A powerful storm moving through the U.S. over the weekend spawned tornadoes in Missouri, resulting in over a dozen deaths, and continues to pose a threat to the South and East regions. Nearly 4 million people were under tornado watches on Saturday afternoon. The highest tornado risk is expected for most of Mississippi and Alabama, as well as parts of Louisiana and Georgia including New Orleans and Atlanta, according to AccuWeather.
Severe thunderstorms, accompanied by strong winds, are forecasted to cause power outages from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes on Saturday. Wind gusts exceeding 40 mph are likely from the northern Plains to the Great Lakes region and central Gulf Coast on Saturday and Saturday night, as per AccuWeather. Meteorologists anticipate numerous reports of downed trees and power lines, with the potential for several strong and long-lasting tornadoes, especially after dark.
The storm is projected to bring severe thunderstorms to the East Coast on Sunday, with wind gusts of 55-65 mph, flooding, and isolated tornadoes, according to AccuWeather. A low-pressure system led to severe thunderstorms in parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, and Missouri late Friday night and early Saturday, resulting in reports of 26 tornadoes, although not all were confirmed to have touched down, as stated by David Roth, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.
AccuWeather reported 23 filtered tornado reports, 253 filtered wind reports (11 significant), and 96 filtered hail reports (3 significant) as of Saturday morning. In Missouri, up to 19 tornadoes of varying strengths impacted 25 counties, leading Governor Mike Kehoe to declare a state of emergency. The storm caused significant damage and 11 fatalities in the south and southeast parts of the state, as stated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Moving east on Saturday, the storms could reach as far as the Florida Panhandle and Atlanta by midnight, according to the National Weather Service. Another tornado was reported in southwest Indiana, causing damage to trees, power lines, and poles. Residents are urged to stay informed and prepared for severe weather conditions.
Debris surrounds damaged houses the morning after a tornado struck Florissant, Missouri on March 15, 2025, as shown in drone footage. The city of Florissant, located in the northwest suburb of St. Louis, suffered “significant damage to homes and property,” according to the Florissant Police Department. A similar scene of storm damage can be observed in Oakland City, Southwestern Indiana, on March 15, 2025, following a potential tornado. For more updates, follow journalist Mike Snider on various social media platforms. Stay informed with the latest news by signing up for our trending newsletter. This article was first published on USA TODAY, highlighting the aftermath of tornadoes and storms causing destruction across the US.
