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Hail, 80 mph winds and damage to homes were recorded in storms across the central United States

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Across the central U.S. on Thursday, residents and officials surveyed damage caused by a series of overnight storms, as some areas braced for more severe weather that could derail Halloween plans across the region.

The thunderstorms came amid a dramatically different weather forecast for the country, with potentially record-breaking heat in the northeast and heavy snow in the highlands to the west.

Weather officials in Iowa recorded winds of 60 mph overnight, while Kansas and Illinois reported gusts of up to 70 and 80 mph, respectively, according to the National Weather Service. Authorities reported downed trees and power lines in Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

In Prairie Grove, a small town in northwest Arkansas near the Oklahoma state line, police and local government officials reported damaged homes and widespread power outages, with only a fraction of the area's 7,000 residents still having power. About 75% of schools in the district were without power Thursday morning.

A possible tornado is suspected of uprooting trees and damaging buildings, including the Prairie Grove water park and baseball complex, the police department said in a statement posted on social media.

“We are praying for the homeowners who wake up to property damage,” Prairie Grove Mayor David Faulk said in a post on Facebook early Thursday. “These are the times when victims find hope in the help they receive from their neighbors. We join them, walk with them and share this burden with them as we all come together to help those in need.”

The strong thunderstorms that formed Wednesday were sparked by a cold front from the west colliding with warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. Storms are expected to move east toward the Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi valleys on Thursday, continuing the threat of damaging wind gusts, sudden downpours and isolated tornadoes, according to AccuWeather.

Storms continue to be forecast for parts of the central United States

Forecasters say Friday's storms could continue to create dangerous conditions in the Tennessee and Mississippi valleys, including torrential rain that could trigger flash flooding in low-lying areas.

Rain is also expected to develop along a front near the central Appalachians and Northeast region before tapering off by Friday evening. In the south, scattered rain is forecast for parts of Florida.

On Friday, the risk of strong to severe thunderstorms will extend westward into the southern highlands. Potential threats include frequent lightning, wind gusts, hail and a “minimal threat of tornadoes,” the weather service said.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, portions of all states in the Plains and Midwest are experiencing drought conditions, with some areas experiencing severe and extreme drought.

Possible record heat in the northeast

Meteorologists said temperatures on Thursday were expected to be 20 to 25 degrees above the average for this time of year in the Northeast, likely setting new daily high records across the region.

In states like New York, Virginia, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, afternoon high temperatures are expected to reach into the high 70s and 80s. The high temperatures will also push mercury levels into the 80s across the Southeast, from Texas to Florida and up into the Carolinas.

Across the Northeast, officials have warned residents not to throw cigarettes or matches on the ground and to put out fires with copious amounts of water, as dry and windy conditions increase the risk of wildfires.

Large fires have broken out across the region. More than 120 wildfires have burned around 450 acres in Massachusetts in the last eight days. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation banned all open fires and charcoal burning in state parks “to prevent wildfires caused by drought conditions.”

Snow is falling across the American West

Snow will continue to fall across much of the western United States, including the Upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest regions, accumulating in the highlands for the remainder of the week.

Moderate to heavy snow is forecast for parts of Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and Michigan, according to the National Weather Service. Meanwhile, another front moving across the Pacific Northwest and California is bringing snowfall across the Southern Cascades.

“Be prepared for winter driving conditions and slower travel if you must venture into the high country,” the weather service warned. “Following the storm, much colder air will lead to frost and freeze issues at lower elevations.”

Contributor: Julia Gomez

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