Storms bring twisters and hail to Midwest

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Meteorologists warned portions of Texas and Louisiana to brace for severe thunderstorms Tuesday after the lower Midwest suffered a pounding Monday.

Storm spotters reported multiple funnel clouds northeast of Champaign, Ill., Monday after at least one twister touched down northwest of the college town, Accuweather.com reported.

A vigorous line of thunderstorms with a 76-mph wind gust pushed through the Champaign area, damaging at least one home and downing several trees.

The storm's winds were strong enough to overturn a semi-trailer and a 500-gallon propane tank near Danville, Ind.

As it moved across the Midwest towards Canada, the storm triggered widespread power outages in northwestern Ohio.

Quarter-sized hail accompanied afternoon thunderstorms from east-central Illinois into northern Indiana and northwestern Ohio.

Hail fell in Clinton, Pa. Monday night while further east in Westfield, N.Y., thunderstorms ripped the roofs off some homes.

Forecasters warned of severe storms and possible tornadoes Tuesday in Houston, Brownsville and Corpus Christi, Texas, and Shreveport, La.

Overnight those storms may expand eastward across eastern Louisiana and western Mississippi, putting New Orleans at risk, they said.