Hail topped 3 inches in diameter (bigger than baseballs) in both the Midwest and Plains on Friday, with many significant hail reports (over 2 inches). Hurricane force wind gusts also verified on Friday,

Five tornadoes hit the Kansas City area Monday night. Did a change in National Weather Service balloon launches leave forecasters in the dark about the threat for much of the day?

Risk of severe weather stretches across parts of the Midwest on Friday.

Multiple tornadoes tore through Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin on Friday, leaving heavy damage in Lena, Illinois, and forcing evacuations in Rochester and Marion, Minnesota.

The tornado made “like a whirring sound … and I could hear things being ripped off (the house),” one resident said.

Severe thunderstorms tore across parts of the Midwest on Tuesday afternoon and evening, producing multiple tornadoes and unleashing destructive hail and damaging wind. In Independence, Iowa, the roof of a warehouse was blown off,

Severe storms sweep from the Plains to New York with tornado risk, 60 mph winds, and flooding, as Colorado recovers from a sudden deep freeze and mountain snow.

After severe storms damaged communities in the Plains and the Midwest, forecasters warned that storms could bring giant hail, tornadoes and severe wind gusts to the regions again. Authorities in Kansas reported several people with minor injuries after storms passed through on Monday.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. If you are living in the Midwest, I am sure you have gotten tired of seeing your region in the bullseye for severe weather week after week. Here are some of the science factors for why ...

Severe thunderstorms tore across parts of the Midwest, producing multiple tornadoes and unleashing destructive hail and damaging wind.