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.

Millions of people in the Midwest and Great Plains are in the path of numerous severe thunderstorms expected on Monday. Kansas City is expecting winds up to 50 MPH and half-dollar-sized hail that could damage roofs or cars.

At least nine people were killed after a tornado hit southeastern Kentucky, while another seven died in Missouri.

A strong storm system coming out of the Great Plains brought severe thunderstorms to the Midwest on Thursday, including a reported tornado that swept through a small Wisconsin city, damaging businesses and homes, forcing road closures and downing power lines, the authorities said.

Severe storms will pack threats of strong tornadoes and destructive winds in Chicago, Milwaukee and other major Midwest cities this afternoon and evening. Meanwhile, today marks the start of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season,

Nonstop severe weather that spawned dozens of tornadoes and killed 28 people in recent days is in its final stretch Tuesday, but millions in the eastern half of the United States are still in the path of dangerous storms.