Here are the key points from recent severe weather events:
– 42 fatalities have been recorded in eight states due to severe thunderstorms.
– 52 tornadoes have been reported from the severe weather activities between Friday and Saturday, with the possibility of this number increasing after further storm surveys.
– Dozens of wildfires have ignited in Oklahoma, fueled by strong winds.
– A massive dust storm has affected West and central Texas, Oklahoma, and parts of Kansas, reducing visibility to less than a mile in some areas on Friday. The dust spread to the Midwest on Saturday, causing hazy skies and poor air quality.
– Nearly 1,100 flights were canceled nationwide between Friday and Saturday.
– A widespread and violent storm system has resulted in at least 42 deaths across eight states, with additional fatalities emerging in North Carolina.
– Storm-related deaths have been confirmed in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, and North Carolina.
– Oklahoma authorities reported an increase in storm-related deaths due to wildfires and high winds, totaling four in Lincoln, Garfield, Haskell, and Pawnee counties.
– Reports of six new deaths and 29 injuries were noted in Mississippi, along with three deaths in Alabama.
– Significant damage has been reported in 52 out of Alabama’s 67 counties following tornado activity.
– In Mississippi, a tornado caused extensive damage and claimed three lives in Tylerstown. Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency as three individuals remain missing.
– An EF-4 tornado near Diaz in Jackson County, producing estimated winds of up to 190 mph, has been reported by The National Weather Service in Little Rock.
The most recent tornado reported in the Little Rock NWS warning area was the Mayflower-Vilonia tornado on April 27, 2014. The last EF-4 tornado documented in Arkansas occurred on December 10, 2021 in Bay AR, Craighead County. Significant damage was documented in Calera, Alabama late Saturday night, with the Calera Baptist Church’s sanctuary suffering heavy damage, including the roof being torn off. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. The storm prompted a Facebook post from the city, reassuring the community that no injuries were reported. Cleanup efforts began at Calera Baptist Church after it was hit by a tornado on March 16, 2025. Tragically, severe storms, including tornadoes, led to the loss of 12 lives in Missouri and 4 in Arkansas. Furthermore, extreme winds, dust storms, and wildfires claimed at least four lives in Texas and Oklahoma. Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma reported over 130 wildfires across 44 counties, resulting in the destruction of over 293 homes and buildings. Despite the devastation, Stitt vowed to rebuild his own ranch, which was also destroyed by the fires. The storms left a trail of destruction, with homes and neighborhoods obliterated in Missouri and Mississippi. In Kansas, a major 71-vehicle crash resulted in the loss of at least 8 lives on I-70 due to severe dust storms and poor visibility conditions. The crash prompted Governor Laura Kelly to urge motorists to stay vigilant as the weather situation remained unpredictable. The closure of I-70 from Goodland to Colby was necessary to clear the aftermath of the crash.
Brian James shared on social media his recent challenging experience in the fire service. He described managing multiple agencies, over thirty patients, working with more than 55 vehicles, and dealing with extreme weather conditions. Despite the difficulties, he highlighted the dedication of first responders in keeping the community safe. James expressed gratitude for the teamwork that helped transport patients to hospitals using various vehicles. He also expressed condolences for lives lost and appreciation for those rescued during the incident.
Additionally, severe weather, including tornadoes, struck the Tennessee Valley and Gulf Coast states, causing damage to homes and trees. Residents in Taylorsville, Mississippi, faced two tornado-warned storms, resulting in heavy damage and a curfew. Concurrently, a 3.0 magnitude earthquake hit central Mississippi. Storm chaser Aaron Jayjack described his close encounter with a tornado in eastern Mississippi, emphasizing the dangerous conditions caused by heavy rain and potential flash flooding.
Over 500 reports of severe weather, including tornadoes, strong winds, and hail, have been recorded across the Plains, Gulf Coast, and Midwest since Friday. The death toll from the storms has risen, with Missouri bearing the brunt of the fatalities. The community mourns the lives lost and continues to recover from the destruction caused by the severe weather outbreak.
Trish Ramirez assists in searching through the area where a home once stood at Harmony Hills trailer park in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on March 15, 2025. Many homes in Harmony Hills were damaged by severe weather on Friday night. A residence was destroyed after a severe storm on Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Wayne County, Missouri. A tornado in Butler County claimed a man’s life in a mobile home park near Poplar Bluff. The Coroner described the devastation as an “unrecognizable home” reduced to a “debris field.” Authorities also reported significant damage to buildings in the city, including a supermarket and kindergarten facility.
In Wayne County, Missouri, Dakota Henderson and others rescued trapped neighbors, finding five bodies scattered in debris outside his aunt’s house on Friday evening. The residents expressed shock and sorrow over the casualties from the severe weather.
The aftermath showed a vehicle in front of a damaged home with debris from the storm in Wayne County, Missouri. Officials in St. Louis County confirmed the storm-related death of a woman due to possible electrocution. The dangers of downed power lines were emphasized as a cause for concern.
Elsewhere, tornado damage was seen in Tylertown, Mississippi, on March 15, 2025. Three individuals lost their lives in Independence County, Arkansas, with multiple injuries in severe weather incidents. Crashes were reported near Rolla, Missouri.
Authorities urged caution and avoidance of affected areas to allow first responders to work efficiently. The Missouri Highway Patrol was active in rescue efforts and ensuring safety for all. Tornado sightings led to harrowing experiences, such as the Peters family witnessing a tornado while refueling in Rolla.
Communities like Elliott, Mississippi, were left devastated by nocturnal tornadoes, prompting extensive search and rescue operations for survivors amid widespread destruction.
Destruction unfolded in the aftermath of a tornado that hit Elliott, Mississippi in the early hours of Saturday, March 15, 2025. According to a resident, the tornado lasted approximately 10 minutes, sounding like a freight train approaching before unleashing its force. Rescuers worked tirelessly, armed with flashlights, moving from one collapsed house to another to save individuals trapped under heavy debris.
The impact of the tornado also extended to northeastern Arkansas, where multiple tornadoes touched down between 9:00 p.m. and midnight. At least 10 radar-detected tornadoes wreaked havoc across different counties in the state. The stealthy nature of nocturnal tornadoes makes them particularly treacherous, catching people off-guard and inhibiting timely sheltering responses.
The towns of Cushman and Cave City in Arkansas bore catastrophic storm damage, rendering some neighborhoods unrecognizable. Residents described scenes resembling a war zone, with power lines strewn across, trees uprooted, and buildings reduced to rubble. The National Weather Service in Little Rock, Arkansas, classified the damage as reaching the higher end of the EF3 range on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
As the affected areas grappled with the aftermath, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed gratitude for the community’s support and resilience in the face of tragedy. Power outages affected thousands of households across multiple states, with efforts underway to restore electricity to those impacted.
Survey teams are diligently evaluating the extent of the destruction, examining debris patterns and radar data to ascertain the number, paths, and intensity of the tornadoes that tore through these communities.
It will take several days to conduct damage surveys following the extensive severe weather outbreak that affected over two dozen states as it moved eastward on Sunday.
