More Tornadoes Expected Friday as a 10 Percent Probability Zone With EF2 Potential Targets Minneapolis, Madison, and Chicago
PLAINS AND MIDWEST, UNITED STATES — Friday April 17, 2026 brings another round of tornado potential across a wide corridor from Texas through the Great Lakes. The SPC Day 2 Tornado Outlook, updated April 16, 2026 at 2:05 AM ET, shows a well-defined threat stretching from Wichita Falls and Oklahoma City in the south all the way north through Kansas City, Des Moines, Minneapolis, and Madison. EF2 or stronger tornadoes are specifically possible across the highest probability zone.
Friday Tornado Probability by Zone
| Probability | Cities Covered |
|---|---|
| 10% with EF2 possible | Minneapolis, Madison, Green Bay, Quad Cities, Des Moines, Chicago edge |
| 5% | Kansas City, Columbia, St. Louis, Springfield, Wichita, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Fayetteville |
| 2% | Omaha, Amarillo, Lubbock, Wichita Falls, Abilene, Dallas, Memphis, Little Rock, Champaign, Duluth |
The 10% zone with EF2 hatching covers the most dangerous tornado corridor Friday — running from the Quad Cities and Des Moines north through Minneapolis and across to Madison and Green Bay. The hatching means violent tornadoes are specifically possible in this zone, not just brief weak ones.
The 5% zone covers a massive swath from Oklahoma City and Tulsa north through Kansas City, Wichita, and into Missouri — still a significant and elevated tornado threat for millions of people.
The Simple Message for Friday
More tornadoes are expected. Have alerts active. Know your shelter. The threat runs from Texas to the Great Lakes with violent tornado potential in the Minneapolis to Madison corridor.
Stay with CabarrusWeekly.com for live Friday tornado coverage across the Plains and Midwest.
