Map Shows Three States Facing 'Intense Tornadoes' Threat

Three states in the south and midwestern U.S. were at risk of tornadoes early Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The NWS released a severe weather warning that said, "dangerous severe weather will continue overnight in the nation's heartland with potentially intense tornadoes and very large hail."

The three states the NWS has placed under a tornado watch are Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois.

The map below shows which counties in those states were affected early Tuesday.

The tornado watch for Illinois included counties across the state's south central and southwest regions.

Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri were placed in the 'moderate' to 'enhanced risk' categories.

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The NWS urged those at risk to ensure they have multiple ways to receive tornado warnings and to have a plan for where to shelter should the need arise.

Tennessee is also bracing for widespread hail and high winds on Tuesday.

More than 27,000 customers across parts of Oklahoma and Missouri were without power early Tuesday, according to PowerOutage.us, a website that tracks live data from utilities companies.

On Monday, Oklahoma was devastated by tornadoes, and the NWS warned residents of a "particularly dangerous situation" until 5 a.m. CDT on Tuesday.

A "mile wide" tornado wrought havoc in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on Monday, and Barnsdall, a small town in the Sooner State, was struck for the second time in a month.

The NWS in Tulsa had warned earlier on Monday that "a large and life-threatening tornado" was headed toward Barnsdall, with wind gusts of up to 70 mph.

Monday's tornadoes follow several deadly twisters that ripped through the state last week, killing four people and leaving at least 100 injured.

Nearly 190 storm reports were made across the country on Monday, according to the NWS Storm Prediction Center. Forecasters at the center also reported high winds in Kansas and Nebraska.

Severe weather has blighted much of the U.S. in recent weeks, especially in the central and southern states.

Oklahoma in particular has been battered with extreme weather, with the NWSSPC reporting eight tornados in the state alone.

Last week, dramatic footage circulated on social media showing storm chaser Freddy McKinney rescuing a family of four after their home was destroyed by a tornado near Hawley, Texas.

Newsweek has contacted the National Weather Service for comment via email.

Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about tornados or other extreme weather events? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com

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Joe Edwards is a Live News Reporter in Newsweek's London bureau. 

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