A series of severe storms swept through seven states over the weekend, causing destruction and claiming the lives of at least 39 people while leaving many others injured. In Missouri, a number of tornadoes resulted in the deaths of at least a dozen individuals, with devastating twisters in Mississippi causing the loss of six lives, including two incidents striking near the same town within an hour. The South and Midwest regions experienced significant damage to hundreds of homes and businesses.
This violent weather event was triggered by a massive storm that began on Friday and was classified as a “high risk” by meteorologists. The storm produced a notable outbreak of tornadoes, with 46 reported on Friday and 41 on Saturday, as well as over 130 wind-driven wildfires causing widespread destruction in Oklahoma, where more than 400 homes were damaged.
The impact of the storm varied across the affected states:
Missouri:
Missouri saw the highest number of fatalities, including a man who was killed when a tornado tore through his home while he slept. Emergency responders braved debris to rescue a seriously injured woman from the same residence.
Mississippi:
Six people lost their lives and over 200 were displaced by tornadoes across three counties. Two tornadoes struck within an hour in Walthall County, resulting in casualties in Tylertown.
Alabama:
Central Alabama reported at least three fatalities, with an 82-year-old woman among the victims. A man lost his life while seeking shelter in his workshop, but his wife escaped unharmed.
Arkansas:
At least nine tornadoes touched down in Arkansas, leading to three fatalities in Independence County and injuring 29 individuals across eight counties.
Oklahoma:
Wind-driven wildfires ravaged more than 400 homes in Oklahoma, with four deaths attributed to the fires or high winds. Officials in Oklahoma and Texas are cautioning residents about the elevated fire danger in the coming days.
Kansas and Texas:
High winds caused dust storms that resulted in multiple fatal car crashes. In Kansas, eight individuals died in a highway pileup involving around 50 vehicles, while three people lost their lives in car accidents during a dust storm in Amarillo, Texas.
