Midwest tornado outbreak: 86 tornadoes strike, 50 million in impact zone

Over April 17–18, eighty-six tornadoes hit the Midwest and Southern Plains, with severe damage in Lena, Illinois; Rochester and Marion, Minnesota; and Marathon County, Wisconsin (Weston and Ringle reaching EF-3 intensity). A 1,000-mile corridor affecting 50 million people saw the outbreak, though no fatalities were reported. Two injuries from an EF-2 tornado were recorded south of Rochester.