At least 30 individuals lost their lives following a series of tornadoes, high winds, and dust storms that swept across the United States on Friday and Saturday. Fatalities were reported in Kansas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, and Missouri. In Missouri, three people perished on Friday night as an EF-3 tornado with peak winds of 140 mph tore through Bakersfield, according to the National Weather Service.
The threat of severe weather is expected to persist through Sunday from Florida northward into the upper Ohio River Valley, as cautioned by the Storm Prediction Center. Over 50 million individuals in the U.S. are at risk on Sunday, with a tornado watch in effect for parts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina until 10 a.m.
Since Friday, the Storm Prediction Center has recorded 56 preliminary tornado reports in seven states, with over 20 in Mississippi and 13 in Missouri. Survey crews from the weather service will be dispatched to verify the total count of tornadoes.
In Missouri, state officials confirmed a total of twelve fatalities. Governor Mike Kehoe expressed deep sorrow, acknowledging the heartbreaking devastation with homes and businesses destroyed and entire communities left powerless. Similarly, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves reported six deaths and three individuals missing, along with 29 statewide injuries.
Tragedy also struck in Kansas, where eight people lost their lives in a massive collision on Interstate-70 caused by high winds and a dust storm involving at least 50 vehicles. In Arkansas, three fatalities were reported in Independence County, with 32 injuries across eight counties due to severe weather.
The weather system, originating from the Pacific coast, brought significant snowfall to the Sierra Nevada and spawned a high-end EF-0 tornado near Los Angeles. Strong winds overturned vehicles in multiple states and exacerbated wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma.
In response to the crisis, Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma issued an emergency declaration for a dozen counties as reports of over 112 injuries emerged. The widespread destruction left in the wake of tornadoes and wildfires highlights the urgent need for recovery efforts and support for affected communities.
A 3.0 earthquake shook Magee, Mississippi on Saturday afternoon, located southeast of Jackson, amidst tornadoes and severe weather conditions near I-65, as reported by the weather service. The latest news on tornadoes and fires, with dozens dead, can be found in this article by Jeanine Santucci from USA TODAY.
