Hurricane Beryl, the earliest hurricane to make landfall in Texas since 1986, has caused significant damage and fatalities in the state. The storm is now moving northeast and is expected to bring heavy rain to the Midwest, including Indiana, Detroit, Vermont, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City. Millions in Texas are without power, and the restoration process is expected to take several days.
Heavy rains in the Midwest have caused widespread flooding, resulting in at least two deaths, evacuations, and significant damage. Further storms are expected, adding to the challenges faced by communities already dealing with floodwaters and extreme heat.
A series of powerful tornadoes tore through the Midwest, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming multiple lives. In the small Iowa town of Greenfield, a twister rated at least an EF-3 by the National Weather Service killed four people and injured nearly three dozen. The tornado, which traveled over 40 miles, leveled homes, crumbled cars, and uprooted trees, causing extensive damage to the community. Another person was killed in Adams County, Iowa, when their car was blown off the road by a separate tornado. The storms also battered parts of Texas, Illinois, and Wisconsin, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers.
Severe storms are expected to batter the US Midwest today, potentially bringing tornadoes, large hail, and disruptive winds. Over 25 million people are under a Level 3 or 4 risk for severe weather, including tornadoes reaching EF2 or higher. The storms are expected to unleash their fury this afternoon through the evening, particularly in Iowa, northwest Illinois, southwest Wisconsin, and northern Missouri. Des Moines and other major cities in the region are at the highest risk for tornadoes and damaging winds. Flash flooding is also a concern, with heavy rains predicted for parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. The severe weather is part of a larger pattern that has affected the US in recent weeks and is expected to continue into Wednesday, bringing more thunderstorms and potential tornadoes from Texas to Kentucky.
Hyde Park Venture Partners (HPVP), a Chicago-based early-stage venture capital firm, has closed its fourth fund with $98 million in commitments. The fund will invest in startups primarily in the Midwest and Toronto. HPVP has invested in over 90% of mid-continent startups and has been an early backer of companies like ShipBob, FourKites, G2, LogicGate, and Dentologie.
The central and Midwestern regions of the US are set to brace for a severe weather pattern later this week and into the weekend, bringing with it a high risk of severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and other hazardous weather conditions. Meteorologists are warning residents to be prepared for damaging winds, hail, heavy rainfall, and the possibility of tornadoes.
