<p> Growers across the <B>midwestern</b>, <B>southern</b>, and <B>eastern</b> regions of the U.S. are bracing for the worst as an outbreak of severe storms and tornadoes rages across a third of the country. CNN reports that approximately <B>75 million Americans</b> across the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast and from the Midwest to the East Coast are at risk from a <B>“powerful spring storm system”</b> that is expected to continue into Wednesday. Twisters are already inflicting major damage to trees, power lines, and buildings as the storm outbreak barrels through the country.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">We are being told that although conditions in some places are less than safe, most carriers are taking necessary measures, including going around storms and waiting out the worst.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “Naturally, our biggest concerns now are the damaging wind, heavy rain, and potential for hail to our exposed crops in the field – namely Vidalia® onions and watermelons. <B>We’re receiving and processing onion orders as usual, as if there were no threat</b>,” Johnny White, Director of Sales at Hendrix Produce, tells AndNowUKnow. “As far as transportation goes, there’s been <B>little, if any, road closures</b> for our trucks on the major highways.” <img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/map_specnews02_ltst_4namus_enus_320x180.jpg" alt="cropped_image_042814" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> The storm outbreak is expected to continue through Tuesday as it continues to push east across the United States. <B>Several tornadoes</b>, <B>very large hail</b>, and <B>straight line damaging winds</b> “appear likely,” according to the National Weather Service. The Weather Channel also reports that damaging wind gusts, large hail, and some tornadoes are possible, while heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding in some regions. The cities that will be most affected by these hazards on Tuesday include Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham, and Louisville, while Richmond, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Columbia will be under threat on Wednesday.<img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/map_specnews03_ltst_4namus_enus_320x180.jpg" alt="cropped_image_042814" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> It looks like this storm isn’t quite over yet. Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue following any further updates on this outbreak. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
