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Winter Storms Give Way To Tornadoes, Wind Gusts, Flooding

Severe storms across the Midwest hit several states with tornadoes, powerful wind gusts and even flooding Thursday.
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Just when we thought maybe the brutal weather was letting up...

"We have been on a extreme weather roller coaster across the country these past weeks, but now it is veering in a new direction. All that snow giving way to tornadoes across the Midwest." (Via Fox News)

"Severe weather taking parts of the country by storm. tornadoes tearing through several states. ripping off rooftops and knocking down trees." (Via WSVN)

Tornado warnings and watches, powerful thunderstorms and fierce wind gusts reportedly wreaked havoc in seven states Thursday.

NBC reports as many as 12 states were on alert for possible tornadoes at some point during the day. Illinois was hit with the first confirmed tornado in the U.S. in more than a month.

"Tornado reports, you gotta keep in mind, in the first 51 days of 2014, we only had five reports of tornadoes in the country so far this year. In the last 24 hours, 11." (Via HLN)

According to CNN, Illinois was the most battered state of them all with as many as eight tornadoes reported within its borders.

And high winds left tens of thousands from Arkansas to Michigan in the dark late Thursday.

Flash floods were also a big concern for the affected states as new water poured onto already melting snow and ice, causing lakes and rivers to rise rapidly. (Via WCMH)

Fortunately, there have been no reports of deaths or serious injuries as a result of these storms. But it might not be over yet — experts say the severe weather could continue into the weekend.