Severe thunderstorms have torn across parts of the Midwest producing multiple tornadoes and unleashing destructive hail and damaging wind.

In Independence, Iowa, the roof of a warehouse was blown off, damage that Storm Chaser Aaron Rigsby said may have been caused by a tornado or intense straight-line winds. Similar storm damage was also reported in Union Center, Wisconsin. Local and National Weather Service teams will confirm where tornadoes touched down and assign ratings.

One of the most notable tornadoes of the day formed in east-central Iowa, where drone video captured one vortex spinning over mostly open fields as storms marched east.

In all, six tornadoes were reported across eastern Iowa and southern Wisconsin. But the broader, more widespread threat came from powerful wind gusts and large hail.

Hail ranging from baseballs to grapefruits hammered the region, large enough to shatter car windows and damage roofs and siding. A hailstone measuring 4 inches across was reported in Dane, Wisconsin, about 13 miles northwest of Madison.

Story Date: April 16, 2026