Central US Pounded by Tornadoes and Baseball-Sized Hail

Spring storms across the central United States delivered a brutal punch this week, with tornadoes, hurricane-force winds, and hailstones the size of softballs causing widespread damage from Kansas to Texas. The outbreak, which began Monday and lasted through Wednesday, left residents in Tornado Alley bracing for more before a quieter stretch finally arrived.

Eight tornadoes touched down Monday, including an EF2 that tore through Sycamore, Kansas. But the worst came Tuesday when a massive hailstorm pummeled Springfield, Missouri. Hailstones up to 12 centimeters across shattered car windshields and dented roofs across the city. At Dickerson Park Zoo, a beloved emu named Adam was killed when he was caught outside during the storm. Early estimates suggest it will be the costliest hailstorm in Springfield's history.

Wednesday brought the strongest twister of the week—an EF3 that ripped through Mineral Wells, Texas, with winds reaching 233 kilometers per hour. The mayor declared a local disaster after five people were injured and homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed.

Meanwhile, southern China faced a different kind of crisis. More than 538 millimeters of rain fell in just 12 hours near Qinzhou, flooding streets and trapping hundreds of vehicles. Five people were stranded in a residential building, and 800 residents were evacuated as emergency crews waded through chest-deep water.

In Moscow, a record-breaking snowstorm dumped 21 centimeters overnight—the deepest April snowfall since 1880. The storm toppled 740 trees and grounded flights as wind gusts topped 80 kilometers per hour, caused by Arctic air forced south by a stubborn high-pressure system over the North Atlantic.