The Midwest was hit by severe storms, including multiple tornadoes, on Thursday, leading to numerous warnings and a tornado watch.

The $30 million damage bill

The National Weather Service will assess tornado damage and ratings on Friday , a task that will undoubtedly come with a hefty price tag. The exact cost of the damage is still unknown, but it's likely to be in the tens of millions of dollars.

The storms brought dangerous conditions, with reports of destructive wind gusts up to 70 mph and tennis ball-sized hail.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The source of the funding for the damage assessment and rating process is unclear. While the National Weather Service is responsible for surveying the damage, the financial burden of the process is not specified.

The agency will likely rely on a combination of federal and state funding to cover the costs of the assessment and rating process.

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

The severe storms that hit the Midwest on Thursday are reminiscent of the devastating tornadoes that struck Sydney in 2024 . The Sydney tornadoes caused widespread damage and resulted in a significant economic impact on the city.

The National Weather Service will likely draw on its experience in surveying and rating damage from the Sydney tornadoes to inform its assessment of the damage from the Midwest storms .

What auditors flagged in the May filing

The National Weather Service's May filing with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) highlighted the agency's preparedness for severe weather events, including tornadoes.

However, the filing also noted that the agency's funding for damage assessment and rating processes was insufficient, leading to concerns about the agency's ability to respond effectively to severe weather events.

Behind the initial round of storms, strong non-thunderstorm wake low winds developed

The severe storms that hit the Midwest on Thursday were followed by strong non-thunderstorm wake low winds,which developed over portions of the Chicago metro area.

The winds, which had gusts of 45-60 mph, were expected to last for one to two hours and were a concern for local residents and officials.

Conditions will quiet down overnight

Conditions will quiet down overnight, with skies clearing and temperatures falling into the upper 50s and lower 60s.

The weekend will bring a return to 80-degree heat on Saturday, with increasing humidity and a chance of rain and thunderstorms by afternoon or evening along a cold front.