The threat of tornadoes looms over much of Minnesota Thursday as severe storms blow across the state and into western Wisconsin.

Despite a few tornado sightings, Minnesota apparently escaped major property damage or injuries from Thursday’s storms. A large swath of the state and neighboring Wisconsin went on storm watch Thursday,

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.