Tornado warning livestream as 142,000 people told “take cover now!”

Numerous tornado warnings have been issued simultaneously across five states on Friday afternoon as a series of destructive storms tears through the Central and Midwestern United States, putting around 142,000 people in the direct path of dangerous and potentially life-threatening tornadoes.

The severe weather threat, which has stretched from the Plains to the Midwest and Great Lakes, is expected to peak later Friday into Friday night, with conditions favorable for fast‑developing thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds.

As of Friday afternoon, just before 5 p.m. ET, National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists have issued urgent tornado warnings for Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

AccuWeather meteorologists are livestreaming their tornado coverage on Friday as the destructive storms begin to unfold.

Freeport, Illinois Tornado

A particularly dangerous situation unfolded in northwestern Illinois as a large, confirmed tornado remained on the ground Friday afternoon in Jo Daviess and Stephenson counties. The tornado was confirmed by weather spotters and was moving east around 25 mph, prompting urgent life-safety messaging from the NWS.

“You are in a life-threatening situation,” the NWS office in Quad Cities said in a tornado warning. “Flying debris may be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction is possible.”

“To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly tornado is on the ground,” the warning continued. “To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.”

The tornado was reported near communities including McConnell, Freeport, Cedarville, Orangeville, and Dakota, with warnings emphasizing complete destruction of mobile homes, significant damage to buildings, and life-threatening flying debris. Residents were urged to take immediate shelter, noting that heavy rainfall could obscure visibility of the tornado.

Wisconsin Tornado Warnings

Multiple tornado warnings were active across western and central Wisconsin as fast-moving severe storms tracked northeast Friday afternoon. Trempealeau County was placed under warning due to a storm with a history of producing strong tornadoes, while Buffalo County, Wood County, and additional portions of Trempealeau County also faced radar-indicated tornado threats.

Elsewhere in southwestern Wisconsin, tornado warnings extended into Vernon and Crawford counties, tied to storms moving at 40 to 45 mph. Several warnings cited the risk of significant tree damage, mobile home destruction, and hail.

Iowa Tornado Warnings

Eastern and northeastern Iowa remained under multiple tornado warnings as supercell thunderstorms swept through the region Friday afternoon. Poweshiek County was warned for a storm capable of producing a tornado and golf ball-sized hail, while additional warnings covered Benton, Linn, Clayton, Fayette, Allamakee, and Winneshiek counties.

Houston County, Minnesota Tornado Warning

A tornado warning extended into southeastern Houston County in Minnesota as part of a multi-state storm system impacting portions of Iowa and Wisconsin. The warning was issued after weather spotters reported a funnel cloud near the Iowa border, with storms racing northeast at around 45 mph.

Officials warned of hazardous flying debris and damage to mobile homes, roofs, and vehicles, urging residents in southeastern Minnesota near the state line to seek immediate shelter as storms approached.

Missouri Tornado Warning

In north-central Missouri, a radar-indicated tornado warning was in effect for parts of Linn, Grundy, Sullivan, and Livingston counties. A severe thunderstorm near Chillicothe was moving northeast at 45 mph, capable of producing both a tornado and quarter-sized hail.

Cities including Chillicothe, Meadville, Linneus, Wheeling, and Browning were listed among impacted locations, with warnings stressing the risk of mobile home destruction, falling trees, and dangerous debris as the storm advanced.