Payam Javan: Millions of Americans from Lincoln to Baltimore brace for severe thunderstorms and potential tornadoes as a large storm system sweeps across the central U.S. Kansas and Nebraska face the highest risk, with other states including Oklahoma, Missouri, and Virginia also on alert for severe weather, including hail, strong winds, and flash flooding. Additionally, Southern Iowa, Northern Missouri, and Central Illinois are identified as particularly vulnerable to significant hail and tornado activity.

As tornado season peaks in May, experts note a shift in tornado patterns, potentially influenced by climate change-induced precipitation shifts. While the exact causes remain uncertain, some scientists suggest that the western Great Plains’ increasing aridity due to climate change may be a contributing factor, altering the distribution of tornadoes across the region.