Farther east and south, more typical spring storms -- meaning possible severe thunderstorms withhail, heavy rain and gusty winds -- were expected to visit the southern Plains and Mississippi River Valley by Wednesday evening.
"With the hail coming down hard and the tornado so wide you could see it, you feel hopeless in its path and know there is nothing you can do, " said Ms. Jones, a 27-year-old employee of the Federal Aviation Administration.