showing how quickly even well-watched outbreaks can outpace household decisions and local response.

The National Weather Service said both tornadoes were part of an environment where strong and violent tornadoes were possible. Hail measuring 2.75 inches fell in the Charleston area, and photos and videos showed downed trees and power lines across the city. Charleston police said many trees were blocking roadways and told residents not to drive unless it was an emergency. City officials later declared a local state of emergency as crews worked to clear debris and assess damage.

In Effingham, about 40 miles southwest of Charleston, initial reports pointed to damaged buildings, trailers, downed power lines and fallen trees. Officials were trying to set up an emergency operations center while internet service was down, a reminder that the disruption was not limited to the most visibly damaged communities. At least 55,000 customers were without power in Illinois, adding another layer of risk as storms knocked out lights, communications and traffic signals across parts of the state.

The scale of the outbreak stretched well beyond Illinois and Iowa. Earlier Wednesday, more than 125 million Americans were under severe weather advisories, while the Gulf Coast states were also dealing with flood alerts tied to Tropical Storm Arthur. Meteorologists said the pattern was unusual for June, when a strong jet stream, tropical moisture and cold air combined to create conditions rare enough to support tornadoes across the Midwest. CBS News reported at least seven tornadoes during the event, and the National Weather Service said survey teams would head to Harpers Ferry and likely northern Illinois to determine the strength of the tornadoes and map the damage.