The Midwest is bracing for severe weather on Monday, including the threat of the excessive rainfall, hail damaging wind gusts and tornadoes.

Missouri, Illinois and Indiana face the greatest risk of severe storms. Scattered large hail, flooding, severe and damaging winds, and strong to intense tornadoes could develop across the region, the National Weather Service said.

“Storms will intensify Monday afternoon and continue into the night, increasing the risk across a heavily populated part of the region,” said Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist. “The St. Louis area is in the heart of the zone facing the greatest potential for strong, long-track tornadoes.”

The St. Louis metro is under a flood watch, while parts of central Illinois are under a severe storm warning and tornado warning.

The severe weather is forecast to shift eastward on Tuesday, according to AccuWeather, bringing a threat of damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes to parts of Texas and the Ohio Valley.

A pair of tornadoes killed two people in north Texas over the weekend. An EF-2 tornado in Wise County led to one fatality and six injuries and caused significant damage across multiple neighborhoods, according to County Judge J.D. Clark.

A separate tornado in Parker County left one dead, the county sheriff’s office said.

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The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced today that it is submitting a request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Healthy Choice Waiver to include candy as an ineligible purchase. Once approved, the restriction will take effect November 1, 2026.

“DHHS continues to strengthen our Healthy Choice Waiver by adding candy to the list of items ineligible for purchase with SNAP benefits,” said Shannon Grotrian, Director of the Office of Economic Assistance (OEA). “This step supports healthier SNAP purchasing decisions and reflects the Department’s commitment to improving health outcomes for Nebraskans.” 

The change builds on the current Healthy Choice Waiver, which already prohibits the purchase of soda and energy drinks, a policy that took effect January 1, 2026.

Excessive consumption of sugar can contribute to a range of serious health conditions, including heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and dental decay. Research from the USDA has shown that SNAP participants have a higher prevalence of obesity than both income-eligible and higher-income nonparticipants.

That same study found that SNAP participants, on average, consume more added sugars and fewer fruits and vegetables than non-participants. Another study from the University of Minnesota found that restriction of sugary foods led to an increase in healthier purchases and a decrease in sugary food purchases.

Prior to the implementation date, educational information will be sent to SNAP participants, retailers, and community members outlining the changes. Additional information including the definition of candy, will be shared in the following weeks on the SNAP Healthy Choice Waiver webpage at https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Healthy-Choices-Waiver.aspx. This will include frequently asked questions (FAQ), information on healthy alternative purchases, and other community resources.