Strong Winds Strong winds of 55 mph or more can cause significant damage even though no tornado is present. "Downbursts" are columns of air that slam to the earth and spread high winds in many directions. Downbursts can be just as damaging as tornadoes; if such conditions are present, take the same precautions as you would for a tornado.

There is a slight risk for severe storms in Ohio, West Virginia, western Pennsylvania and western New York. This includes Buffalo, New York; Cleveland; Pittsburgh; and Charleston, West Virginia. Damaging winds and some large hail will be the main threat, but a tornado and some isolated flash flooding cannot be ruled out.

The National Weather Service has now confirmed that a total of seven tornadoes touched down in Walworth, Racine and Waukesha Counties on the evening of Friday, April 17.

A tornado hit south-central Jackson County on Friday night, causing significant damages to homes and other buildings in the early evening. The Friday storms capped off a week of extreme weather, bringing colder temperatures for the weekend and drier conditions next week.

The National Weather Service confirmed tornado touchdowns in Marathon and Racine counties Friday night.

Five tornadoes struck McLean County on Friday night, according to the National Weather Service, three of them in Bloomington and Normal.

The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes from Friday night’s severe storms in the Ozarks.