Tornadoes, hail and high winds forecast to hit midwest and Mississippi valley

Severe storms put nearly 50 million at risk and follow a deadly weekend after tornado killed two people in Texas

Severe storms are expected to sweep across the mid-Mississippi valley and midwest regions of the US on Monday, putting nearly 50 million people at risk.

The storm prediction center has issued a level 4 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms across south-west Illinois and south-east Missouri, including major cities such as St Louis. Forecasters warned of “multiple strong to intense tornadoes, widespread severe/damaging wind gusts and scattered large to very large hail”, with some hail potentially reaching baseball size.