A busy stretch of severe thunderstorms is underway due to record heat and now the threats are ramping up, putting major metro areas from Chicago to Nashville under threat as the country hits the peak of tornado season.

Meteorologist Jake Beitlich says a strong, low-pressure system brought gusty winds and severe storms to parts of the state on Thursday. Tornadoes were reported far northwest by Grand Forks and Crookston, wet central Minnesota near Benson, a “skinny-rope” tornado near Montevideo, and another near Spring Hill.

Severe weather slammed several states in the Upper Midwest Thursday, dropping a few funnel clouds and likely tornadoes in Minnesota and Wisconsin.