At least 32 individuals lost their lives following a series of tornadoes, high winds, and dust storms that swept through the United States on Friday and Saturday. Fatalities were recorded in Kansas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, and Missouri. In Missouri, a devastating EF-3 tornado with peak winds of 140 mph tore through Bakersfield, claiming three lives on Friday night. Additionally, a tragic pileup involving 71 cars in Kansas resulted in at least three fatalities, as reported by the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The severe weather threat is expected to persist through Sunday, spanning from Florida northward into the upper Ohio River Valley, as cautioned by the Storm Prediction Center. Over 60 million individuals in the U.S. are deemed at risk on Sunday. Tornado watches have been extended in parts of Florida and are in effect for select areas in West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and western New York.
Nationwide, approximately 315,000 power outages were recorded on Sunday afternoon, affecting all states and the District of Columbia, with Missouri experiencing 46,000 outages. Since Friday, the Storm Prediction Center has received 75 preliminary tornado reports across seven states, with Mississippi and Missouri being significantly impacted.
Weather service offices throughout central and eastern U.S. have deployed field crews to conduct tornado damage assessments. Various teams have been dispatched to survey affected areas, including locations in South Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee, and New Orleans.
Governor Mike Kehoe of Missouri expressed deep sorrow over the devastation caused by the storms, with a confirmed death toll of twelve individuals in the state. Similarly, Governor Tate Reeves of Mississippi reported six fatalities and multiple injuries, with ongoing search efforts for missing persons. In Kansas, eight individuals lost their lives in a massive collision on Interstate-70 due to high winds and a dust storm.
Tragic incidents were also reported in Arkansas, where three individuals perished in Independence County, and multiple injuries were recorded across eight counties. A powerful EF-3 tornado in Cave City, Arkansas, with winds reaching 165 mph, further underscored the destructive impact of the severe weather system.
A severe weather system moved across the US, causing havoc along its path. Starting from the Pacific coast, the system brought heavy snowfall to the Sierra Nevada and generated a high-end EF-0 tornado in Pico Rivera, California. Winds reaching speeds of 70-80 mph led to overturned vehicles in multiple states.
The strong winds also fueled fast-moving wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma, resulting in significant damage. In Texas, 13 fires scorched over 27,000 acres, with one fatality reported from a pileup in Bovina. Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency for twelve Oklahoma counties, with over 112 injuries reported.
In the aftermath of the wildfires in Stillwater, all that remained of a house was a tornado safe room. Tornadoes caused widespread destruction in various areas, including Bakersfield, Missouri, Glendale Fishery in Daviess County, Indiana, and Oregon, Missouri. Homes were destroyed, cars were tossed, and structures were damaged.
A 3.0 earthquake shook Magee, Mississippi, on Saturday afternoon, adding to the series of natural disasters. The National Severe Storms Laboratory is seeking input from individuals who have recently experienced a tornado to enhance their understanding of how people interpret and respond to forecasts and warnings.
For more details and live updates on the weather situation, visit the USA TODAY website.
