article: The Midwest is bracing itself for worse to come after a monster storm impacted a 1,500-mile arc with 10 reported tornadoes, grapefruit-sized hail and winds of up to 80 mph on Wednesday. The storm system, which stretches from Texas up to the Great Lakes and down to North Carolina, has the potential to be the biggest severe weather event so far this spring, according to The Weather Channel. Hail of up to 4 inches in diameter smashed buildings and cars and high winds tore off roofs and downed trees, as wild weather hit 12 states. Strong storms rumbled through the Southern Plains early on Thursday, missing major population centers but offering a preview of bad weather that could hit Chicago, Detroit and other big cities in the Midwest later in the day. Scroll down for video . A tornado moves into southwestern Kansas bringing high winds and hail: Strong storms rumbled through the Southern Plains early on Thursday, missing major population centers but offering a preview of bad weather that could hit Chicago, Detroit and other big cities in the Midwest later in the day . Derek Smith, 14, from Bonne Terre, looks at the shattered rear window of his mom's car that was busted out by hail slightly smaller than a tennis ball that fell from a storm in downtown Farmington, Mo., on Wednesday . Some of the hail stones were almost the size of tennis balls that fell in downtown Farmington, Mo., on Wednesday . A hail stone slightly smaller than a tennis ball sits on the rear deck of a car after it smashed the rear window of the car in downtown Farmington on Wednesday . Meteorologists and emergency managers from the high Plains to the Appalachians are on alert following the year's first widespread bout of severe weather . The storm system, which stretches from Texas up to the Great Lakes and down to North Carolina, has the potential to be the biggest severe weather event so far this spring, according to The Weather Channel . The Storm Prediction Center said 57 million people lived in an area with an 'enhanced risk' of hail, damaging winds and tornadoes on Thursday. Tornadoes were reported on Wednesday and early Thursday in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, but those areas saw minimal damage. Meteorologists and emergency managers from the high Plains to the Appalachians were on alert as the U.S. had the year's first widespread bout of severe weather. The key message: Have a plan. 'Where to hide, emergency kits with medicines, snacks, water. Even something like sturdy shoes, gloves, long-sleeve shirts. If they get hit by a tornado they'll find they'll need those things pretty quickly,' said meteorologist Erin Maxwell with the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma. 'Know what you're doing, and just don't panic,' Maxwell added. Severe thunderstorms packing 80mph winds and large hail made their way across central Missouri on Wednesday afternoon, including several capable of producing tornadoes. Weather spotters reported a funnel cloud near Potosi in eastern Missouri at 3:35 p.m., while an hour earlier the Bates County emergency manager reported a tornado in southwest Missouri that destroyed a 60-foot machine shop. Indiana State Police said high winds toppled a tractor-trailer on Interstate 69 near Evansville, while utilities reported a number of power outages after wind gusts reached 70 mph. Fewer than 1 million people were covered by Wednesday's 'moderate risk' area between Wichita, Kansas, and Jefferson City, Missouri. Thursday's worst weather was predicted in an area that included Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis, as well as those in Memphis, Tennessee, and Little Rock, Arkansas. Areas that won't see strong storms on Thursday could see heavy rain instead. A woman in Kentucky posted photos online of hail the size of baseballs on Wednesday . Day two of the extreme weather front is predicted to being predcited to bring an 'enhanced risk' of hail, damaging winds and tornadoes to 57 million people, said The Storm Prediction Center . Thursday's worst weather is predicted in an area that includes Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis, as well as those in Memphis, Tennessee, and Little Rock, Arkansas . Workers clear debris from Fish Pot Creek in Ballwin, Mo., on Wednesday, April 8, 2015, that was blocking a bridge: The blockage came after the storm on Tuesday causing the area around the bridge to flood . A parked car has a log jammed in to the wheelwell in Ballwin, Mo., after a storm caused flooding from Fish Pot Creek . The Ballwin Laundromat had more than a foot of water in it after the storm on Tuesday in Ballwin, Mo. Workers clear debris from Fish Pot Creek in Ballwin, Mo., on Wednesday that was blocking the bridge. The blockage came after the storm on Tuesday causing the area around the bridge to flood . A driver in a lifted four wheel drive truck negotiates the deep flood waters  after a severe thunderstorm and tornado warning passed through the northeast side of Monroe Count east of Bloomington, Ind. Pea and marble-sized hail: A supercell produced a tornado in Northwest Oklahoma and close to Medicine Lodge, Kansas, causing damaging winds, hail and funnels .
highlights: Band of extreme weather predicted to hit  an area including Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis, as well as Memphis, Tennessee, and Little Rock, Arkansas on Thursday .
  Storm Prediction Center estimates that 57 million people live in an area with an 'enhanced risk' of hail, damaging winds and tornadoes .
  Severe thunderstorms packing 80mph winds and large hail already made their way across central Missouri on Wednesday .
  Areas that don't see strong storms on Thursday could see heavy rain instead .
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