Strong to severe storms to soak the central U.S. on Wednesday while the South continues to sizzle

Another unsettled July day will bring risks of severe thunderstorms, flooding, and dangerous heat for millions across several states. The central U.S. will be targeted for the strong storms, while the South will see the worst heat and humidity. The northern Rockies, central plains, Upper Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions are bracing for some rough weather on Wednesday. Over 22 million people across portions of at least 13 states are at a marginal to slight risk, levels one and two out of five, respectively, of experiencing severe thunderstorms today into early Thursday morning, according to the Storm Prediction Center. The Storm Prediction Center's severe weather outlook for Wednesday. Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are among the states with the greatest risk today of seeing severe storms. While damaging winds and large hail are the biggest threat, tornadoes could spin up, particularly in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and central Wisconsin. Wisconsin has had 46 preliminary reports of tornadoes so far in 2026, nearly doubling the annual average for the Badger State. Potential flooding in several states The showers and thunderstorms that form today in the central and eastern U.S. will be fueled by abundant moisture nudging north out of the Gulf Coast. This will raise the risk of flooding in several states across the plains, Midwest, Tennessee Valley, and Mid-Atlantic regions, with the greatest risk stretching from northeast Kansas through most of Iowa and Wisconsin. The Weather Prediction Center has outlined portions of at least 26 states containing over 75 million people for a marginal to slight risk, levels one and two out of four, respectively, of receiving excessive rainfall today into early tomorrow that could produce areas of flooding. This will be the second straight day this week that some of the states will have dealt with torrential downpours. Dangerous heat threatens several million people The South will continue to sizzle today. The number of people forecast to experience the top two worst levels of HeatRisk will rise significantly today compared to Tuesday. Around 29 million people yesterday experienced major to extreme HeatRisk, categories three and four out of four, respectively, according to the National Weather Service. Related article Here are the states hardest hit by severe weather this year moving into the middle of summer The number of people today expected to experience those dangerous levels of heat and humidity has climbed to over 45 million people. The highest concentration of them will be in the Southeast and Southwest in states like North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Arizona. Almost 18 million of them will be found in Florida alone. An excessive heat warning has been issued for portions of the Carolinas today. Close to 30 million people in parts of six states are under a heat advisory today. Just over 10 million people in five states are under an extreme heat warning today. Heat index values could climb to as high as 110 to 115 degrees in eastern North and South Carolina this afternoon.